Safeguarding for Sporting Associations and Clubs

All sporting associations and clubs should have a Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy. 

This Policy should:

• Outline what is prohibited conduct.
• Describe in detail the required Child Safeguarding Practices.
• Inform how to respond to and report an allegation of child abuse.
• Be easily accessible to all – for example be on the organisation’s website and/or social media platforms and include child friendly versions.

• Your sport should provide education and resources on Child Safe Practices – example: Child Safe Practices Do's and Don’t Booklet [PDF 6MB]
• Raise awareness and educate your children, young people and adults about the child safe practices.

Organisations must ensure they recruit people who are suitable to work with children and young people. These practices should be in-accordance with the organisations state and territory legislation requirements.

Practices should include:

• Identifying all Child-Related Positions – including roles that have access to personal details of children and young people.
• Developing Position Descriptions for all roles.
• Advertising all positions, for example on the organisation’s website and/or social media.
• Interviewing all applicants with a focus on suitability to work with children and young people.
• Undertake a minimum of two reference checks for preferred applicants.

A Working with Children Check (WWCC) (or equivalent), is required where an organisation seeks to engage a person in child-related work.

Your organisation must:

• Comply with its State and Territory WWCC requirements.
• Not engage a person in a Child-Related Position that has not met the WWCC requirements of their relevant state/territory.
• Maintain accurate WWCC records.

 More information on State/Territory WWCC can be found here

• Your organisation should have a complaint process that outlines how complaints will be handled.
• If your sport has signed up to the National Integrity Framework, breaches of the Safeguarding Children and Young Person Policy and complaints that relate to discrimination based on protected characteristics should be reported to Sport Integrity Australia.

Check if your sport has signed up to the National Integrity Framework

• Reporting process through Sport Integrity Australia: Sport Integrity Australia Complaints Process Step by Step Factsheet [PDF].
• Complaints that fall outside of Sport Integrity Australia: should be investigated, and addressed by your sport through their reporting and complaints process.
• The sport should inform and educate staff, volunteers, participants and parents and carers on how to make a complaint and how it will be addressed by the sport.
• The complaint process should be easily accessible by everyone – Is it promoted on the website or other forums?
• Embracing complaint handling in an open and transparent manner will benefit your organisation as:
  • It identifies problems that may exist.
  • It identifies areas of improvement.
  • It builds trust with stakeholders.

• Ensure your organisation is aware of their State and Territory legal obligations.
• Appoint a Child Safe Officer/Welfare Officer or Member Protection Information Officer – This may be determined by your State and Territory requirements.
• Inform and educate staff, volunteers, participants and parents and carers on their role, responsibilities, and rights under the Safeguarding Children and Young Peron Policy (or your sports equivalent).
• Engage and involve children and young people – involve them in decision making and seek feedback.

Everyone that participates in sport should feel safe and free from abuse or harm. Sports should commit to creating a safe environment by:

• Implementing a Member Protection Policy.
• Outlining acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
• Appointing a Welfare Officer or Member Protection Information Officer.
• Implementing reporting and complaints process.
• Informing and educating staff, volunteers, participants and parents and carers on their role, responsibilities, and rights under the Member Protection Policy.
• Engaging and involving members – for example seeking feedback on programs, events or initiatives.

Refer to the Safeguarding section of our Resources page for downloadable check lists and fact sheets that cover:

• Accommodation and Travel
• Creating Safe Changing Areas
• Creating Safe Events
• Engaging Safely with Children and Young People
• How to Recruit Safely
• Information on Choosing a Safe Sports Club
• Involving Children and Young People
• Recognising Abuse and Record Keeping
• Taking and Using of Photographs and Videos
   

Sporting clubs and organisations should also refer to their National and State Sporting Associations and their State and Territory agencies for additional resources - Office of Recreation and Sport, Child Protection and Advocacy Agencies.

There are many free online e-learning courses available for sporting organisations to further increase knowledge and understanding of Child Safeguarding and Member Protection.

The Sport Integrity E-Learning Hub provides the following courses:

• Child Safeguarding Online Course
• Harassment and Discrimination Online Course
• Member Protection Information Office Course
• Complaint Handling Training
• Inclusive Coaching
• Creating an LGBTI + Inclusive Club
• Mini-Courses

National Office for Child Safety

Australian Human Rights Commission 

Play by the Rules - Making Sport inclusive, safe and fair 

State and Territory Child Protection Agencies - Clearinghouse for Sport 

State and Territory Sport Departments - Clearinghouse for Sport 

Child Protection in Sport - Clearinghouse for Sport 

Child Protection Sport Unit UK 

Inclusive Sport – Australian Sports Commission 

Sport and Persons with Disability – Clearinghouse for Sport

Resources - Pride in Sport

Sports hub | eSafety Commissioner