Child Protection

The issue of child abuse is a complex problem that has an impact on all areas of society, including participation in sport and recreation activities. The Wood Royal Commission into the NSW Police Service, led to increased community awareness of the significant number of child sexual assaults and incidents of abuse, which occur. It also highlighted the need for the development and implementation of strategies to protect children from abusive situations.

The North Sutherland Rockets Soccer Club Inc. acknowledges its responsibility of protecting children from abuse. By implementing strategies that will assist in preventing child abuse from occurring, North Sutherland Soccer CLub believes it has taken a pro-active role in relation to child protection and intervention. These strategies will help to foster a safe and positive environment for children and young people to participate in the sport of soccer within our club..

In addition, the development of Child Protection Policy and Guidelines provides the North Sutherland Rockets with an excellent risk management tool for developing prevention strategies and for the effective management of child abuse issues within sport. Information contained in this document will create a framework and provide direction for employees, officials, coaches, volunteers, members and parents of children and young people involved in the North Sutherland Rockets Soccer Club, and affiliated member organisations. It will help deliver a consistent approach to child abuse prevention at all levels within the game of soccer .

Policy Statement

The North Sutherland Rockets Soccer Club Inc. is committed to ensuring that the health, safety and welfare of children is maintained at all times during their participation in activities run by the soccer club and its affiliated member bodies. The North Sutherland Rockets aims to promote a safe environment for all children and to assist all employees, coaches, referees, members and volunteers to recognise child abuse and neglect and follow the appropriate notification guidelines when reporting alleged abuse.

Why?

The focus of the policy and guidelines is the prevention of child abuse in the sporting environment, specifically Soccer in the Sutherland Shire. This policy and guidelines promote the care and protection of children participating in soccer and provide information and direction for employees, official, coaches, volunteers and members of the organisation. This policy and guidelines will assist North Sutherland Rockets Soccer Club Inc. in establishing coordinated strategies for dealing with the problem of child abuse and neglect in a responsible, effective and consistent manner.

Key Objectives

Through the development of this policy North Sutherland Rockets Soccer Club Inc. objectives are to:

• Provide information to assist employees and volunteers in dealing with all forms of child abuse.
• Provide comprehensive guidelines relating to risk minimisation and reporting/notification guidelines.
• Provide direction to all employees and volunteers regarding their legal responsibilities under child protection legislation.
• Promote and adopt Soccer NSW Ltd principles for child protection and intervention amongst employees, volunteers, coaches, members and parents of Children participating in the organisation’s programs and competitions.

Scope

The Child Protection Policy of The North Sutherland Rockets Soccer Club Inc. is applicable to all management and employees (paid, voluntary, permanent or casual)

Implementation of Policy

In order to implement the child protection legislation The North Sutherland Rockets Soccer Club Inc. will undertake to:

• Implement strategies and guidelines that focus on the best interests of children and meet the requirements of child protection legislation.
• Promote a safe and supportive environment for all children and young people participating in activities, which are under the control of Soccer NSW Ltd.
• Increase awareness and emphasise the importance of child protection issues in a sporting environment to all those involved with the activities of Soccer NSW Ltd. This includes administrators, coaches, officials, athletes, parents and their children.
• Ensure that all officials and volunteers of The North Sutherland Soccer Club Inc. are aware of their responsibilities arising form recent child protection legislation, in particular, the requirement under the Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998, to inform the club committee if they have been convicted of a serious sex offence.

Expectations

Administrators, coaches, officials, members and volunteers often have a high level of contact with children in the sporting environment and play a major part in the successful operation of sporting activities. Coaches and officials are often seen as role models. They have significant influence on the children they come into contact with and therefore have significant responsibilities. North Sutherland Rockets Soccer Club Inc. expects that all administrators, coaches and officials whether paid or unpaid, who participate in organised sport under the banner of this organisation will commit to implementing risk management strategies developed by Soccer NSW Ltd for child protection.

Policy Review

The North Sutherland Rockets Soccer Club Inc. Child Protection Policy and Guidelines will be reviewed annually and updated in line with any legislative changes that have significant impact on the manner in which child protection an issues are to be dealt with.

(adapted from the Soccer NSW Child Protection Policy)