Child Safety

Welcome to season 2023!

As the nominated child safety officer, I’m the junior footy point of contact for all child safety issues and I’m here to proactively make junior footy safer for children.

My role is to:

(a) Policies and procedures:  review, update and manage the child safety policies and procedures

(b) Accreditations:  ensure all junior footy officials and volunteers have their required accreditations and training

Season Club Sponsor

 
 
 
 

Policies and procedures

From 01/01/2017, the Child Safe Standards (standards) apply to organisations that provide sporting services to children within Victoria.  The standards apply to the organisation as a whole (not just the area that involves children) and to all people in the organisation, including the management committee and paid staff and volunteers - and are intended to increase the safety of children within the organisation.

In response to the introduction of the standards, the league and its clubs are required to implement measures to ensure compliance with the standards and to instil a culture of child safety in the organisation.  The league has established a child safety training hub to share and access further resources here.

By implementing the standards, South Melbourne Districts aims to provide kids with a safe, supportive and inclusive environment which develops, promotes and encourages participation in Australian Rules Football. South Melbourne Districts has designed and developed the following policies and procedures, which are reviewed and updated regularly:

  1. Child Safe Policy

    The child safe policy is a statement of South Melbourne Districts’ commitment to child safety and specifies its position on child safety and what will happen if an incident occurs.

  2. Child Safe Code of Conduct

    The child safe code of conduct establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children and specifies how South Melbourne Districts expects its officials and volunteers to behave.

  3. Child Safe Recruitment Policy

    The child safe recruitment policy specifies minimum standards of recruiting junior footy personnel to ensure South Melbourne Districts embeds screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing officials and volunteers.

  4. Child Safe Incident Reporting Procedure

    The child safe incident reporting procedure establishes a process for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse.

  5. Child Safe Incident Reporting Form

    The child safe incident reporting form is the form used to respond to and report suspected child abuse.

I urge all junior footy officials, volunteers, parents and players to read and familiarise themselves with these documents and fully understand their responsibilities, rights and risks in relation to child safety.

 
 

Accreditations

If an individual is assigned a role within junior footy which requires an accreditation and has not obtained that accreditation, they must not work in that role until they’ve obtained the accreditation and uploaded the details to PlayHQ.  It’s an offence for the individual to work in the role and for South Melbourne Districts to permit the individual to work in the role without a WWCC.

For more info on accreditations for junior footy officials and volunteers, click here.

If you have any questions, queries or concerns about child safety in and around South Melbourne Districts, please feel free to contact me.

Wishing all junior footy players a fun and safe season 2023!

David Collett
Child Safety and Incident Officer
M: 0409 336 131
E: childsafetyofficer@smdsc.com.au