Child Safety and Member Protection Policy

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The CD Elite Basketball Club Child Safety and Member Protection Policy outline the Club's commitment to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for all members, particularly children and young people.

This Policy:

• establishes standards and procedures to prevent harm and protect participants from abuse, neglect, discrimination, harassment, bullying, grooming and exploitation;
•  supports compliance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards, the Working with Children Act 2005 (VIC), and Basketball Victoria's Child Safeguarding and Member Protection Policies;
•  applies to all committee members, coaches, assistant coaches, team managers, volunteers, officials, players, parents, guardians and members of CD Elite Basketball Club.

CD Elite Basketball Club is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where all children and young people are respected, protected and able to participate free from harm.

The Club is committed to:

Zero Tolerance

The Club has zero tolerance for child abuse, neglect, grooming, discrimination, harassment, bullying, vilification or any behaviour that places a child or young person at risk.

Child-Centred Approach

The safety, wellbeing and best interests of children and young people are the highest priority in all Club decisions, activities and operations.

Cultural Safety and Inclusion

The Club actively promotes a culturally safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for:

•  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children;
•  children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
• children with disability;
• children of all genders and sexualities; and
• all children participating in Club activities.

Discrimination, exclusion or unfair treatment will not be tolerated.

Child Participation

Children and young people are encouraged to express their views about matters affecting them. Their opinions will be listened to and considered when making decisions that affect their participation and safety.

Shared Responsibility

Creating a child-safe environment is the responsibility of everyone involved with the Club, including committee members, coaches, volunteers, officials, parents, guardians and players.

The Club is committed to ensuring that all adults working with children are appropriately screened and understand their safeguarding responsibilities.

Working with Children Checks

All coaches, assistant coaches, team managers, committee members, volunteers and any adult (18 years or older) undertaking child-related work must hold and maintain a valid Victorian Working with Children Check before commencing their duties.

Member Protection Declaration

All volunteers must complete the Basketball Victoria Member Protection Declaration Form. This is now completed automatically during the PlayHQ registration at each season.

Recruitment and Screening

Where individuals are not personally known to the Club, appropriate recruitment practices may include:

• identity verification;
• referee checks;
• short interview; and
• confirmation of relevant experience.

Ongoing Compliance

Any person who fails to maintain required screening or declarations may be suspended or removed from child-related duties until compliance is achieved.

All Club personnel are expected to uphold the highest standards of behaviour when interacting with children and young people. 

Open and Observable Environments

Training sessions, games and Club activities involving children will be conducted in open and observable environments. Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend and observe activities.

Supervision

Coaches and team officials must:

• arrive before activities commence;
• ensure appropriate supervision throughout activities; and
•  remain until every child has been collected by a parent, guardian or authorised adult unless alternative arrangements have been confirmed.

Appropriate Physical Contact

Physical contact must always be:

• appropriate;
• necessary;
• respectful;
•  explained where practical; and
• directly related to coaching instruction, injury prevention or first aid.

Unnecessary or intrusive physical contact is prohibited.

Electronic Communication

Communication with junior players must be professional, respectful and directly related to basketball activities.

Where practical:

• parents or guardians should be included in individual communications;
• communication should occur through approved Club channels; and
• private or secret communications should be avoided

The Club will actively identify, assess and minimise risks to children arising from Club activities.

This includes considering:

• supervision arrangements;
• change room and bathroom access;
• travel to and from competitions;
• overnight trips;
• use of photographs and videos;
• online communication; and
• any environment where children may be vulnerable.

Where risks are identified, reasonable measures will be implemented to reduce or eliminate those risks.

The Club encourages the prompt reporting of all child safety concerns.

All concerns will be managed respectfully, confidentially and in accordance with applicable legislation and Basketball Victoria policies.

Immediate Danger

If a child is in immediate danger or requires urgent protection, Victoria Police must be contacted immediately by calling 000.

Internal Reporting

Concerns regarding child safety, inappropriate conduct or breaches of this Policy should be reported as soon as practicable to the Club's Child Safety Officer or the Club President via: president@cdelite.com.au. Reports may be made by children, parents, guardians, members, volunteers or any other person.

External Reporting

Where required, the Club will notify Basketball Victoria's Integrity Team and any relevant statutory authority as soon as practicable, generally within 24 hours of becoming aware of reportable conduct or serious child safeguarding concerns.

Confidentiality

Reports will be handled confidentially, and information will only be shared where necessary to protect children, manage the matter appropriately or where required by law.

Protection from Victimisation

No person will be disadvantaged, intimidated or victimised for making a genuine child safety report or complaint in good faith.

Where permitted or required by law, the Club may share relevant information with Basketball Victoria, Child Protection, Victoria Police or other authorised agencies to protect the safety and wellbeing of children.

The privacy of all individuals will be respected while ensuring child safety remains the primary consideration.

The Club will promote awareness of child safety by:

• sharing this Policy publicly;
• making child safety information available to families;
• requiring annual PlayHQ compliance; and
• supporting a culture where concerns can be raised safely and respectfully.

Failure to comply with this Policy may result in disciplinary action, including:

• removal from Club duties;
• suspension of membership;
• referral to Basketball Victoria;
• referral to Victoria Police or statutory authorities where appropriate; or
• any other action considered necessary to protect children.

This Policy will be reviewed at least every two years, or earlier if required by changes to legislation, Basketball Victoria requirements or following any significant child safety incident.