FFB Matters
FFB Dragon Boat Club Incorporated
MEMBER PROTECTION POLICY
June 12 2011
CONTENTS PAGE
POLICY
7.1 Child Protection
7.2 Supervision
7.3 Taking Images of Children
9.4 Pregnancy
Attachment 1: Codes of Behaviour
Attachment 2: Working with Children Check Requirements
Attachment 3: Duty Statements Attachment 4: Reporting Forms
2
FFB MEMBER PROTECTION POLICY ___________________________________________________________
Introduction
- Mission Statement for FFB Dragon Boat Club Incorporated
To be a much loved club of diverse individuals, fulfilling potential as a team.
The core values embodied and promoted by FFB Dragon Boat Club Incorporated are to:
Value the diversity of every individual Succeed with integrity and respect Support each other
Compete to win, celebrate the journey Live life to the full and have fun doing it!
- Purpose of Our Policy
The main objective of our Member Protection Policy is to maintain responsible behaviour and ethical and informed decision-making by participants in this club. This policy outlines our commitment to a person’s right to be treated with respect and dignity, and to be safe and protected from abuse. Our policy informs everyone involved in our club of his or her legal and ethical rights and responsibilities and the standards of behaviour that are required. It also covers the care and protection of children participating in our club’s activities.
- Who Our Policy Applies to
Our policy applies to everyone involved in the club including committee members, administrators, coaches and all members.
- Extent of Our Policy
Our policy covers unfair decisions (e.g. team selection), breaches of our code of behaviour and inappropriate behaviour that occurs at training, at meetings, at social events organised or sanctioned by the club (or our district, regional, state or national body), on away and overnight trips and any behaviour that brings or is likely to bring our club or sport into disrepute. It also covers behaviour where there is suspicion of harm towards a child or young person.
- Club Responsibilities
We will:
§make any necessary amendments to our Constitution, rules or other policies to enable this policy to be enforceable;
§implement and comply with our policy;
§promote our policy to everyone involved in our club;
§promote and model appropriate standards of behaviour at all times;
§respond to breaches or complaints made under our policy promptly, fairly, and confidentially; §review this policy every 12-18 months; and
§seek advice from, and if necessary or appropriate, refer serious issues to our state body:
Dragon Boats NSW Incorporated.
Serious issues include unlawful behaviour that involves or could lead to significant harm and includes criminal behaviour (e.g. physical assault, sexual assault, child abuse) and any other issues that our state or national body request to be referred to them (e.g. conflict of interest).
- Individual Responsibilities
Everyone associated with our club must:
concern about possible child abuse, discrimination, harassment or other inappropriate behaviour.
- Protection of Children
7.1 Child Protection
Child abuse involves conduct which puts children at risk of harm and takes a number of different forms including:
§Physical abuse
§Sexual abuse – e.g. sexual acts or threats, inappropriate touching or conversations §Emotional abuse – e.g. ill-treating by threats, humiliation, intimidation
§Neglect – e.g. failing to protect a child from foreseeable risk of harm or injury.
Abuse, is usually against the law. We will take measures to protect children involved in our club from harm. We will do this by:
Anyone who reasonably suspects that a child has been or is being abused must report their concerns to the police or relevant government agency. Advise the Club President that you have reported your concerns.
7.2 Supervision
Members under the age of 18 must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult. Our club will provide a level of supervision adequate and relative to the members’ age, maturity, capabilities, level of experience, nature of activity and nature of venue.
7.3 Taking Images of Children
Our club requires that members, wherever possible, obtain permission from a child’s parent/guardian before taking an image of a child that is not their own and ensure that the parent knows the way the image will be used.
If the club uses an image of a child it will avoid naming or identifying the child or it will, wherever possible, avoid using both the first name and surname. We will not display personal information such as residential address, email address or telephone numbers without gaining consent from the parent/guardian. We will only use appropriate images of a child, relevant to our sport.
- Anti-harassment, Discrimination and Bullying
FFB Dragon Boat Club Inc. opposes all forms of harassment, discrimination and bullying. This includes treating or proposing to treat someone less favourably because of a particular characteristic; imposing or intending to impose an unreasonable requirement, condition or practice which has an unequal or disproportionate effect on people with a particular characteristic; or any behaviour that is offensive, abusive, belittling, intimidating or threatening – whether this is face-to-face, indirectly or via communication technologies such as mobile phone and computers. Some forms of harassment, discrimination and bullying are against the law and are based on particular characteristics such as age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, political or religious beliefs, race, and marital status.
Our club takes all claims of harassment, discrimination, bullying and cyber bullying seriously. We encourage anyone who believes they have been harassed, discriminated against or bullied to raise the issue with the club (see Responding to Complaints).
- Inclusive practices
FFB Dragon Boat Club Inc. is welcoming and we will seek to include members from all areas of our community.
9.1 People with a disability
Where possible we will include people with a disability in our teams and club. We will make reasonable effort to enable participation.
9. 2 People from diverse cultures
We will support and respect people from diverse cultures and religions to participate in our club and where possible will accommodate requests for flexibility (e.g. modifications to uniforms).
9.3 Sexual & Gender Identity
All people, regardless of their sexuality, are welcome at our club. We strive to provide a safe environment for participation and will take action over any homophobic behaviour.
9.4 Pregnancy
10. Responding to Complaints
10.1 Complaints
Our club takes all complaints about on and off-field behaviour seriously. Our club will handle complaints based on the principles of procedural fairness (natural justice), that is:
Complaints can be made to the FFB Dragon Boat Club Inc Member Protection Officer or the club President in person, or in writing to:
The President/Member Protection Officer
FFB Dragon Boat Club Inc
c/ - 39B Pentecost Avenue Pymble NSW 2073
More serious complaints may be escalated to our state body DBNSW.
If the complaint relates to suspected child abuse, sexual assault or other criminal activity, then our club will need to report the behaviour to the police and/or relevant government authority and our national body.
Pregnant women should be aware that their own health and wellbeing, and that of their unborn children, should be of utmost importance in their decision making about the way they participate in our sport. We recommend pregnant women to consult with their medical advisers, make themselves aware of the facts about pregnancy in sport and dragon boating, and ensure that they make informed decisions about participation.
10.2 Complaint Handling Process
When a complaint is received by our club, the person receiving the complaint (e.g. President or Member Protection Information Officer will:
§listen carefully and ask questions to understand the nature and extent of the problem; §ask what the complainant would like to happen;
§explain the different options available to help resolve the problem;
§take notes; and
§maintain confidentiality but not necessarily anonymity.
Once the complainant decides on their preferred option for resolution, the club will assist, where appropriate and necessary, with the resolution process. This may involve:
Department of Sport or anti-discrimination agency);
or anti-discrimination agency.
In situations where a complaint is referred to our state association and an inquiry is conducted, the club will:
respondent(s); and
At any stage of the process, a person can seek advice from or lodge a complaint with an anti- discrimination commission or other external agency.
10.3 Disciplinary Measures
Our club will take disciplinary action against anyone found to have breached our policy or made false and malicious allegations. Any disciplinary measure imposed under our policy must:
§Be applied consistent with any contractual and employment rules and requirements;
§Be fair and reasonable;
§Be based on the evidence and information presented and the seriousness of the breach; §Be determined by our Constitution, By Laws and the rules of the game.
Possible measures that may be taken include:
10.4 Appeals
The complainant or respondent can lodge one appeal against decisions of or disciplinary measures imposed by our club to our state association. Appeals must be based on either a denial of natural justice, because of unjust or unreasonable disciplinary measure(s) being imposed, or on the grounds that the decision was not supported by the information/evidence presented and available to the decision maker/club.
Attachment 1: CODES OF BEHAVIOUR
FFB Dragon Boat Club Inc. requires every individual bound by this policy to:
1 Be ethical, fair and honest in all their dealings with other people and FFB Dragon Boat Club Inc;
2 Treat all persons with respect and courtesy and have proper regard for their dignity, rights and obligations;
3 Always place the safety and welfare of children above other considerations;
4 Comply with FFB Dragon Boat Club Inc’s constitution, rules and policies including this member protection policy;