Child Protection Policy

The issue of child abuse is a complex problem that has an impact on all areas of society, including participation in sport and recreation activities. The Wood Royal Commission into the NSW Police Service, led to increased community awareness of the significant number of child sexual assaults and incidents of abuse, which occur. It also highlighted the need for the development and implementation of strategies to protect children from abusive situations.

The Como West Jannali Junior Sports Club Incorporated, acknowledges its responsibility of protecting children from abuse, by implementing strategies that will assist in preventing child abuse from occurring.

The Como West Jannali JSC Inc. believes it has taken a pro-active role in relation to child protection and intervention. These strategies will help to foster a safe and positive environment for children and young people to participate in the sport of soccer within our Club, the Sutherland Shire and NSW.

In addition, the development of Child Protection Policy and Guidelines provides Como West Jannali JSC with an excellent risk management tool for developing prevention strategies and for the effective management of child abuse issues within our sport.

Information contained in this document will create a framework and provide direction for employees, officials, coaches, volunteers, members and parents of children and young people involved in The Como West Jannali Junior Sports Club Inc. and affiliated member organisations. It will help deliver a consistent approach to child abuse prevention at all levels within the game of soccer.

Policy Statement
The Como West Jannali Junior Sports Club Inc. is committed to ensuring that the health, safety and welfare of children is maintained at all times during their participation in activities run by Como West Jannali JSC and its affiliated member bodies. Como West Jannali JSC aims to promote a safe environment for all children and to assist all managers, coaches, referees, members and volunteers to recognise child abuse and neglect and follow the appropriate notification guidelines when reporting alleged abuse.

Why?
The focus of the policy and guidelines is the prevention of child abuse in the sporting environment, specifically Soccer in the Sutherland Shire.

This policy and guidelines promote the care and protection of children participating in Soccer and Netball and provides information and direction for officials, coaches, manages, volunteers and members of the organisation.

This policy and guidelines will assist Como West Jannali JSC in establishing coordinated
strategies for dealing with the problem of child abuse and neglect in a responsible, effective and consistent manner.

Key Objectives
Through the development of this policy Como West Jannali JSC’s objectives are to:
• Provide information to assist employees and volunteers in dealing with all forms of child abuse.
• Provide comprehensive guidelines relating to risk minimisation and reporting/notification guidelines.
• Provide direction to all employees and volunteers regarding their legal responsibilities under child protection legislation.
• Promote and adopt Como West Jannali JSC principles for child protection and intervention amongst volunteers, coaches, managers, members and parents of Children participating in the organisation’s programs and competitions.

Scope
The Child Protection Policy of Como West Jannali JSC is applicable to all management and employees (paid, voluntary, permanent or casual) of Como West Jannali JSC and its affiliated members of the Sutherland Shire Junior Soccer Football Association and Soccer NSW Ltd.

Implementation of Policy
In order to implement the child protection legislation Como West Jannali JSC Inc. will undertake to:
• Implement strategies and guidelines that focus on the best interests of children and meet the requirements of child protection legislation.
• Promote a safe and supportive environment for all children and young people participating in activities, which are under the control of Soccer NSW Ltd.
• Increase awareness and emphasise the importance of child protection issues in a sporting environment to all those involved with the activities of Soccer NSW Ltd. This includes administrators, coaches, officials, athletes, parents and their children.
• Ensure that all officials and office bearers of Como West Jannali JSC are aware of their responsibilities arising form recent child protection legislation, in particular, the requirement under the Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998, to inform their employers if they have been convicted of a serious sex offence.

Expectations
Administrators, coaches, officials, members and volunteers often have a high level of contact with children in the sporting environment and play a major part in the successful operation of sporting activities.

Coaches and officials are often seen as role models. They have significant influence on the children they come into contact with and therefore have significant responsibilities.

Como West Jannali JSC expects that all managers, coaches and officials whether
paid or unpaid, who participate in organised sport under the banner of this organisation will commit to implementing risk management strategies developed by Como West Jannali JSC for child protection.

Policy Review
The Como West Jannali Junior Sports Club’s Child Protection Policy and Guidelines will be reviewed annually and updated in line with any legislative changes that have significant impact on the manner in which child protection an issues are to be dealt with.