Our Commitment to Child Safety
Every person in the netball community has a responsibility to understand their role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in our care. Netball Victoria is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of children and preventing abuse from occurring by fostering a culture where children feel safe and empowered. We also seek to ensure the cultural safety of First Nations children, children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and children with a disability.
1. Purpose
This policy outlines the commitment of the committee, coaches, parents and volunteers of Ferntree Gully Netball Club (FTGNC) to child safety and to provide an outline of the policies and practices FTGNC has developed, aligning with Netball Victoria and Mountain District Netball Association (MDNA) standards, to keep children and young people safe from any harm, including abuse.
2. Commitment to Child Safety
Ferntree Gully Netball Club is committed to the safety, wellbeing, and empowerment of all children and young people who participate in our programs. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and take all allegations and concerns seriously.
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment where children feel safe, valued, and heard. Our club actively works to ensure that children’s rights are upheld and that their voices are included in decisions that affect them.
We are committed to:
This policy was developed by FTGNC committee and its appointed Child Safe Officer with specific reference to the Netball Australia Child Safeguarding Policy (1 February 2025) and guides our members and volunteers on how to engage with children at our Club. This policy applies to all individuals involved in our organisation (paid and volunteer) including, but not limited to:
4. Definitions
Child: A person under the age of 18 years.
Child abuse: Includes physical, sexual, emotional abuse, neglect and grooming.
5. Children’s Rights to Safety and Participation
Ferntree Gully Netball Club values the voices of children and young people. We actively encourage them to share their thoughts and ideas, particularly on matters that impact their safety and wellbeing. We believe that children have the right to be heard and to contribute to decisions that affect them.
We provide opportunities for children to express their views and ensure they feel confident and supported in doing so. We also educate children about their rights and what actions they can take if they ever feel unsafe.
We take all concerns raised by children or their families seriously and respond promptly, respectfully, and appropriately.
6. Valuing Diversity
We value diversity and do not tolerate discrimination. We promote the participation of children from diverse backgrounds.
To achieve this we:
FTGNC takes all reasonable steps to ensure that all members and volunteers who are engaged in activities directly involved with children, and who are not exempt, including volunteers, are required to hold a Working with Children Check and to provide evidence of this check prior to engagement in any child-related activities.
8. Support and Supervision
FTGNC provides support and supervision to ensure volunteers understand their responsibilities so people feel valued, respected, and fairly treated. We have developed a Code of Conduct to provide guidance to our coaches, parents, players, and volunteers.
9. Reporting Child Safety Concerns or complaints
FTGNC has appointed a Child Safety Officer (CSO) with the specific responsibility of ensuring that our club will follow the guidelines put forward by the Commission for Children and Young People in regards to reportable conduct as well as Netball Victoria Governance and Reporting guidelines relating to Child Safety Practices.
We have appointed the Vice-President as Complaints Manager with the specific responsibility for responding to any complaints made by coaches, volunteers, parents or children.
Online forms are available on the FTGNC website for prompt reporting of incidents of concern. The CSO and Complaints Manager can also be contacted via [email protected]
If any person believes a child is in immediate risk of abuse phone 000.
The CSO will follow the guidelines put forward by the Commission for Children and Young People in regards to reportable conduct as well as Netball Victoria Governance and Reporting guidelines relating to Child Safety Practices.
10. Risk Management
FTGNC recognises the importance of a risk management approach to minimising the potential for child abuse or harm to occur and uses this to inform our policy, procedures and activity planning. In addition to general occupational health and safety risks, we proactively manage risks of abuse to our children. To reduce the risk of child abuse occurring, adults to whom this policy applies should avoid direct, unsupervised contact with children.
For example, this should be a consideration when:
This policy will be reviewed every 2 years and/or following any significant incidents or changes in legislation. We will ensure that we seek views, comments and suggestions from children, parents, carers and volunteers involved in our club.
12. Alignment with MDNA and Netball Victoria Policies
This policy incorporates principles and practices from the MDNA Child Safe Policy (August 2023) and Netball Victoria’s Child Safety Policy.
Resources
Every person in the netball community has a responsibility to understand their role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in our care. Netball Victoria is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of children and preventing abuse from occurring by fostering a culture where children feel safe and empowered. We also seek to ensure the cultural safety of First Nations children, children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and children with a disability.
1. Purpose
This policy outlines the commitment of the committee, coaches, parents and volunteers of Ferntree Gully Netball Club (FTGNC) to child safety and to provide an outline of the policies and practices FTGNC has developed, aligning with Netball Victoria and Mountain District Netball Association (MDNA) standards, to keep children and young people safe from any harm, including abuse.
2. Commitment to Child Safety
Ferntree Gully Netball Club is committed to the safety, wellbeing, and empowerment of all children and young people who participate in our programs. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and take all allegations and concerns seriously.
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment where children feel safe, valued, and heard. Our club actively works to ensure that children’s rights are upheld and that their voices are included in decisions that affect them.
We are committed to:
- Upholding the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
- Embedding child safety in our culture, policies, and practices.
- Ensuring all volunteers, coaches, and staff understand their responsibilities in protecting children.
- Promoting the cultural safety of all children. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,children with disabilities and children from diverse family structures..
This policy was developed by FTGNC committee and its appointed Child Safe Officer with specific reference to the Netball Australia Child Safeguarding Policy (1 February 2025) and guides our members and volunteers on how to engage with children at our Club. This policy applies to all individuals involved in our organisation (paid and volunteer) including, but not limited to:
- Administrators/Committee members
- Coaches
- Officials
- Participants
- Parents
- Spectators
- Understand the indicators and risks of child abuse;
- Act appropriately on any concerns raised by children;
- Understand and follow all applicable laws in relation to the protection of children and reporting or management of child safety concerns.
4. Definitions
Child: A person under the age of 18 years.
Child abuse: Includes physical, sexual, emotional abuse, neglect and grooming.
5. Children’s Rights to Safety and Participation
Ferntree Gully Netball Club values the voices of children and young people. We actively encourage them to share their thoughts and ideas, particularly on matters that impact their safety and wellbeing. We believe that children have the right to be heard and to contribute to decisions that affect them.
We provide opportunities for children to express their views and ensure they feel confident and supported in doing so. We also educate children about their rights and what actions they can take if they ever feel unsafe.
We take all concerns raised by children or their families seriously and respond promptly, respectfully, and appropriately.
6. Valuing Diversity
We value diversity and do not tolerate discrimination. We promote the participation of children from diverse backgrounds.
To achieve this we:
- Welcome children with a disability and their families and act to promote their participation
- Promote cultural safety, participation, and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families
- Promote the cultural safety, participation, and empowerment of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and their families
- Promote being an inclusive club for children and families of all gender indenties sexual orientations and family structures.
FTGNC takes all reasonable steps to ensure that all members and volunteers who are engaged in activities directly involved with children, and who are not exempt, including volunteers, are required to hold a Working with Children Check and to provide evidence of this check prior to engagement in any child-related activities.
8. Support and Supervision
FTGNC provides support and supervision to ensure volunteers understand their responsibilities so people feel valued, respected, and fairly treated. We have developed a Code of Conduct to provide guidance to our coaches, parents, players, and volunteers.
9. Reporting Child Safety Concerns or complaints
FTGNC has appointed a Child Safety Officer (CSO) with the specific responsibility of ensuring that our club will follow the guidelines put forward by the Commission for Children and Young People in regards to reportable conduct as well as Netball Victoria Governance and Reporting guidelines relating to Child Safety Practices.
We have appointed the Vice-President as Complaints Manager with the specific responsibility for responding to any complaints made by coaches, volunteers, parents or children.
Online forms are available on the FTGNC website for prompt reporting of incidents of concern. The CSO and Complaints Manager can also be contacted via [email protected]
If any person believes a child is in immediate risk of abuse phone 000.
The CSO will follow the guidelines put forward by the Commission for Children and Young People in regards to reportable conduct as well as Netball Victoria Governance and Reporting guidelines relating to Child Safety Practices.
10. Risk Management
FTGNC recognises the importance of a risk management approach to minimising the potential for child abuse or harm to occur and uses this to inform our policy, procedures and activity planning. In addition to general occupational health and safety risks, we proactively manage risks of abuse to our children. To reduce the risk of child abuse occurring, adults to whom this policy applies should avoid direct, unsupervised contact with children.
For example, this should be a consideration when:
- using change room facilities
- using our storage room facilities
- physical contact when coaching or managing children.
This policy will be reviewed every 2 years and/or following any significant incidents or changes in legislation. We will ensure that we seek views, comments and suggestions from children, parents, carers and volunteers involved in our club.
12. Alignment with MDNA and Netball Victoria Policies
This policy incorporates principles and practices from the MDNA Child Safe Policy (August 2023) and Netball Victoria’s Child Safety Policy.
Resources