Child Safe Standards – for Sporting Clubs – Information
Legislation for Child Safe Standards for Sporting Groups comes into effect on 1 January 2017. If your club provides services to children they must act to meet the requirements of the legislation.
Context: In April 2012, the Victorian government initiated an inquiry into the handling of child abuse allegations within religious and other non-government organisations. The inquiry’s final report, Betrayal of Trust, made a number of recommendations that have been acted on by the Victorian Government. The creation of Child Safe Standards (the Standards) was one of the key recommendations.
“Child safety is not an add-on or one-off exercise and just about developing policies, it is about creating a culture and environment within your organisation that is supportive and protective of children”.
What Are The Standards?
1. Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements
2. A child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety
3. A code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children
4. Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel
5. Processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse
6. Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse
7. Strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children
The Standards are flexible and principle based.
Further Information about the Standards can be found at The Commission for Children and Young People: http://www.ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards.htm
Who do the Standards Apply to?
The Standards apply to all personnel in your organisation. This includes:
- Board of Management / Committee Members
- All paid staff (CEO, Executive, Employees)
- All Volunteers (Coaches, officials, administrators, scorers etc.)
- All students on placement
- Any contractors you engage
Clubs that provide services to children need to address the Standards and South West Sport suggests that in the first instance that clubs contact their peak state sporting bodies as they may have already developed templates and resources to assist meet the Standards.
To contact your State Sporting Association:
http://sport.vic.gov.au/find-sports-organisations/state-sporting-associations
There are some generic templates and further information available through:
VicSport: www.vicsport.com.au/child-safe-standards
The Commission for Children and Young People: http://www.ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards.htm
