Our Partners
Play by the Rules is supported by the following
Australian, State and Territory Government agencies
Australian Sports Commission
www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/integrity_in_sport
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is the primary national sports administration and advisory agency.
On behalf of the Australian Government, the ASC plays a leading role in the development and operation of the Australian sports system, administering and funding innovative sport programs and providing leadership, coordination and support for the sports sector.
It is responsible for implementing the government's new direction for Australian sport – Australian Sport: The Pathway to Success – which aims to increase the numbers of people participating in sport, strengthen sporting pathways to link grassroots and high performance sport, and strive for increased international success.
The ASC's Strategic Plan focuses on:
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increasing adoption of values of fair play, self improvement and achievement
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best practice management and governance of sport within and through national sporting organisations
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growth in sports participation at the grass-roots level, particularly by youth, Indigenous Australians, women and people with disability.
increasing adoption of values of fair play, self improvement and achievement
best practice management and governance of sport within and through national sporting organisations
growth in sports participation at the grass-roots level, particularly by youth, Indigenous Australians, women and people with disability.
The ASC’s Integrity Unit assists the sport industry to formulate policies, practices, programs and resources to address ethical issues and enhance ethical conduct in Australian sport.
The unit also consults and works closely with national sporting organisations, state and territory departments of sport and recreation and other agencies to develop strategies to deal with sport-specific issues.
Northern Territory Sport & Recreation
www.sportandrecreation.nt.gov.au
Northern Territory Sport and Recreation is responsible for providing opportunities for Territorians to participate in sport and recreation.
It manages major sporting events; assists elite athletes; coordinates grants funding for peak sport and recreation groups, local councils and facility building; develops sport in schools and Indigenous communities; and manages government-owned sporting facilities.
Northern Territory Sport and Recreation provides a range of resources and support on issues including club development, coaching and officiating, women's sport, junior sport and people with a disability.
The harassment-free sport section of the website provides information on: working with children; preventing harassment and discrimination; member protection and codes of conduct. Links to Play by the Rules resources are featured in this and other sections of the site.
Training courses for coaches, officials and administrators also link participants to Play by the Rules online training and to the Australian Sports Commission website.
The Coloured Shirt Program, launched in 2010, aims to build a supportive environment for new officials while they build confidence and skills.
Office for Recreation and Sport South Australia
The Office for Recreation and Sport is the lead agency for implementing the South Australian Government's policy on recreation and sport.
The Office provides training and support for sport and recreation clubs and associations, in particular through the STARCLUB - Club Development Program, which aims to foster well-run clubs where quality coaches and officials work alongside valued volunteers in a safe and welcoming environment.
It also provides training and support to make sport and recreation fun, safe, fair and inclusive, including strategies to include people with a disability, Indigenous Australians, women, children, older people and people from different cultural backgrounds.
In addition, the Coloured Shirt Program aims to build a more tolerant environment for beginner officials and support them while they build confidence and skills.
The website features information on the legal obligations of sporting clubs and associations, including developing child and member protection policies. Links to the Play by the Rules and the Australian Sports Commission are provided.
Sport and Recreation Services ACT
http://www.economicdevelopment.act.gov.au/sport_and_recreation
Sport and Recreation Services manages the sport and recreation policy of the ACT Government, delivers community programs, manages a number of sporting facilities and provides advice to the Minister.
It coordinates grants programs for the ACT sport and recreation industry, runs programs to engage, support and increase participation among Indigenous people and people with a disability, and operates the Volunteers Thanks Awards program.
As part of its education and training program, it presents courses and workshops on coaching and officiating; club development; governance; and ethics.
The website features ACT-specific Play by the Rules resources and there are links to Play by the Rules in the Disability Sport and Recreation section of the website.
Sport and Recreation NSW
Sport and Recreation NSW aims to assist the people of NSW participate in sport and recreation.
Some of its key activities include providing financial assistance, increasing participation in sport for under-represented groups and industry support, including resources and education.
The website features information to assist sporting and recreation clubs, including information on child protection and running a club (such as corporate governance, risk management and legal responsibilities). Links to Play by the Rules and the Australian Sports Commission’s website are featured throughout.
Sport and Recreation NSW offers Sport Rage, a resource designed to assist clubs prevent and address violence, harassment, abuse or bad behaviour in sport. It also provides the Coloured Vest Program, which aims to build a supportive environment for new officials.
Sport and Recreation NSW runs a wide range of training courses on coaching and officiating, disability sport, sports administration and sports safety. Courses link participants to Play by the Rules online training and to the Australian Sports Commission website.
Sport and Recreation Services Queensland
www.communities.qld.gov.au/sportrec
Sport and Recreation Services Queensland is responsible for implementing the Queensland Government's sport and recreation policies. It works with sporting organisations, councils, schools, Indigenous organisations and the wider community.
Sport and Recreation Services Queensland has developed a range of initiatives to complement its support for Play by the Rules.
The Positive or it’s pointless campaign aims to reduce poor and unacceptable player, spectator and parent behaviour to make sport safe for all children. Information, resources and case studies – along with links to Play by the Rules – are available to assist clubs promote the fair play message.
Sport and Recreation Services Queensland also delivers education and training programs for coaches, officials and administrators, including regional workshops and the Get Active Queensland Accreditation Program.
The Locker Room forums provide an opportunity for those involved in community-level sport and recreation at grassroots level to learn from high-profile coaches, elite athletes, officials and industry professionals.
The website also includes information on increasing participation among people with a disability, women and girls, Indigenous people and older people.
Sport and Recreation Tasmania
www.development.tas.gov.au/sportrec
Sport and Recreation Tasmania provides services and works in partnership with organisations to ensure that all Tasmanians have the opportunity to participate in quality sport, recreation and physical activity.
Participation includes a range of activities from incidental physical activity to the growth and development of Tasmania’s elite athletes.
In collaboration with the Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Sport and Recreation Tasmania conducts workshops on harassment-free sport, member protection information officers, and complaints resolution in sport and recreation settings.
A Play by the Rules pilot program was trialled in Tasmania in 2009 to assist sporting organisations deal with inappropriate behaviour in sport and to clarify the support government agencies can provide. There is regular promotion of Play by the Rules at community events, workshops and seminars.
The website features information sheets on child protection, harassment-free sport and good practices for organisations.
Sport and Recreation Victoria
Sport and Recreation Victoria works to get more people involved in sport and recreation and to assist the sector develop and improve community sport.
The website includes information on inclusive sport – Access for all abilities, Indigenous sports and Women in sport. There is also a Keeping Junior Sport Safe toolkit to assist clubs and associations implement the Working with Children Check and create safe junior sport environments.
The Victorian Code of Conduct for Community Sport outlines the behaviour that is expected of every person involved in community sport and active recreation. Links to Play by the Rules and the Australian Sports Commission are included as supporting resources.
The Publications and Research section of the website includes information on member protection (with information and a link to Play by the Rules), inclusive sport and research on spectator behaviour.
Training on member protection issues is offered on a regular basis.
Sport and Recreation Western Australia
The Department of Sport and Recreation is responsible for implementing the Western Australian Government’s policy and initiatives in sport and recreation.
The website provides information on making sport safe and inclusive. There are resources on working with children; codes of conduct; and engaging different groups of people in sport, including Indigenous people, people with disability, women, people from different cultural backgrounds, young people and seniors. Play by the Rules resources are promoted in this information.
The Department provides accredited training and professional development opportunities for officials from the community level to the elite level. Play by the Rules is a component of the ‘Safe Clubs 4 Kids’ workshops, which have been rolled out with particular State Sporting Associations.
The Department has provided funding to the Western Australian Sports Federation for a Project Manager to provide support and advice to sport and recreation organisations about harassment-free sport and active recreation initiatives and strategies, including their obligations under the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004.
Australian Human Rights Commission
The Australian Human Rights Commission is the nation’s independent human rights body.
It is responsible for administering federal laws that protect people from harassment and discrimination on the basis of their age, disability, race or sex.
The Commission provides information, advice and resources to help organisations prevent and address discrimination and harassment in different areas of public life, including sport. It also investigates and conciliates complaints of discrimination and harassment.
It has assisted national sporting organisations such as the AFL, NRL and Cricket Australia to conciliate complaints and has provided advice on their racial discrimination policies and gender in sport issues.
The Commission promotes Play by the Rules to the organisations with which it works. It has been involved in a range of projects involving sport and human rights, including What's the Score?, a report on racism and cultural diversity in Australian sport, and Voices of Australia, supported by the NRL.
The website includes examples of conciliated outcomes of complaints involving disability discrimination in sport, as well a new website titled Something in Common which features information on sport and human rights.
ACT Human Rights Commission
The ACT Human Rights Commission provides information on human rights and discrimination and how people living in the Australian Capital Territory can make a complaint.
The Commission delivers a range of training seminars and workshops to assist individuals and organisations better understand discrimination and human rights, including what action they can take to prevent unlawful behaviour.
The website features ACT-specific Play by the Rules information.
Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW
The Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW promotes anti-discrimination and equal opportunity principles and policies throughout New South Wales.
The Board provides seminars and training for a range of organisations, including sporting and recreation groups, on topics including grievance handling, preventing discrimination, harassment and bullying, and implementing EEO policies.
Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland
The Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland provides information on human rights issues, discrimination and harassment. It also receives and resolves complaints of discrimination and harassment under the Anti-Discrimination Act.
The Commission offers training sessions for organisations across Queensland on understanding the law and preventing discrimination and harassment. Customised training programs can also be provided to meet the specific needs of organisations.
Play by the Rules is featured in various sections of the Commission’s website.
Equal Opportunity Commission of South Australia
The SA Equal Opportunity Commission provides information and education on equal opportunity issues in South Australia and guidance on preventing and resolving complaints of discrimination and harassment.
It delivers education and training to individuals and organisations, including sporting organisations, to build better understanding of equal opportunity laws.
Play by the Rules is featured in various section of the Commission’s website.
Equal Opportunity Commission of Western Australia
The Equal Opportunity Commission of Western Australia has two major roles: to encourage recognition and an understanding of the principles of equal opportunity and to assist individuals who allege unlawful discrimination.
The website provides information and resources to assist organisations, including sporting clubs, understand their legal responsibilities and prevent discrimination and harassment. It also includes information about how the Commission resolves complaints of discrimination and harassment.
The Commission also delivers regular training sessions, seminars and workshops for community based organisations.
Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission
The Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission provides information about the operation of the Act, how to make a complaint and guidance on prevent discrimination and harassment from occurring.
Education and training is provided for individuals and organisations, including sporting clubs and associations, in locations across the territory.
Play by the Rules is featured on the Commission’s homepage and in other sections of the website.
Tasmanian Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner
www.antidiscrimination.tas.gov.au
The Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner (OADC) has an independent role to investigate and conciliate complaints of discrimination and prohibited conduct in Tasmania. The OADC provides training and education on discrimination and prohibited conduct under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998.
The Office holds free community education information sessions as well as corporate training and information on preventing and dealing with incidents of discrimination and prohibited conduct. It also delivers tailored workshops on complaints resolution and member protection for sport and recreation bodies.
The website features Play by the Rules information and it is also regularly included in the e-newsletter In respect of rights.
Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au
The Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission helps people resolve complaints about discrimination, sexual harassment and racial and religious vilification.
The Commission provides information to help sporting organisations, clubs and schools recognise, prevent and deal with issues of discrimination and harassment in sport. It also delivers regular Play by the Rules training courses.
The Commission is currently running Fair go, sport!, a joint project with the Australian Sports Commission, Hockey Australia and Hockey Victoria that aims to promote safety and inclusiveness for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people involved in the hockey code.
In addition, the Commission contributed to the development of Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Code of Conduct for Community Sport and is involved in its ongoing promotion and monitoring. It also played a significant role in the first comprehensive Australian survey of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people involved in community sport, Come out to play.
The website features links to Play by the Rules in a number of sections.
New South Wales Commission for Children and Young People
The New South Wales Commission for Children and Young People is an independent statutory organisation that advocates for the children and young people of NSW.
The Commission is responsible for undertaking Working with Children Checks on people in child-related employment in NSW, including those working in sport and recreation organisations.
Links to resources on Play by the Rules, NSW Sport and Recreation and the Australian Sports Commission are included on the website.
The Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association 
The Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association (ANZSLA) is the premier not-for-profit sports law organisation in the Australasian region, and is dedicated to providing networking opportunities, advocacy and education about legal issues in sport.
ANZSLA has a very handy legal contact list available online, which may be useful for sporting organisations. The list is a compilation of ANZSLA members (including contact details and area of specialty) who have practising certificates that enable them to provide legal services to members of the public.
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Our Partners
Play by the Rules is supported by the followingAustralian, State and Territory Government...