Sport Aircraft Club of SA Child Safe Policy

1. Purpose
2. Context
3. Scope
4. Commitment to child safety
5. Children’s participation
6. Recruitment practices
7. Code of Conduct
8. Support for volunteers
9. Reporting and responding to suspected child abuse and neglect
10. Strategies to minimise risk
11. Harassment/bullying
12. Communication5

1. Purpose

This policy was written to demonstrate the strong commitment of Sport Aircraft Club of SA to child safety and establishing and maintaining child safe and child friendly environments.

2. Context

This policy reflects our commitment to provide a safe environment where every person has the right to be treated with respect and is safe and protected from harm.

3. Scope

This policy, from the date of endorsement, applies to all people involved in the organisation, including:

• volunteers
• indirect service providers
• any other individual involved in this organisation

4. Commitment to child safety

All children who come to Sport Aircraft Club of SA have a right to feel and be safe. We are committed to the safety and well-being of all children and young people accessing our services and the welfare of the children in our care will always be our first priority. We aim to create a child safe and child friendly environment where all children are valued and feel safe.

5. Children’s participation

The Sport Aircraft Club of SA encourages and respects the views of children and young people who access our services. We listen to and act upon any concerns that children, young people or their families raise with us.
We value diversity and do not tolerate any discriminatory practices.

6. Recruitment practices

The Sport Aircraft Club of SA takes all reasonable steps to ensure that it engages the most suitable and appropriate people to work with children.
We conduct criminal history assessment for people working with children, as set out in Section 8B of the Children’s Protection Act 1993. Criminal history assessments are required for anyone within our organisation that:
 has regular contact with children and is not directly supervised at all times;
 works in close proximity to children on a regular basis and is not directly supervised at all times; or
 supervises or manages persons who:
• have regular contact with children or
• work in close proximity to children on a regular basis; or
Exemptions from this requirement may apply in some circumstances.

We ensure that criminal history information is dealt with in accordance with the Child Safe Environments: Standards for dealing with information obtained about the criminal history of volunteers who work with children, issued pursuant to Section 8A, Children’s Protection Act 1993.

7. Code of Conduct

All members are made aware of, and must abide by, our Code of Conduct.
Code of Conduct Appendix 2

8. Support for volunteers

The Sport Aircraft Club of South Australia seeks to attract and retain volunteers. We provide support and supervision so people feel valued, respected and fairly treated. We ensure that volunteers who work with children have ongoing supervision, support and training so that their capacity is developed and enhanced to promote the establishment and maintenance of a child safe environment.

9. Reporting and responding to suspected child abuse and neglect

The Sport Aircraft Club of SA will not tolerate incidents of child abuse.

It is the obligation of all volunteers to notify the Child Abuse Report Line on 13 14 78 as soon as practicable if they have a reasonable suspicion that a child has been, or is being, abused or neglected.

Information about making appropriate reports of abuse or neglect is available from the Families SA website http://www.families.sa.gov.au/childsafe.

Supporting children, young people and their families

Child Protection is everyone’s responsibility. Sport Aircraft Club of SA recognises that even where a report is made, we may still have a role in supporting the child or young person. This support may include referring the child, young person or their family to other appropriate services.

Dealing with reports or concerns relating to the actions of a volunteer of our organisation

In addition to making a report to the Child Abuse Report Line, volunteers must also report to the club president or council if reasonable suspicion is formed that a child has been, or is being, abused or neglected by another member, or volunteer.

In response to any report to the president or council concerning a member, or volunteer of this organisation, the president or council may determine to take disciplinary action.

Other protective actions may also be introduced to ensure the safety of children and young people within our organisation.

10. Strategies to minimise risk

Policies and procedures may address (but are not limited to):
• Transportation
• Taking images of children
• Supervision of children
• Physical contact
• Responsibilities
• Protecting privacy and confidentiality
Evaluation of these strategies and the development of additional strategies to minimise and control risks to children and young people occur as part of our ongoing risk management process.

11. Harassment/bullying

The Sport Aircraft Club of SA opposes all forms of harassment, discrimination and bullying. We take this issue seriously and encourage anyone who believes that they, or another person, has been harassed, discriminated against or bullied to raise this issue with the president or council.

12. Communication

The Sport Aircraft Club of SA will ensure that everyone to whom this policy applies is aware of and has had an opportunity to read the policy.

APPENDIX 1

Conducting criminal history assessments

Assessments required for prescribed positions
All volunteers of Sport Aircraft Club of SA who occupy a prescribed position (as set out under Section 8B (8) of the Children’s Protection Act 1993) are required to undergo a criminal history assessment once every three years.

Exemptions from this requirement may apply in some circumstances. However Sport Aircraft Club of SA retains the discretion to decide on a case-by-case basis whether any relevant exemptions will be exercised.

Procedure for conducting criminal history assessments

Option 1

A current Letter of Clearance from the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) Screening Unit is a precondition of engagement of volunteers who work in a prescribed position at Sport Aircraft Club of SA. The cost of obtaining a Letter of Clearance will be negotiated between Sport Aircraft Club of SA and the volunteer.

The Sport Aircraft Club of SA may obtain a further criminal history assessment for a volunteer at any time that The Sport Aircraft Club of SA believes it necessary or desirable for the purpose of maintaining a child safe environment.

The informed written consent of the volunteer is required prior to conducting a criminal history assessment. The Screening Unit’s informed consent form is available from www.dfc.sa.gov.au/pub/screening.

Information relating to a person’s criminal history and the assessment process is managed securely and confidentially and in accordance with the Child Safe Environments: Standards for dealing with information obtained about the criminal history of volunteers who work with children issued pursuant to Section 8A of the Children’s Protection Act 1993.

Option 2

A satisfactory criminal history assessment is a precondition of working in a prescribed position at Sport Aircraft Club of SA.

Prior to the appointment of a new volunteer and then at three yearly intervals, this organisation will direct the volunteer to obtain a National Police Certificate (NPC) from South Australia Police. The cost of obtaining a NPC will be negotiated between Sport Aircraft Club of SA and the volunteer.

South Australia Police require the explicit written consent of the applicant prior to the release of criminal history information. The NPC application form is available from http://www.police.sa.gov.au/sapol/services/information_requests/national_police_certificate.jsp.

Where a person has no disclosable criminal history, the assessment is successfully completed and no further action in respect to an assessment is required.

Where an individual does have a criminal history, Sport Aircraft Club of SA assesses this information in accordance with Standard 5 of the Child Safe Environments: Standards for dealing with information obtained about the criminal history of volunteers who work with children.

Each assessment is conducted on its individual merits and with consideration to the inherent requirements of the position. Principles of procedural fairness and natural justice are applied throughout the decision-making process and the individual is provided an opportunity to confirm or dispute the information contained within the report and to provide contextual information for consideration during the assessment process.

The National Police Certificate will not be retained once a decision has been made regarding the person’s suitability to work with children. The National Police Certificate will not be retained beyond three months in any circumstances.

In accordance with its legal requirements, Sport Aircraft Club of SA will retain the following information regarding its decision:
• That a criminal history report was obtained
• How the criminal history information affected decision making processes
• Statutory declarations (where applicable)

Sport Aircraft Club of SA may obtain a further criminal history assessment for a volunteer at any time that Sport Aircraft Club of SA believes it necessary or desirable for the purpose of maintaining a child safe environment.

APPENDIX 2

Child Protection guidelines for volunteers of Sport Aircraft Club of SA

Caring for children and young people brings additional responsibilities for volunteers of this organisation.

All volunteers of this organisation are responsible for promoting the safety and well-being of children and young people by:

• Ensuring the safety and welfare of the child or young person is paramount at all times.

• Treating all children and young people with dignity, equality and respect.

• Listening and responding appropriately to the views and concerns of children and young people within the organisation.

• Taking all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and protection of children and young people within the organisation.

• Ensuring children and young people understand their rights and explaining to the child in age-appropriate language what they can expect when participating in a service, activity or program offered by the organisation.

• Responding quickly, fairly and transparently to any serious complaints made by a child, young person or their parent/guardian.

• Notifying the Child Abuse Report Line on 13 14 78 as soon as practicable if they have a reasonable suspicion that a child or young person has been or is being abused or neglected.
Volunteers will not:

• Take part in any unnecessary physical contact with a child or young person.

• Discriminate against any child or young person because of age, gender, cultural background, religion, vulnerability or sexuality.

• Develop any ‘special’ relationships with children or young people outside of the professional relationship.