Child Safe Standards

For the Information of Clubs and Associations

Mandatory Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Standards are built on a positive child-safe culture, clear policies, compliance with the Working with Children Check, Child Safe Standards, and child safe sport practices that together help create and maintain a supportive environment for every child.

It is mandatory for all sport clubs, associations, branches and referee branches in NSW to be compliant with the Child Safe Standards (from 2022) and the Working with Children Check (2000).

The Child Safe Standards strengthen existing governance, policies and child safe practices already operating withing sporting clubs, associations, branches and referee branches, providing a consistent framework to help maintain a safe football environment for children and young people.

Guidelines to the Child Safe Standards

What are the 10 Child Safe Standards?

• The 10 Child Safe Standards

To view the Child Safe Standards in more detail or in other languages – click here

How compliant is your club?

Use this Self-Assessment Tool to identify the areas where your club can strengthen its child safe practices and compliance.

• Child Safe Standards – Self Assessment tool

Getting Started

• 6 Steps to getting started with the Child Safe Standards
• The getting started tracker (document will auto download)

Guidelines

• A Guide to the Child Safe Standards
• A Guide for Boards and Committees

Child Safe Standards Document Templates

All clubs, associations, branches and referee branches are required to have the following in place:

1. Statement of Commitment to Child Safety
2. Club Child Safe Policy
3. Child Safe Code of Conduct
4. Child Safe Reporting Policy
5. Child Safe Recruitment, Induction and Training Policy
6. Child Safe Risk Management Play

DOWNLOAD the Child Safe Standards templates here (zip file auto downloads)

Learning about the Child Safe Standards

• Introduction to the Child Safe Standards (video)
• Understanding the 10 Standards (videos)
• New E-Learning for Clubs & other Child Safe Organisations
• New Register for Child Safe Standards training – webinars or face-to-face

Child Safe Risk Management

• Understanding child safe risks in sport (video)
• Risk Management and the child safe standards – Responding to risk (Guide)

Compliance & Enforcement of the Child Safe Standards & WWCC

The NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) regularly monitors and audits sport clubs, associations, branches and organisations for compliance.

The OCG recently issued 18 fines totaling $21,500 for non-compliance.  The fine for not verifying a WWC Number is $11,000 and working without a WWCC can carry up to 2 years imprisonment.

• NSW OCG issues fines for non-compliance with the WWCC (news article)
• NSW OCG Compliance and Monitoring
• NSW OCG Enforcement

Further Information

For further information visit the NSW OCG website