A - There is no evidence to suggest that children are at greater risk of abuse in particular sports, neither is there evidence to suggest that girls are at any greater risk than boys. Any sports club or organisation will be vulnerable if it doesn't take the precautions needed to safeguard the welfare of the children in its care.

Some studies have shown that people involved in elite level sport are at particular risk of abuse. They often are involved in intensive training regimes and competitions that take them away from home for long periods of time, and are often highly dependent on a single adult for physical and psychological support. These people are also in a situation where it is very difficult to speak out about what is happening to them for fear of losing the opportunity to succeed in their sport.

Back to top

A - Your sport organisation is entitled to enforce its policy requirements regardless of whether your state or territory has legislation requiring the coach to undertake a police check, as long as the policy is applied consistently and fairly. and requirements You cannot force the coach to consent to a police records check but you can refuse to appoint or retain the coach if your organisation’s policy requires all coaches (who work with juniors) to submit to a police records check . It may be useful to remind the coach why this action is being taken – to protect both the young people and the coaches within your organisation, and that this is a similar requirement of many other organisations for people who work with young children . In addition, if it is a requirement of the policy, failing to conduct the police check is more likely to give rise to liability. If the coach who is seeking employment does not want to undergo a check, he/she would not be employed. If the coach is already employed then he/she is refusing to follow a reasonable direction that is also a requirement for continued employment, then their contract/employment could be terminated. (for example, schools, Scouts, child care centres and religious groups).

Back to top

A - Unfortunately as the coach is not a member of a sport club, association or national body, your sport cannot apply the policy does not apply to the coach. However, you can encourage athletes and parents to check, when engaging a private coach, if the coach is accredited by the National Coaching Accrediation Scheme and is complying with child protection legislative requirements (for example, in Queensland, a private coach must have a ‘Blue Card’ or ‘Suitability Notice’) . Coaches accredited by National Coaching Accrediation Scheme have signed onto the scheme’s coaches code of ethics).

Back to top

A - In the case of the volunteer position, advise the person you are unable to engage them in that position and find an alternative volunteer. In the case of the existing paid coach, it would depend on a number of factors, including the nature of the coach's duties, the terms of any employment agreement between you and the coach, your organisation’s relevant policies and the laws of the state or territory in which the coach is employed. You should seek legal advice before taking any further action.

Back to top

A - There is no simple answer to the question of whether male-to-female transgenders should be able to participate in women’s sport. You should seek advice from your relevant state human rights and/or equal opportunity commission and/or from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

Six of the eight states and territories currently prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and five (New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory), currently prohibit discrimination on the grounds of transgender identity. There are substantial variations between the state and territory legislation.

For more information, see Transgenders in Sport on the Women in Sport website.

In May 2004, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed on the following statements put forward by its Medical Commission with regards to athletes who have changed sex:

• Individuals undergoing sex reassignment of male to female before puberty should be regarded as girls and women (female). Individuals undergoing female to male reassignment before puberty should be regarded as boys and men (male).
• Individuals undergoing sex reassignment from male to female after puberty (and vice versa) should be eligible for participation in female or male competitions, respectively, under certain conditions. These conditions include whether the surgical anatomical changes have been completed, legal recognition of the individuals assigned sex and whether hormonal therapy appropriate for the assigned sex has been administered.
• The Medical Commission agreed that eligibility should begin no sooner than two years after gonadectomy.
• When the gender of a competing athlete is questioned, the medical delegate (or equivalent) of the relevant sporting body should have the authority to take all appropriate measures for the determination of the gender of a competitor. A confidential case-by-case evaluation should occur.

More information on the consensus to which the IOC agreed is available from the IOC Medical Commission website.

Back to top

A - Subject to confidentiality and privacy obligations, you should follow your sport’s policies relating to complaints regardless of the manner in which you have become aware of the issue. If the rumours are true, your club/organisation should be dealing with the inappropriate behaviour in accordance with its policies. If the rumours are false, your club/organisation should be protecting the person whose reputation is being unfairly damaged. Of course, common sense should be applied when considering whether or not to investigate a rumour. The nature and seriousness of the alleged inappropriate behaviour and the apparent reliability of the information should be taken into account before any action is taken.

Back to top

A - Generally, confidentiality and privacy obligations do not prevent a person reporting a criminal offence. You should consider all of the circumstances, including the seriousness of the alleged offence, the potential for further offences, your organisation’s duty of care to other members, and community standards in deciding whether to comply with the complainant's request not to report the matter. You could advise the complainant that due to the seriousness of the allegation, you may need to seek advice from experts (the relevant authorities) on how to effectively deal with the complaint.

Back to top

A - The member of staff or volunteer must follow the guidelines contained within the sport’s child protection (member protection) policy. They should inform the club's child protection or member protection officer who should inform the local social services or police immediately. If the child protection/member protection officer is not available, the member of staff or volunteer should contact the local social services or police. They do not have to give their name, although it is helpful if they do. Social services and/or the police, together with the organisation’s child protection/member protection officer where appropriate, will decide how and when parents or carers will be informed, and what action to take.

If a child or young person talks about possible abuse, the member of staff or volunteer should:

• try to react calmly
• remember that the child is likely to be frightened or anxious
• tell the child that he or she was right to tell and is not to blame
• listen carefully and take what the child says seriously
• recognise the inherent difficulties interpreting what is said by young children
• ask no more questions than are necessary to ensure that they are clear enough about what has happened to pass the child's concerns on. The child may also be asked to recount their story to social services or the police
• however, don’t prevent a child from recalling events
• reassure the child but do not promise confidentiality. Explain that they will have to speak to someone else who can help
• make a full written record of what had been said, heard and/or seen as soon as possible
• remember that young or children with a disability may not be able to express themselves verbally. Communication differences may mean that it is hard for them to complain or be understood. Sometimes abuse of children with a disability has gone unrecognised because behavioural clues were interpreted as part of their disability.

The member of staff or volunteer should not:

• panic
• allow their shock or distaste to show
• probe for more information than is offered
• speculate or make assumptions about what has happened
• make negative comments about the alleged abuser
• approach the alleged abuser
• make promises or agree to keep secrets.

A - This form of abuse is often referred to as ‘sport rage.’ There are several steps your club can take to prevent it from occurring and promote appropriate behaviour from your members.

Firstly, you need to ensure that your club has stated and promoted the standard of behaviour required of players and participants in the form of a Code of Behaviour. Your state or national association should already have a Code of Conduct which may form part of its Member Protection Policy that as an affiliated organisation your club is required to abide by. Changing the behaviour of this group of parents may simply be a matter of politely reminding the individuals concerned that your club has a Code of Conduct that they need to abide by and providing them with a copy of the document. You may also need to advise them that if they do not abide by it they risk disciplinary action being taken.

Several of the state departments of sport and recreation have programs in place that provide information for sporting organisations on how they can promote and encourage fair play, raise awareness on ‘sport rage’ issues and minimise the instances of officials being abused or harassed. For more information contact your state department of sport and recreation or check the Play by the Rules website for a summary of each of the department’s initiatives. The ASC website also includes a list of positive initiatives that have been introduced by sporting organisations to address ethical issues within their sport. Several of these address parent behaviour and sport rage issues.

Back to top