Member protection describes the practices and procedures that are put in place within sport organisations to protect their members. The FFA National Member Protection policy aims to ensure that core values and positive behaviours are maintained and assists in ensuring that every person involved in football is treated with respect and dignity, and is safe and protected from abuse. The Policy also provides the procedures that support the commitment of Football Federation Australia, Football NSW and its affiliated Associations and clubs to eliminating discrimination, harassment, child abuse and other forms of inappropriate behaviour from football.
Member protection is important as it allows members to take part in football, free from harmful behaviours and for club committees, it’s also an effective risk management tool that protects against the harm of participants and members, particularly children and young people.
Football NSW is committed to providing an environment safe for children, which is free from harassment and abuse for everyone, and promotes respectful and positive behaviour and values.
FFA National Member Protection Policy
Member Protection Information Officers
A Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO) is generally the first point of contact for persons with member protection or child protection enquiries or complaints. MPIOs provide information to participants about the options available to them. MPIOs can also provide information to clubs about member protection and related issues and policies. MPIO’s are impartial and generally do not mediate or investigate complaints.
Further Member Protection Officer Information
Child Protection
‘Child protection’ works to keep all children and young people under 18 safe from abuse, discrimination and harassment. It also involves protecting children and young people from those who are deemed unsuitable to be working with children, and from potentially harmful practices.
Protecting children from harm and abuse in football is a priority – we all have a role to play.
Football NSW is committed to safeguarding children and young people in football. Football NSW works and consults with Football Federation Australia, NSW Office of Sport, Sport Australia and leading child safe agencies including NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian to help create safer football environment in NSW.
We encourage all affiliated clubs and associations to refer and make use of the training, resources, information and assistance provided by:
NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian
Child Safe Sport Toolkit
The Toolkit includes seven different components and provides a suite of policy documents and guidance to protect children and young people in sport and at the very minimum needs to include the following elements:
- A code of conduct which guides the expected behaviours of everyone in sport towards children and young people;
- A recruitment policy to ensure everyone (staff or volunteers) involved in sport are safe to children and young people;
- An induction and training policy that ensures staff and volunteers continuously apply child safe best practice;
- A reporting policy and incident report forms to ensure staff and volunteers are confident in knowing what to report and who to report it to. For the senior management and board the responsibility is to apply a risk management approach to ensure the appropriate risk controls are in place;
- A series of posters, website or social media references, brochures, or other advertising materials to communicate with everyone the suite of child safe policies; and
- A procedure for regular review and improvement of your suite of child safe policies to ensure that everyone in the club can provide feedback and improve the cllub’s child safe policies and procedures;
The Toolkit combined with the Process allows for the development of a Child Safe Sport Framework.
Click here to open the Toolkit
Links
Child Safe Clubs & MPIO Information
Working with Children Check Guidelines for Clubs
Apply for a Working with Children Check
Member Protection & Child Protection Training Courses
Safeguarding Children in Sport – NSW Office of Sport
Further Assistance
NSW Police – In an emergency dial Triple Zero (000)
NSW Police assistance line – 131 444
Family & Community Services – Child Protection Helpline 132 111
NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian – WWCC customer service 02 8219 3777
NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian – enquiries 02 8219 3600
Football NSW State Member Protection Officer – 02 8814 4400
Football Federation Australia National Member Protection Officer – email [email protected]
