Springwood Seals is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people who participate in our clubs activities and use our services. We support the rights of the child and will act at all times to ensure that a child safe environment is maintained. We also support the rights and wellbeing of our volunteers and encourage their active participation in building and maintaining a secure and safe environment for all participants.
The main objective of this policy is to maintain responsible behaviour and the making of informed decisions by members and other participants in this club. It outlines our commitment to a child’s right to be safe and protected from abuse. Our policy informs everyone involved in our club of their legal and ethical rights and responsibilities and the standards of behaviour that are expected of them in the instance where child abuse and/or neglect may have occurred or be suspected. It has been developed on behalf of Springwood Seals Netball Club, after review of most up to date Queensland Government and Netball Queensland guidelines in relation to child protection. Information is also provided on how members can identify and effectively and efficiently report concerns relating to a child’s safety.
Working with Children Check Requirements
Springwood Seals will ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to engage the most suitable and appropriate people to work with children, especially those in positions that involve regular unsupervised contact with children. This may be achieved using a range of screening measures. Such measures will aim to minimise the likelihood of engaging (or retaining) people who are unsuitable to work with children.
Springwood Seals will ensure that Working with Children Checks are conducted for volunteers working with children, where an assessment is required by law. Working with Children Checks aim to create child-safe environments and to protect children and young people involved in our sport from physical and sexual harm.
They assess the suitability of people to work with children and young people and can involve:
Working with Children Check requirements vary across Australia. All volunteers within Springwood Seals Netball Club who directly and/or individually deal with children under the age of 18 will undergo the Working with Children Check and will hold a positive notice Blue Card (where exemptions do not apply), as required by Queensland law. Those relevant volunteers who do not undergo a Working with Children Check or hold a Blue Card will not be permitted to deal with children or young people. If a volunteer’s application for a Blue Card is refused, Springwood Seals Netball Club will refuse that person’s involvement with children and young people registered with the club. For further information on Blue Cards, please contact Queensland Government Blue Card Services.
Website: www.bluecard.qld.gov.au
Phone: 1800 113 611
Creating a Child-safe Environment
As outlined in Netball Queensland’s Child Protection & Working with Children Check Requirements policy, the following should be considered and enacted by volunteers over the age of 18 at Springwood Seals to minimise harm to children:
Reporting
As of 5th July 2021, strengthened child sexual offence reporting and protection laws have come into effect, whereby all adults have a legal and ethical responsibility to report sexual offences against children to police, unless there is reasonable justification not to. This is outlined in Criminal Code Act 1899 – 229BC Failure to report belief of child sexual offence committed in relation to child. Department of Communities (Child Safety Services), Queensland Police Service or another regulatory authority must be notified if reasonable suspicion has been formed that a child:
As per changes on 1st October 2017 to Netball Queensland’s Child Protection & Working with Children Check Requirements policy in alignment with Queensland Government standards, laws and regulations, it is mandatory for an adult to act to protect a child from harm and respond to allegations where there is reasonable belief that a child is at risk or a victim of abuse and/or neglect. Failure to acknowledge, act and protect a child from, or take action to remove the risk of, sexual abuse and report such abuse, either current or past, will be considered a criminal offence. Penalties for failure to act result in a maximum jail term of five years and up to three years imprisonment for failure to report, unless there is reasonable excuse not to. Reasonable excuses include:
All allegations should be actioned as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours, to Springwood Seals’ designated responder who can then support you to contact the Department of Communities (Child Safety Services), Queensland Police Service (PoliceLink on 131 444) or another regulatory authority. In an emergency situation, phone Triple Zero (000).
For a copy of our full Child Protection Policy, please click the link below:
The main objective of this policy is to maintain responsible behaviour and the making of informed decisions by members and other participants in this club. It outlines our commitment to a child’s right to be safe and protected from abuse. Our policy informs everyone involved in our club of their legal and ethical rights and responsibilities and the standards of behaviour that are expected of them in the instance where child abuse and/or neglect may have occurred or be suspected. It has been developed on behalf of Springwood Seals Netball Club, after review of most up to date Queensland Government and Netball Queensland guidelines in relation to child protection. Information is also provided on how members can identify and effectively and efficiently report concerns relating to a child’s safety.
Working with Children Check Requirements
Springwood Seals will ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to engage the most suitable and appropriate people to work with children, especially those in positions that involve regular unsupervised contact with children. This may be achieved using a range of screening measures. Such measures will aim to minimise the likelihood of engaging (or retaining) people who are unsuitable to work with children.
Springwood Seals will ensure that Working with Children Checks are conducted for volunteers working with children, where an assessment is required by law. Working with Children Checks aim to create child-safe environments and to protect children and young people involved in our sport from physical and sexual harm.
They assess the suitability of people to work with children and young people and can involve:
- criminal history checks;
- signed declarations;
- referee checks; and
- other relevant background checks to assess a person’s suitability to work with children and young people.
Working with Children Check requirements vary across Australia. All volunteers within Springwood Seals Netball Club who directly and/or individually deal with children under the age of 18 will undergo the Working with Children Check and will hold a positive notice Blue Card (where exemptions do not apply), as required by Queensland law. Those relevant volunteers who do not undergo a Working with Children Check or hold a Blue Card will not be permitted to deal with children or young people. If a volunteer’s application for a Blue Card is refused, Springwood Seals Netball Club will refuse that person’s involvement with children and young people registered with the club. For further information on Blue Cards, please contact Queensland Government Blue Card Services.
Website: www.bluecard.qld.gov.au
Phone: 1800 113 611
Creating a Child-safe Environment
As outlined in Netball Queensland’s Child Protection & Working with Children Check Requirements policy, the following should be considered and enacted by volunteers over the age of 18 at Springwood Seals to minimise harm to children:
- making sure children and young people know it is their right to feel safe at all times;
- making sure children and young people are safe by monitoring their activities and ensuring their environment meets all safety requirements;
- taking anything a child or young person says seriously and following up on their concerns;
- letting children and young people know there is no secret too awful, no story too terrible, that they can’t share with someone they trust;
- teaching children and young people about appropriate and inappropriate contact in a manner appropriate to their age and level of understanding;
- teaching children and young people to tell volunteers of any suspicious activities or people; and
- listening to children and young people and letting them know that committee are available to them if they have concerns.
Reporting
As of 5th July 2021, strengthened child sexual offence reporting and protection laws have come into effect, whereby all adults have a legal and ethical responsibility to report sexual offences against children to police, unless there is reasonable justification not to. This is outlined in Criminal Code Act 1899 – 229BC Failure to report belief of child sexual offence committed in relation to child. Department of Communities (Child Safety Services), Queensland Police Service or another regulatory authority must be notified if reasonable suspicion has been formed that a child:
- has suffered,
- is suffering or
- is at unacceptable risk of suffering
As per changes on 1st October 2017 to Netball Queensland’s Child Protection & Working with Children Check Requirements policy in alignment with Queensland Government standards, laws and regulations, it is mandatory for an adult to act to protect a child from harm and respond to allegations where there is reasonable belief that a child is at risk or a victim of abuse and/or neglect. Failure to acknowledge, act and protect a child from, or take action to remove the risk of, sexual abuse and report such abuse, either current or past, will be considered a criminal offence. Penalties for failure to act result in a maximum jail term of five years and up to three years imprisonment for failure to report, unless there is reasonable excuse not to. Reasonable excuses include:
- believing the matter has already been reported;
- if the alleged victim is now an adult and they do not want the matter reported;
- if reporting the matter could endanger the alleged victim
All allegations should be actioned as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours, to Springwood Seals’ designated responder who can then support you to contact the Department of Communities (Child Safety Services), Queensland Police Service (PoliceLink on 131 444) or another regulatory authority. In an emergency situation, phone Triple Zero (000).
For a copy of our full Child Protection Policy, please click the link below:
| springwood_seals_child_protection_policy.pdf |
