CHILD SAFE FRAMEWORK
Croquet Victoria’s Child Safe Framework is made up of the Child Safe Policy and Code of Conduct.
This framework is designed for everyone involved with Croquet Victoria, including club officials, coaches, committee members, senior players, parents and guardians, to ensure all children and young people feel welcomed, included and safe from harm or abuse. Child safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
|
Through this framework we seek to empower children and young people, so they are aware of how to respond to inappropriate behaviour and know where to go when they need help.
The Action Plan below takes you through three phases for implementing the Child Safe Framework: Commit; Improve; and Embed. Within these phases are nine easy steps...
|
CHILD SAFE ACTION PLAN
Prior to beginning the Action Plan, it is important that you read and understand
These documents and the others mentioned below can be found via the Child Safe Resources section of this website.
|
ACTION PLAN: COMMIT
STEP 1: COMMIT, ENDORSE AND ADOPT THE POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Endorse the following documents at your next Club or Regional meeting:
-
Croquet Victoria’s Child Safe Policy
-
Croquet Victoria’s Child Safe Code of Conduct
-
Croquet Victoria’s Commitment to Safeguarding Children and Young People
Discuss and sign Croquet Victoria’s Child Safe Declaration as a committee to formally endorse your child safety commitments.
USEFUL RESOURCE
Annual Child Safe Club Declaration
STEP 2: REVIEW AND PLAN
Undertake a child safety review to identify:
-
What you already have in place
-
What you are doing well
-
Where you need to improve
-
Do you need anyone else to help?
Update (or develop) and implement a child safe action plan which will ensure your club or regional association implements Croquet Victoria�s Child Safe policy and meets the eleven Victorian Child Safe Standards.
USEFUL RESOURCES
Child Safe Short Review Template
Child Safe Action Plan Template
Vicsport Child Safety Online Education Program – one interactive learning module per Standard.
STEP 3: SPREAD THE WORD
The documents you have endorsed and adopted above now need to be promoted out to all your members.
You can do this by
STEP 4: FOLLOW THE LEADER
Champion and model a child safe culture at all levels of the club - top down and bottom up.
Have club structures in place, including the club's committee, to support the delivery of your child safety and wellbeing policy at all levels.
Each Club and Regional Association will need to appoint at least one appropriate Child Safe Champion. Their job is to champion the child safety message and ensure that the Club or Regional Association has adopted the Child Safe Policy. This includes that the club or Regional Association implements practices and procedures in line with the Child Safe Code of Conduct.
When you have appointed your Child Safe Champion/s, they should contact members of your croquet community to introduce themselves and put up a poster in the clubrooms so everyone can identify them.
It is also important to include Child Safety as an agenda item for each committee meeting throughout the year – see suggested program. One or two committee members could complete a relevant unit from the Vicsport learning resource before each meeting. The committee should also review any child safety incidents. Regular discussion ensures child safeguarding is at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
Remember, your leaders aren’t just those on the committee, coaches or team captains. They don’t need to have a title. Leaders are the people that step up and act when things need to be done. Everyone can be a child safe leader. Child safety and wellbeing is everyone’s responsibility.
USEFUL RESOURCES
Position Description for Child Safe Champion
Child Safe Champion poster
Child Safe Champion Email Template to Parents and Guardians
Child Safe suggested program of activities
Vicsport Child Safety Online Education Program
ACTION PLAN: IMPROVE
STEP 5: RECRUITMENT, SCREENING AND INDUCTION
Good recruitment practices and robust screening processes play a vital role in preventing harm and abuse to children and young people.
Below are some actions to take throughout your recruitment and onboarding process.
USEFUL RESOURCES
Child Safe Recruitment and Screening Guide
Child Safe Interview Questions
Child Safe Reference Check Template
WWCC and Background Check Register Template
Clubs and Regional Associations should also use the following two forms to help protect Children and Young People.
|
PARENT/GUARDIAN TRANSPORTATION APPROVAL FORM
|
-
To ensure the safety of Children and Young People, a Transportation Approval Form should be provided to a Club or Regional Association nominated Person in Authority, specifying who is allowed to pick up their child from training and matches.
-
Where this is not possible, the parent/guardian should send a text message or email to the team coach, team manager and Person in Authority providing approval.
|
|
IMAGE CONSENT FORM
|
|
|
STEP 6: ENGAGE AND EMPOWER CHILDREN
It is important to engage children, young people and their families. Doing this will help your club or regional association foster an environment where your members feel valued, seen and respected.
Parents, carers and families are the primary influence on children's involvement, learning and development in your sport. You can work with families and guardians to strengthen key messages around child safety, including how adults and other children should be behaving in your club and how to speak up if they feel unsafe.
If parents, carers and families know what behaviour is expected in the club, they can also keep an eye out for unsafe behaviours and raise concerns.
When engaging with children and young people it is vital that we empower them about their rights, enable them to participate in decisions that affect them, and take them seriously. Children and young people are more likely to raise concerns or complaints in a club environment that empowers and listens to them. You can do this by:
-
Asking them what would help to foster a safer, more inclusive environment and opportunities for them.
-
Creating a youth advisory or leadership group.
-
Inviting children to meetings or to form part of event planning groups.
-
Starting a suggestion box or QR code.
U SEFUL RESOURCES
Child Safe Parents and Guardian Guide
Child Safe Guide for Teens
Child Safe template for email to Parents and Guardians
STEP 7: UPDATE YOUR FORMS
Update your registration forms to ensure that they contain the following acknowledgment:
I agree to be bound by any Codes of Conduct and policies of [INSERT CLUB/ REGIONAL ASSOCIATION] for the time being in force, including Croquet Victoria’s Child Safe Policy, and Croquet Victoria’s Child Safe Code of Conduct.
Review your communication material and processes to ensure they are accessible and meet the needs of your diverse members, and are available in relevant languages and simple formats.
STEP 8: CELEBRATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE
Pay attention to and acknowledge the needs of children and young people including the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families.
It is important for club committee members, volunteers, coaches and officials to understand children and young people’s diverse circumstances and provide support where needed.
This includes planning your calendar of events as well as education opportunities for staff and volunteers.
Clubs are stronger when diversity is valued and respected, because children can access opportunities to fulfil their potential. Ways to show your respect for diversity can be through:
-
Celebrating days of significance and events of importance. (eg Diwali, NAIDOC week, Pride Month, International Day of People with a Disability, International Day of the Child).
-
Ensuring all environments (physical and online) include positive images or actions that make children feel safe, seen and welcomed. This includes Aboriginal children and young people, and those from diverse backgrounds and circumstance.
-
Show your club clearly demonstrates a commitment to the prevention of harm arising from discrimination, for example, by:
ACTION PLAN: LEARN AND EMBED
STEP 9: REGULARLY EVALUATE AND IMPROVE
Review and update your Child Safe practices and risk assessment plan on a regular basis, as well as when an incident occurs.
USEFUL RESOURCES
Child Safe Suggested Program of Activities
Child Safe Short Review Template
DISCLAIMER
While all care has been taken in the preparation of this document, none of the author(s) or Vicsport including its officers, employees and agents, make any representation or warranty as to, or take any responsibility for, the accuracy, reliability, completeness or currency of any information or recommendations contained in this document, nor its usefulness in achieving any purpose. Vicsport is not liable to users of this document for any loss or damage however caused resulting from the use of this document and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the information or your reliance upon it. Vicsport recommends users seek independent legal advice to ensure compliance with the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act and the Child Safe Standards. Vicsport reserves all of its rights.
