ASC Home
>
Sports Official >
Roles and responsibilities > Member protection - Implications for the official
Member protection - Implications for the official
Issue: Volume 3 Number 1
In today’s sporting culture, officials are becoming increasingly accountable for their actions. The days of officials being able to maintain a low profile and get on with their jobs without abuse, lack of respect or undue scrutiny have long passed.
A clear area of concern that has emerged from Year of the Official research is that sport is facing its greatest challenge in recruiting and retaining officials. The high level of abuse officials receive and a lack of respect for their role in sport have been identified as significant reasons for officials leaving sport.
The safety and wellbeing of every member of a sporting organisation is integral to the future of sport. As membership and volunteer numbers decline, organisations need to look at practices and procedures that create safe, welcoming and enjoyable environments.
A member protection policy can assist a sport in this respect in a number of ways. It can assist in changing an undesirable culture, for example, the attitude that not only is it all right to abuse the referee, but that it is the done thing. By implementing and enforcing codes of behaviour for everyone involved, including players, coaches, officials, parents and spectators, a sport can start to promote the type of behaviour it wants to prevail within that sport.
A member protection policy provides everyone with the tools and guidelines to protect their rights as well as those they interact with. In this way, the member protection policy can help to protect officials, but it also reminds officials to be aware of their behaviour towards others. If officials know that they are acting in a manner consistent with the sport’s guidelines, they can be confident that they have the support of the organisation.
Education is important in the implementation of the policy, because it can be used to let members know why it is important to follow codes of behaviour. It provides an opportunity for the sport to impress on everyone involved the need to treat others with the same level of respect they would expect for themselves. For the official, it is reassuring to know that everyone in the sport has been educated on what is acceptable behaviour and what the sport expects of them.
A significant benefit of a member protection policy is that it gives a sport the capacity to enforce appropriate behaviour and take action against people who engage in unacceptable behaviour. For the official, knowing that the sport has this capacity can make their job significantly safer and more attractive.
Legal requirements
(Extract from Child Protection Overview, Australian Sports Commission, 2001)
Child abuse is illegal in all states and territories of Australia, with each having its own laws that cover the reporting and investigation of cases of child abuse.
Mandatory reporting of child abuse (also called 'notification'), where some professions are legally required to report any abuse they suspect or notice, applies in all states and territories (with the exception of Western Australia) although the professions involved are different.
In New South Wales and Queensland, specific child-protection and intervention legislation now applies to the sport and recreation industry. The Victorian government is currently developing a Working with Children Check scheme based on the NSW and Qld legislation. The South Australian Government recently commissioned and released a review of child protection. It is now preparing legislation based on the recommendations of the report aimed at improving methods of protecting children.
Legislation alone is not enough to protect children. Sporting organisations need to adopt several basic principles and implement a range of risk management strategies that address the above points.
An organisation’s ability to use all these processes will depend on available resources. However the most effective resource is informed people. Increasing an adult’s awareness of how abuse can happen, what to look for, and fostering a sense of responsibility for the welfare of children under their care are the most effective strategies an organisation can implement.
As an official, you are one of the most important people in the lives of our young athletes. Don’t take your role lighty.
For more information
Australian Sports Commission
www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/ethics
Child protection information agencies
QLD Commission for Children & Young People (07) 3247 5525 www.childcomm.qld.gov.au
NSW Commission for Children & Young People (02) 9286 7276 www.kids.nsw.gov.au/check/
NSW Ombudsman (02) 9286 1000 www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/child_protection/index.html
Child Wise (03) 9645 8911 www.childwise.net
National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) (02) 9211 0224 www.napcan.org.au
WA Family & Children’s Services (08) 9222 2555
SA Child & Youth Health (08) 8303 1500
NT Family & Children’s Services (08) 8999 4789
ACT Family Services Child Abuse Prevention & Education Unit (02) 6207 1382
