Member Protection Update – September 2025
Confusion around Verifying WWC Numbers
Several clubs have contacted FNSW recently to clarify the difference between the legal requirement to verify WWC Numbers with the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG), and the requirement to cite WWC Numbers in Play Football. FNSW confirms that the two are not linked, and that verifying WWC Numbers in the OCG system remains the most important step in the WWCC process.
To clarify:
- It is a legal requirement for clubs to verify WWC Numbers in the NSW OCG online employer portal, and
- It is a Football Australia requirement for clubs to cite WWC Numbers in Play Football.
The most important step in the WWCC process is the verifying of all WWC Numbers in the OCG online employer portal. This is because verifying a person’s WWC Number connects the worker (employee or volunteer) to the OCG’s continuous monitoring system, which ensures that the club will be notified if the WWCC cleared status for any of their workers changes to barred from working with children.
The requirement for clubs to cite WWC Numbers in Play Football, is separate, and forms part of the FA safeguarding framework to ensure that everyone working or volunteering with children in football holds a valid WWC Number, and that the WWC Number recorded in Play Football has been verified by the relevant club, in the OCG online employer portal.
For information about Verifying WWC Numbers click here
To start verifying WWC Numbers Click here
Club Complaint Handling
Clubs play an integral role in responding to issues and complaints in sport.
Here are some new resources designed to assist clubs.
Dealing with complaints in community sport
Complaint handling for sport clubs & associations
Sport Complaint Handling training course
New Sport Integrity Australia Resources
Bullying in Sport – what it is & how to manage it
Safeguarding guide for managing high-risk activities
Coach-athlete relationships – what’s healthy & what’s not
Coach-athlete relationships factsheet
SIA Edge – new Sport elearning platform
Sport Integrity Australia recently announced the launch of a new and improved eLearning platform – SIA EDGE.
Combining the courses previously available through Play by the Rules, SIA EDGE now offers an improved user experience.
To log in:
- Visit elearning.sportintegrity.gov.au and enter your email and SIA password to log in OR
- If you have not logged in since 1 July or were a previous user of Play by The Rules, visit elearning.sportintegrity.gov.au and select “Forgot Password?”. Follow the instructions to reset your password. OR
- If you are new to SIA elearning – visit elearning.sportintegrity.gov.au and scroll down to select “Register” and follow the instructions.
For any issues, email education@sportintegrity.gov.au.
UPCOMING SPORT INTEGRITY WEBINARS
Managing a Community Club Sport Complaint
Tuesday 7 October 2025 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/6b9e7771-e015-4d6d-a6f5-afab2a698459@b0407aa6-9de3-479b-8e46-f051393f3e89
Risk Management: Boards & CEOs Duty of Care
Thursday 6 November 2025 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b4da1cf9-644b-4bc1-99f4-5e00810d8a84@b0407aa6-9de3-479b-8e46-f051393f3e89
Member Protection: Managing Sideline Behaviour
Wednesday, 3 December 2025 12.30pm – 1:30pm
Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/63bf8dcc-e700-4ccf-aeca-baa928f3ba44@b0407aa6-9de3-479b-8e46-f051393f3e89
Sport Integrity Australia Webinar Library
- Planning Safe Sport Events
- Handling Member Protection Concerns
- Identifying and Addressing Inappropriate Behaviour
- Clean Sport for Coaches
- Conflict Resolution and Mediation in Sport
Click here to view now – https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/what-we-do/education/webinars
