HEIDELBERG FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB CHILD SAFETY POLICY

1. PURPOSE

1.1 The purpose of this policy is to educate all members, staff, supporters and

spectators of the Heidelberg Senior Football Netball Club (Club) on their

responsibilities when interacting with children and young people at our Club and to

familiarise members, staff, supporters and spectators with the Club’s processes for its

response to any concerns, incidents or allegations of harm or abuse to children and

young people.

2. POLICY STATEMENT

The Heidelberg Senior Football Netball Club:

2.1 is committed to creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all

children and young people who participate in football and umpiring activities at our

Club;

2.2 is committed to implementing child safe practices in accordance with the Victorian

Child Safe Standards (Appendix 1);

2.3 has zero tolerance for any form of child abuse or harm and will act quickly to

protect children and young people should an incident occur. All complaints will be

treated seriously, fully investigated and handled confidentially;

2.4 is committed to the active participation of children and young people at the Club,

ensuring all children and young people know their rights, have their views taken

seriously and involve them in decisions that may directly affect them and their peers at

the Club;

2.5 recognises the important role families play in supporting children and young people

to participate in Australian football and values the input of families in decision making

at our Club;

2.6 recognises the particular needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

and young people and will promote their cultural safety within the Club environment;

2.7 All children and young people have equal rights to protection from harm and abuse

regardless of their race, religion, age, disability cultural background, gender, sexual

orientation or family/social background. Our Club considers that the health, safety and

wellbeing of children and young people take priority over all other competing

considerations.

2.8 The safety and wellbeing of all children and young people at our club is a shared

responsibility between the Club, its staff, contractors, associates, parents/carers,

coaches, spectators, volunteers and members of our Club community.

3. SCOPE

3.1 This Policy applies to everyone involved at our Club including (but not limited to)

participants, parents, spectators, contractors, officials, coaches, and board/committee

members.

3.2 This Policy should be read in conjunction with Club’s related policies and

procedures, the Victorian Child Safe Standards (Appendix 1) and Commonwealth and

Victorian legislation and (Appendix 2).

3.3 Our Club is committed to continually reviewing its policies and practises to protect

the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This policy will be reviewed

on a regular basis in consultation with all Club participants including children, young

people, parents/carers, board/committee members and other interested parties.

4. DEFINITIONS

4.1 Child and Young Person means a person under the age of 18 years.

4.2 Child Abuse includes all forms of physical, emotional, psychological, verbal

and/or sexual abuse. Child abuse also includes sexual exploitation, neglect or negligent

treatment, grooming, harassing behaviour, bullying or other exploitation of a child or

young person and includes any actions that results in actual or potential harm to a child

or young person. Child abuse can be a single incident or take place over time.

4.3 Child protection means any responsibility, measure or activity undertaken to

safeguard children from harm.

4.4 Club is the name of the Club outlined in the header of this Policy document.

4.5 Family violence occurs when children and young people are forced to live with

violence between adults in their home. Family violence includes violence between

members of a family, or extended family, or those fulfilling the role of family in a child

or young person’s life. It can include witnessing violence or the consequences of

violence. Exposure to family violence places children and young people at increased

risk of injury and harm and has a significant impact on their wellbeing and

development.

4.6 Grooming is a term used to describe what happens when a perpetrator builds a

relationship with a child or young person with the intent to abuse or harm them.

Perpetrators may also groom parents/carers by forming relationships of trust with

parents/carers before harming a child or young person. Grooming can take place over a

long period of time before abuse occurs or the abuse can happen relatively quickly.

Grooming can take in physical (face-to-face) environments or online.

4.7 Harm can be any action that may have a significant impact on a child or young

person’s physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing. Harm can be caused by:

 Physical, psychological or emotional abuse or neglect;

 Sexual abuse or exploitation;

 Family violence;

 a single act, omission or circumstance; and

 a series or combination of acts, omissions or circumstances.

4.8 Sexual abuse or exploitation is any act which exposes a child or young person to

or involves them in sexual acts beyond their understanding or contrary to accepted

community standards. Sexual offence behaviours can include the fondling of genitals,

masturbation, oral sex, vaginal or anal penetration by a penis, finger or any other

object, fondling of breasts, grooming, voyeurism, exhibitionism, and exposing the child

to or involving the child in pornography. It also includes engaging a child or young

person to participate in sexual conversations online.

4.9 Concerns and complaints include any issue that an adult or peer considers may

negatively impact on the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person.

5. EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR AT OUR CLUB

5.1 All participants, parents, spectators, contractors, officials, coaches, and

board/committee members have responsibilities in relation to the safety and wellbeing

of children and young people at our Club and are expected to:

5.1.1. understand the definitions of child abuse and harm and act on anything that

they hear or see;

5.1.2. understand the rights of children, as appropriate to their role and cause no

harm to a child or young person;

5.1.3. value equity and diversity at the club and treat all children and young

people with respect regardless of their race, religion, age, disability cultural

background, gender, sexual orientation or family/social background;

5.1.4. at all times, know and follow this Policy and related child safety and

wellbeing guidance (including but not limited to our Club’s Child Safe Code of

Conduct and Complaints Handling and Reporting procedures);

5.1.5. co-operate with police and/or other formal investigations to the best of

their ability.

5.1.6. All third-party contractors are expected to abide by our Club’s Child Safe

Code of Conduct, and where they may engage with children or young people,

sign an agreement requiring them to comply with this Policy and our Club’s

Child Safe Code of Conduct, prior to delivering any services.

5.1.7. Our Club will appoint a Member Protection Officer/ Child Safeguarding

Officer or equivalent role that will be the primary point of contact for all

concerns and complaints related to child safety and wellbeing.

6. RECRUITMENT AND SCREENING

6.1 Our Club seeks to implement screening practices that reduce the risk of harm or

abuse to children and young people by:

6.1.1. Recruiting people suitable to work and interact with children and young

people (e.g. by requiring Working With Children Check or other State equivalent

and/or Police checks). No adult will be allowed to work in a child related role at

our Club until a valid Working with Children Check and/or Police Check has

been obtained.

6.1.2. Undertaking background checks of staff, contractors and volunteers who

interact with children and young people such as two referee checks with specific

child related questions.

6.2 Our Club also requires that all board/committee members hold a valid Working

with Children Check.

6.3 Once engaged, staff, volunteers, board/committee members and contractors must

read this Policy and related documents (such as those outlined in Appendix 2) and

familiarise themselves with child safe practices at our Club.

7. SUPPORTING CLUB STAFF, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS

7.1 Our Club is committed to supporting all staff, board/committee members and

volunteers to understand how to create a child safe and child friendly environment at

our club.

7.2 Our Club recommends that staff, board/committee members and volunteers

familiarise themselves with the following online training in child safe practices:

 AFL Safe Footy Safeguarding webinars and resources,

 Play by the Rules training (child protection, cultural awareness, LGBTI+ inclusive

clubs,

 Let Kids be Kids, (Complaint handling) and eSafety Commissioner (safe online

environments) (Appendix 3).

8. RISK MANAGEMENT APPROACH

8.1 Our Club recognises the importance of identifying and managing risks to children

and young people in physical and online environments and will implement a risk

management plan to address risks.

8.2 The risk management plan will be updated on a regular basis in consultation with

staff, volunteers, parent representatives and children and young people to ensure it is fit

for purpose.

9. COMPLAINTS AND REPORTING

9.1 Our Club will take all concerns and complaints seriously, whether they are raised

by an adult, child or young person. All child related concerns and complaints will be

responded to promptly and confidentially.

9.2 Our Club has a complaint handling policy in place and a child friendly complaints

poster to help children and young people to understand how they can raise a concern or

a complaint with the Club.

9.3 If there is concern for the immediate safety of a child or young person, immediately

call the Police ‘000’.

9.4 If a child or young person is not in immediate danger but any person who believes

on reasonable grounds that a child or young person is in need of protection from any

form of child abuse or harm, may disclose that information to the Police, Child

Protection or the Commissioner for Children & Young People.

9.5 If a concern or complaint includes an allegation or incident of child abuse or harm,

Club staff and volunteers must report it in accordance with our Club’s Complaint

Handling Policy.

9.6 Any Club staff member, board/committee member or volunteer who is the subject

of a child or young person related concern or complaint may be requested to stand

down from their position in the Club during an investigation, have their duties altered

so they do not engage with children and young people and/or have their access to the

Club’s IT system/database removed.

9.7 Our Club will investigate allegations of inappropriate conduct against a child or

young person in accordance with procedural fairness and will handle the allegations in

a confidential and sensitive manner.

9.8 Our Club will keep a register of any allegations regarding inappropriate conduct.

9.9 REPORTING SEXUAL ABUSE

9.9.1. If a person receives information that leads them to form a reasonable belief

that a sexual offence has been committed, that person has a legal obligation to

disclose that information to the Police as soon as it is practicable. Individuals

who fail to comply with this obligation under the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) may be

subject to a penalty of imprisonment.

9.9.2. A number of professions in the community (including but not limited to

teachers, nurses and doctors) are also required by law to report to Child

Protection where they have formed a belief, on reasonable grounds, that a child

is in need of protection because they have suffered (or are likely to suffer)

significant harm due to physical or sexual abuse.

9.9.3. This report must be made as soon as practicable, and on any occasion

where they become aware of other allegations and have reasonable grounds for

belief.

10. POLICY BREACHES

10. 1 It is a breach of this Policy for any person or organisation subject to this Policy to

have been found to have done anything contrary to this Policy. Any person who

breaches this Policy will be removed from their position immediately pending review.

This review will take no longer than 7-10 days with appropriate action to take place.

11. RECORD KEEPING AND INFORMATION SHARING

11.1 Our Club is committed to making and retaining accurate records of reports of

child safety related concerns and complaints.

11.2 Our Club will maintain records and outcomes of investigations and resolutions of

concerns and complaints. In maintaining records of reports about child safety, our Club

will maintain confidentiality and privacy for children and families in accordance with

legislation.

11.3 As part of our Club’s commitment to continuously improve our children and

young people safety practices, the Club will review identified risks to child and young

people through the incident management and record keeping process and will

incorporate those risks into the risk management plan.

11.4 From time to time, our Club may share relevant information with external

authorities to comply with the law or to prioritise the safety of a child or young person.

Appendix 1

Victorian Child Safe Standards

1 Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique

identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

2 Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and

culture.

3 Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions

affecting them and are taken seriously.

4 Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and

wellbeing.

5 Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

6 People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child

safety and wellbeing values in practice.

7 Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.

8 Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep

children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

9 Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the

opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

10 Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

11 Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young

people.

Appendix 2

RELATED DOCUMENTS & LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS

This Policy should be read in conjunction with:

 the laws of the Commonwealth and Victoria (as amended from time to time)

including but not limited to:

o Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic)

o Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Act 2015

(Vic)

o Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) Failure to Disclose Sexual Offence Committed Against

a Child Under 16 (section 327); Failure by a Person in Authority to Protect a

Child from a Sexual Offence (section 49 O);

o Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic); and

o Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic) Organisational liability for child abuse.

 the Club’s policies and procedures, including but not limited to:

o Privacy Policy;

o Constitution;

o Child Safe Codes of Conduct;

o Member Protection Policy;

o Complaints and Reporting procedures;

o Photography and Videography Policy; and

o Social Media Policy

Appendix 3

RELATED CHILD SAFETY EDUCATION RESOURCES AND LINKS

 AFL Safe Footy Safeguarding webinars and resources

www.afl.com.au/clubhel/safeguarding-children

 Play by the Rules training (child protection, cultural awareness)

www.playbytherules.net.au

 eSafety Commissioner (safe online environments and sporting organisations)