CHILD SAFETY: COMPLAINTS &
REPORTABLE CONDUCT POLICY
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The
Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (CSO) applies to sports
clubs in
Queensland from 1 April 2026.
Sporting clubs, associations, and
recreational services are classified as "child safe entities"
under the Act because they provide activities and services primarily for
children.
This policy sets out how the Commercial Hockey Club (CHC) protects
the safety and wellbeing of all children under 18 years of age who participate
in or attend CHC activities.
The
CHC has adopted the 10 Child Safe Standards
Checklist prescribed by section 9 of the CSO, which identifies whether or not
an entity is complying with the Act:
1)
Leadership and Culture: Is child safety embedded in your club’s
governance, leadership, and values (e.g., a standing item at committee
meetings)?
2)
Children's Empowerment: Are children informed of their rights? Do
they participate in decisions that affect them and feel their voices are taken
seriously?
3)
Family and Community Engagement: Are families and the community informed about
the club's child safety policies and involved in safeguarding efforts?
4)
Equity and
Diversity: Does the club actively uphold equity and
respect the diverse needs of all children in its policies and practices?
5)
Suitable and
Supported People: Does your club use robust Blue Card
screening,
recruitment, and supervision
to ensure staff and volunteers are suitable?
6)
Complaints
Management: Are there clear, child-focused processes for
responding to complaints and concerns about child abuse?
7)
Knowledge,
Skills, and Awareness: Are staff and volunteers
provided with ongoing training and education to identify and prevent harm?
8)
Safe
Environments: Do physical and online environments (e.g.,
social media pages, change rooms) minimise the opportunity for children to be
harmed?
9)
Continuous Improvement: Does the club regularly review
and strengthen its child safety practices and learn from any incidents?
10)
Policies and Procedures: Are all child safety
expectations documented in policies that are easy to understand and accessible
to members?
HOCKEY AUSTRALIA
POLICIES
The CHC
also is required to comply the polices of Hockey Australia including:
·
the Hockey Australia: Safeguarding
Children and Young People Policy which is part of the National Integrity
Framework developed by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA).
See
https://cdn.revolutionise.com.au/cups/hockeyaus/files/6zcmyd2ocrujzifz.pdf
·
the SIA policy Safeguarding in sport involves
protecting children, young people and adults from abuse.
See https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/what-we-do/safeguarding-sport
·
Hockey Australia: Children and
Young People Safe Practices – Do’s & Don’ts
https://cdn.revolutionise.com.au/cups/hockeyaus/files/kvdjkzividt2qo3b.pdf
·
Hockey Australia: Code of Conduct
See https://cdn.revolutionise.com.au/cups/hockeyaus/files/3ahoocqoy5qqrlgo.pdf
THE
CHC’s COMMITMENT TO CHILD SAFETY
The CHC is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful
environment for all children and young people involved the activities of the
club.
The CHC’s Policy Child & Youth Risk Management Strategy (RMS)
(1)
A
detailed Statement of Commitment and a Code of Conduct for protecting the
rights of children and young people;
(2)
The
process for recruitment, selection, training and management of CHC employees
(including coaches) and volunteers;
(3)
The
procedures for:
(a)
reporting
specific concerns to the CHC or if there is a risk of immediate harm to a child
to the Police;
(b)
the
process the CHC follows to manage breaches of the RMS; and
(c)
the
process to evaluate a potential risk;
(4)
Managing
the Blue Card system.
CHC
ENVIRONMENT AND RISK CONTEXT
The
club operates at Finsbury Park, Wilston and in public and shared environments
including multiple training and competition venues.
Parents,
siblings, spectators and members of the public may attend CHC activities.
The
CHC manages child safety risks through supervision standards, codes of conduct
and reporting pathways.
Child Safety is an agenda item at each Club Management
Committee Meeting.
BLUE CARD SCREENING REQUIREMENTS
All
Coaches, Managers, Selectors and Committee and Sub-Committee members over the
age of 18 years require a Blue Card or Exemption Card before they begin their
role.
The CHC
Blue Card Administrator is the Secretary and is identified on the Club website.
Whenever a
member of the Club or a person joins the Club is to be appointed to any of the
above listed roles who does not have a current blue card, they will be
instructed to apply for a blue card by accessing - https://my.bluecard.qld.gov.au/login
Whenever a
person joins the Club in the above listed roles has a current blue card, then a
“Link an Applicant Form” will be lodged by CHC before they begin
work. To initiate the process, the
volunteer worker will need to provide the Blue Card Administrator with their
card number or exemption number and their date of birth. This person can then be registered as
volunteering or working for the CHC.
The CHC Blue Card Administrator will check
the validity of a prospective member’s card, it is possible to do so on the
Blue Card Services website if you have details of the members name as it
appears on the card, full card number (including the number following the ‘/’
on the card) and its expiry date.
Whenever a
current Blue Card holder leaves the Club, a “Delinking Notification”
will be lodged by the CHC.
NOTE:
·
Workers/volunteers
must not commence regulated employment or role unless they hold a valid blue
card and positive notice and link it to the CHC.
·
It is an offence
for a ‘disqualified person’ to sign a blue card application form
or a renewal form and it is an offence
for CHC not to provide this warning.
Since 31
August 2020, if you are an applicant or Blue Card holder and
there has been a change in your Police information, you will have to inform Blue
Card Services immediately. The maximum penalty for failing to report a change
in your Police information is $14,375 (100 penalty units).
EDUCATION and TRAINING:
To support the ongoing
education and training of CHC employees, volunteers members and parents, and to
further encourage good practice, the CHC also promotes the training and support
resources available through:
1.
Play By
The Rules
https://elearning.sportintegrity.gov.au/user_login
2.
The
Daniel Morcombe Foundation
https://danielmorcombe.com.au/keeping-kids-safe-resources/
FURTHER INFORMATION & RESOURCES:
For additional resources or information –
access information via websites of the following government departments or
charity organisations:
·
Hockey Australia Safe Hockey Hub
https://www.hockey.org.au/resources/safe-hockey
·
Blue Card Services
https://www.qld.gov.au/law/laws-regulated-industries-and-accountability/queensland-laws-and-regulations/regulated-industries-and-licensing/blue-card/system/how-blue-card-system-keeps-children-safe
·
Queensland Family & Child Commission
https://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/childsafe/reportable-conduct-scheme