The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and Safe Work Australia have developed the Sporting clubs guide to a safe workplace, the first of three guides to educate and assist sporting organisations with their work health and safety (WHS) responsibilities.

The guide, which is the first of its kind, provides information and advice on WHS, outlines responsibilities and provides useful fact sheets so clubs can properly understand their duties under recently revised laws.

Since the release of the Commonwealth’s Work Health and Safety Act 2012, people conducting a business or undertaking (such as organisations and clubs) and workers (including volunteers) are protected by the same WHS laws across Australia.

“There are many individuals who contribute to Australia’s diverse sporting organisations and clubs, and everyone has a right to feel safe at work, regardless of if they are paid or volunteer workers,” says Kevin Thompson, Director of Workforce Development Support at the ASC.

“The ASC encourages all sporting organisations and clubs to read the Sporting clubs guide to a safe workplace to ensure they are complying and providing a safe and secure workplace.” 

The information provided in the guide is to be read in conjunction with the relevant state or territory’s approved WHS Codes of Practice, and is not intended to be read in place of WHS laws.

Look out for another two guides published this year for state and national sporting organisations.

More information:

To find out more read the guide or view the factsheets visit here. Additional resources are available on the Safe Work Australia website.