Child safe environments

Sporting organisations should put in place strategies to develop child safe environments and minimise opportunities for child abuse including preventing offenders from gaining access to your organisation.

General strategies to achieve child safe environments include:

• understanding the different types of child abuse;
• identifying potential risks and dangers to children (e.g., going away on camps) and managing those risks;
• developing guidelines and processes that clearly outline how to respond to child protection issues;
• choosing your staff with care, for example:
  • state your commitment to a child safe environment when advertising vacant positions;
  • seek criminal history checks for employees/volunteers working with children;
  • conduct referee checks (particularly with previous child-related employers, if possible). 
• nominating a child protection officer or Member Protection Information Officer who people can trust and go to with concerns;
• ensuring that all staff (paid and volunteers) understand their mandatory/ethical reporting obligations for suspected child abuse;
• ensuring staff have a clear understanding of acceptable/ unacceptable behaviour; and
• talking openly about the importance of ensuring the safety of children within your organisation.

Search for more resources relating to "Child Safe Environments" in the Resources section