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Safeguarding Children

Football NSW is committed to the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all children and young people participating in football within Football NSW and to working with all clubs, associations, branches and referee branches so that children can enjoy football and feel safe, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential.

Child Safe Standards

Compliance and Audits of Sport Clubs & Associations

Compliance with the Child Safe Standards came into effect in February 2022 and is compulsory for all sport clubs, associations, branches, referee branches.

The NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian will be conducting compliance audits of football clubs from July 2023.   Clubs, Associations, Branches and Referee Branches are reminded of the importance of full compliance with both the NSW Child Safe Standards and the NSW Working with Children Check to help keep children safe in our sport.

Child Safe Standards – What are they?

The Child Safe Standards were recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and provide a framework so organisations can create cultures and adopt strategies to keep children safe from harm.  The Standards are designed as a way to embed child safety in the attitudes, behaviours and practices of organisations and people who work and volunteer in them.

The 10 Child Safe Standards:

  1. Child safety is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
  2. Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
  3. Families and communities are informed and involved
  4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs are taken into account
  5. People working with children are suitable and supported
  6. Processes to respond to complaints of child abuse are child-focused
  7. Staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through continual education and training
  8. Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur
  9. Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved
  10. Policies and procedures document how the organisation is child safe.
Child Safe Standards – Guidelines

The Child Safe Standards Guidelines will assist your organisation comply with the Standards by strengthening what you already have in place.

Child Safe Standards – Resources
Child Safe Standards – Training

Safeguarding Children

The safety and wellbeing of children and young people in football should be a top priority for every Club, Association, Branch and Referee Branch within Football NSW.

All football clubs, associations, branches and referee branches should have in place the necessary policies, guidelines, processes, practices to ensure a child safe culture within the organisation and a clear understanding and awareness of the importance of child safety and wellbeing within its membership.

Guidelines
Policies
Training & Resources
Videos
Posters
Help for Children

Common Issues & Complaints

The majority of people attending football do so in a respectful manner which helps create an enjoyable and safe environment.  Unfortunately sometimes a minority don’t demonstrate responsible and acceptable behaviour.

Football NSW has developed a list of Common Issues (below) to outline some of these issues for MPIOs.  If participants are experiencing any of these issues, contact the club MPIO to discuss any concerns and to receive information and options about how to resolve these.

Photography & Videoing Children in Football

In Australia, generally speaking, there is no law restricting photography of people (including children) in public spaces as long as the images are not:

Useful Links

FOOTBALL NSW ASSOCIATIONS