Note: This policy has been updated and submitted to DHS (Department of Human Services and will be posted here soon

Following the enactment of the new Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 all organisations providing sporting activities and services with a significant membership or involvement of children must provide child safe environments. Further information about child safe enivironments is on the Department of Hunman Services website here 

One of the requirements is for the organisation to lodge a child Safe Environments Statement with the Department of Human Services, which SAISA has done.

The SAISA Child Safe Protection Policy is presented here. It demonstrates the strong commitment SAISA has to promoting the interests, safety and well-being of children and young people by establishing and maintaining child safe and child friendly environments. 
PDF version of this document here

Scope
Everyone involved with SAISA, its affiliated clubs, committees and activities is responsible for the care and protection of children and young people less than 18 years of age. This includes reporting information about any form of suspected child abuse to the relevant authority or agency. 

As such, this policy applies to all members, parents, guardians and caregivers, coaches, team managers, volunteers, officials.

Commitment to child safety
All children and young people who come to SAISA have a right to feel and be safe.

SAISA aims to create a child safe and child friendly environment where all children and young people are respected, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. The safety and well-being of all children and young people accessing our services will always be our first priority.

This means that SAISA will:

• Take a proactive stance on child protection issues; 
• Value the opinions and views of children and young people;
• Assist children and young people to build skills that will assist them to participate in society;
• Focus on the protection of children and young people and take appropriate action to protect them from harm;
• Provide policies for its members to follow.

Code of Conduct
All members are made aware of, and must abide by, the SAISA Code of Conduct.

The Code of Conduct was adapted from a model framework produced by the SA Government in consultation with a number of sporting and recreational bodies and addresses the concerns raised by children and young people, volunteers, parents and coaches who use SAISA services.

The SAISA Code of Conduct can be found here: http://saisa.org.au/default.asp?id=346

Children and young people's participation
Children and young people or their families are encouraged to express their views, concerns and make suggestions regarding child safe environments. Wherever possible SAISA will act on matters raised.

Recruitment practices
SAISA presently has no employees.

Working With Children Check
SAISA Officials, coaches, affiliated Club committee members and their officials, must apply for a working with children check (WWCC) from the South Australian Department of Human Services (DHS) Screening Unit. These checks are movable between roles and jobs.
There is a transition period for people who had a screening before 1 July 2019.
For more information visit the Screening Unit webpage.

Risk assessment
Risk assessments are made by SAISA and take note of input from all users of SAISA services.

A typical risk assessment:

• Identifies what could go wrong;
• Ranks the likelihood of the risk occurring;
• Ranks the impact of the risk;
• Identifies ways to mitigate the risk.

Reporting suspected child abuse and neglect
SAISA officials and volunteers may be mandated notifiers.
Mandated notifiers are legally required to notify the Department for Child Protection if they suspect on reasonable grounds that a child or young person is, or may be, at risk. View the Mandated Notifiers page on the DHS website here

If you are not a mandated reporrter but need to report suspected child abuse visit this page on the SA Government Report Child Abuse here

Breaches of the child safe policy
Breaches are dealt with using the processes of the Member Protection Policy and Grievance Procedure.

See SAISA website Policies page: http://saisa.org.au/default.asp?id=288

Harassment/Bullying
SAISA opposes all forms of harassment, discrimination and bullying. These matters are taken seriously and anyone who believes they have been, or another person has been harassed, discriminated against or bullied is encourage to raise this matter with SAISA. See Grievance Procedure: http://saisa.org.au/default.asp?id=337

Education
If you would like to complete a Child Safety online course or become a Child Safety Officer please visit the “Play by the Rules” website to start your free training. The Office for Recreation & Sport (ORS) runs free Child Safe Officers Courses throughout the year. See: http://ors.sa.gov.au/

For further information go to: https://www.playbytherules.net.au/

For further information on Child Safe Environments Compliance go to:

https://dhs.sa.gov.au/services/community-and-family-services/child-safe-environments

 

Page updated Dec 2020