Overview

As a governing body you have a responsibility for all staff, both paid and volunteer. You should have procedures in place to deal with complaints from staff about your organisation - for example, conditions of employment, access to coaching and training opportunities, sexual harassment and bullying by staff. 

You also have a responsibility to provide advice and support to your member clubs. This can include being involved in handling complaints of discrimination, harassment and child abuse. 

Complaints should be dealt with using your organisation's policies and procedures, and be consistent with your Constitution and by-laws. Policies need to cover both on-field and off-field behaviour - for example, behaviour at practice, in the clubrooms or on an away trip.

You may need to review and change your policies and procedures, so that they cover both on- and off-field behaviour. This may require that you also update and amend your constitution and by-laws. This is a vital step to ensure that, when confronted with inappropriate or unlawful behaviour, you have the power to act.

The Australian Sports Commission has developed a Member Protection Policy template to assist governing bodies develop appropriate policies and complaint-handling procedures.

The information in this section gives you an overview of the common steps in responding to a discrimination, harassment and child abuse complaint.

This information is intended as a guide only, and is not a substitute for independent legal or professional advice.

Where to next>> Managing discrimination and harassment complaints