Harassment Free Sport
How would your club handle the following situations:
You’re the coach of a 15-year-old boys team that is on a training camp. One of the female parents has come to the camp to provide support. During the camp she continuously referred to one of the boys as gorgeous, would run her fingers through his hair and suggest that he could put his shoes under her bed anytime. You confronted the parent on the camp but she could not see what the problem was with her behaviour. What would you do?
Several parents and athletes have expressed concerns about inappropriate touching of young athletes by coaches. As the State Coaching Director, should you advise the coaches that there is to be no physical contact with junior athletes? What advice/information would you provide and whom would you provide this to?
What can your club do?
Harassment in Sport is all to often becoming the rule rather than the exception to the rule. All organisations should have policies in place to protect their members and identified Member Protection Officers trained to deal with these issues. A Member Protection Policy is one part of the wider risk management plan which all clubs and associations should have. The policies are in place to protect everyone within your club and association and to encourage a fun, fair and safe environment for all.
Sample Member Protection Policies can be accessed at the Australian Sports Commission website www.ausport.gov.au/domains/activeaustralia.asp , or on www.playbytherules.net.au.
Criminal History Checks
Is your club or association considering implementing Criminal History Checks?
Do you understand the process, what information you will receive, who to check and why?
Would you like more information before going ahead with the implementation of Criminal History Checks?
Sport and Recreation has developed a booklet called ‘Criminal History Checks for Sport and Recreation Organisations’. This booklet is free of charge and has been developed from the list of commonly asked questions we were receiving from sport and recreation organisations in relation to the topic.
To receive your free copies of the booklet please contact the Sport Services unit of Sport and Recreation on 1800 045 678.
Courses
Sport and Recreation offers the following courses to organisations:
For details and further information on these courses please email participation.dsr@nt.gov.au or telephone:
Darwin:
Sport Education Coordinator
(08) 8982 2301
Katherine:
Katherine Regional Manager
(08) 8973 8798
Alice Springs:
Southern Region Coordinator
(08) 8951 6433
Sport and Recreation has a list of trained Member Protection Officers for members of sport and recreation organisations who feel that they have been discriminated against or harassed and would like someone to talk to. Details of the issue are not required to be provided when requesting this list. This list can be obtained by calling 8982 2301.
Any acts of harassment are unlawful and can be reported to your local police station. Acts of discrimination can also be referred to the Anti-Discrimination Commission on 8999 1444.
Information and online training for administrators, players, coaches and officials can also be found at www.playbytherules.net.au. This is a fantastic tool which clubs and associations can use to assist in the implementation of their Member Protection Policy and to train all members in fun, fair and safe play.
You’re the coach of a 15-year-old boys team that is on a training camp. One of the female parents has come to the camp to provide support. During the camp she continuously referred to one of the boys as gorgeous, would run her fingers through his hair and suggest that he could put his shoes under her bed anytime. You confronted the parent on the camp but she could not see what the problem was with her behaviour. What would you do?
Several parents and athletes have expressed concerns about inappropriate touching of young athletes by coaches. As the State Coaching Director, should you advise the coaches that there is to be no physical contact with junior athletes? What advice/information would you provide and whom would you provide this to?
What can your club do?
Harassment in Sport is all to often becoming the rule rather than the exception to the rule. All organisations should have policies in place to protect their members and identified Member Protection Officers trained to deal with these issues. A Member Protection Policy is one part of the wider risk management plan which all clubs and associations should have. The policies are in place to protect everyone within your club and association and to encourage a fun, fair and safe environment for all.
Sample Member Protection Policies can be accessed at the Australian Sports Commission website www.ausport.gov.au/domains/activeaustralia.asp , or on www.playbytherules.net.au.
Criminal History Checks
Is your club or association considering implementing Criminal History Checks?
Do you understand the process, what information you will receive, who to check and why?
Would you like more information before going ahead with the implementation of Criminal History Checks?
Sport and Recreation has developed a booklet called ‘Criminal History Checks for Sport and Recreation Organisations’. This booklet is free of charge and has been developed from the list of commonly asked questions we were receiving from sport and recreation organisations in relation to the topic.
To receive your free copies of the booklet please contact the Sport Services unit of Sport and Recreation on 1800 045 678.
Courses
Sport and Recreation offers the following courses to organisations:
- Information sessions on Harassment Free Sport
- Member Protection Officer training courses
- Member Protection Officer Children and Young People training courses
For details and further information on these courses please email participation.dsr@nt.gov.au or telephone:
Darwin:
Sport Education Coordinator
(08) 8982 2301
Katherine:
Katherine Regional Manager
(08) 8973 8798
Alice Springs:
Southern Region Coordinator
(08) 8951 6433
Sport and Recreation has a list of trained Member Protection Officers for members of sport and recreation organisations who feel that they have been discriminated against or harassed and would like someone to talk to. Details of the issue are not required to be provided when requesting this list. This list can be obtained by calling 8982 2301.
Any acts of harassment are unlawful and can be reported to your local police station. Acts of discrimination can also be referred to the Anti-Discrimination Commission on 8999 1444.
Information and online training for administrators, players, coaches and officials can also be found at www.playbytherules.net.au. This is a fantastic tool which clubs and associations can use to assist in the implementation of their Member Protection Policy and to train all members in fun, fair and safe play.