SAFEGUARDING & CHILD PROTECTION
Athletics West seeks to promote, encourage and support strategies to create safe environments for children’s participation in the sport.
To this end, we are committed to support our Member Centres and Clubs to provide child safe environments for all members and to ensure its safeguarding and child protection strategies are adhered to. The support and protection of all involved from athletes and parents, to committee members, coaches and volunteers is our highest priority.
Member Screening
Read the letter to Centres & Clubs: “Centre and Club Letter Safeguarding and Child Protection“.
The “Member Screening Procedure” provides information for Little Athletics Centres and Clubs on how to manage Working With Children Checks and National and Volunteer Police Checks. This may be updated from time to time in line with current legislation.
The Working With Children Record keeping spreadsheet is required to be kept by all Centres and Clubs.
Working with Children
Athletics West complies with the State’s Working With Children legislation (Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004). The Working with Children Check (WWCC) is a comprehensive criminal record check undertaken for specified people working with children in Western Australia. LAWA recognises the importance of the WWCC as being one element of child protection. The WWCC aims to increase the safety of children in the community by ensuring people who have a criminal history that indicates they may harm children do not actually ‘work’ with children.
For more information check the links below and also visit the comprehensive Working with Children Check website.
National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
These guides will help you think about how an organisation operates and its safety and well-being arrangements for children.
https://childsafe.humanrights.gov.au/
Introduction & overview of national principles: https://childsafe.elearning.humanrights.gov.au/my/?type=all&page=1
The National principles are underpinned by a child rights approach and are designed to build capacity and deliver child safety and well-being in organisations families and communities and prevent future harm. The ten elements are fundamental for making an organisation safe for children.
Introductory Self-assessment tool for organisations: https://childsafe.humanrights.gov.au/learning-hub/organisational-self-assessment.
The Child Safe Organisations self assessment tool is a first step for any organisation working with children and young people when considering child safety in their organisation.
Information for Families: National Principles for Child Safe Organisations – Information for parents, carers and family members.
Convention on the rights of the child:
https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/convention-text-childrens-version
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is an important agreement by countries who have promised to protect children’s rights.
The Convention explains who children are, all their rights, and the responsibilities of governments and others. All the rights are connected, they are all equally important and they cannot be taken away from children.
Member Protection Policy
The Member Protection Policy aims to ensure via our mission statement, positive behaviours and attitudes are maintained in our sporting environment. It assists us in ensuring that every person involved in our sport is treated with respect and dignity, and is safe and protected from abuse.
Member Protection Information Officer
Member Protection Information Officers play an important role in sport. They provide information and guidance on complaints procedures – they are the ‘go to’ person if you want to discuss problems at your club/association, particularly if you are considering making a formal complaint.
The Member Protection Information Officer course is an online course aimed at people seeking to become recognised MPIO Officers.
Volunteer National Police Check
The VPNC lists eligible criminal and traffic court outcome and pending charges from all Australian Police jurisdictions. This can also include non-police prosecuted matters.
Who should apply for a Volunteer National Police Check?
It is up to the individual organisation to consider the level of risk, including whether applicants for other volunteer positions should be screened where there may be a risk to the organisation, staff, members, volunteers and/or the public.
To determine the level of risk, a clear outline of what is expected of the position is required and an understanding of the strategic objectives of the organisation. Some helpful information is provided in the Department of Communities, Volunteer Checks booklet.
- The Associations Incorporation Act requires that people seeking to volunteer on boards and committees of incorporated associations require approval from the Commissioner for Consumer Protection where personal circumstances identify certain convictions, bankruptcy or insolvency.
- Will the role be in a position of authority, making important decisions and/or financial decisions or handling finances, e.g. Chairperson, Treasurer, Canteen Manager, Registrar?
- What is the level of trust required for the position? Will the position be privy to confidential or personal information?
- Will the position require interaction with vulnerable people?
How to apply for a Volunteer National Police Check:
Athletics West is a registered volunteer organisation who will be able to receive applications from volunteers, Centres and clubs and submit to the police.
Complete an application form and forward to Athletics West, together with copies of identification documents totalling 100 points and the application fee ($16.40).
NB: 100 point of ID may be a current passport and a drivers licence or a full birth certificate (not an extract) and a drivers licence. See the application form for other documentation which may also be used.
Bank details for EFT Payments:
BSB: 016 460
Acct: 1800 20331
Athletics West also take credit card payments in person or over the phone – 6272 0480.
Differences between WWC and VPNC:
Volunteer National Police Checks and Working with Children Checks are used for different purposes:
Volunteer National Police Checks allow organisations to view the applicant’s relevant criminal history and identify possible risks related to the position.
Working with Children Checks are used to identify potential risks to children. Information not relating to risks to children is not assessed and no information about an applicant’s criminal history is released.
Cybersafety
Online communication, especially social media, has become an important tool for clubs and organisations to connect with their members and the wider community. This has both opportunities and risks. Organisations should adopt a balanced approach to cyber safety and pro-actively consider how to reduce any potential misuse, through education and the introduction of policies and procedures.
Guide to the eSafety Commissioner’s Office
Quick links to the eSafety website
Links
Department of Communities, Volunteer Checks booklet.
Working with Children Legislation Information Booklet
Safeguarding & Child Protection
Terms Conditions
Play by the Rules – Photographing Children
Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO)
More resources and links are available on the Department of Sport website.