Our Club is committed to providing children with a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment in which they can thrive.

Our Club supports, values and respects all children, and is committed to their safety, wellbeing, participation and empowerment.

Our Club has zero tolerance for all forms of child abuse or risk of harm to children. All allegations, concerns, suspicions and reports of child abuse or risk of harm will be treated seriously in accordance with this Policy.

The Club is committed to the safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and those from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children living with a disability, children who cannot live at home, LGBTIQ+ children and children who are vulnerable.

Our Club will openly communicate with children, families and communities about its approach to Child Safety and ensure that information about Child Safety including information about making a complaint is readily available and accessible.

This Policy applies to all Club members.

This Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (Policy) outlines how our Club will prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people, and the child safe practices that it will implement.  The following values are a mechanism for guiding our actions and assisting in decision making. In continuing to implement and promote a child safe system of work, we will: 

• ensure the safeguarding of children and young people is a shared responsibility, reliant on all individuals within our organisation working to keep children and young people safe in our care 

• empower children and young people by informing them of their rights and responsibilities and support them to speak up about matters of importance to them, including if something goes wrong

• develop an environment in which children feel listened to, valued and their concerns are acted upon, including encouraging and allowing children to participate in decisions important to them 

• proactively assess and manage the risk of abuse to children who interact with the Club, including through recruitment practices and in online environments

• take a proactive approach to child safety, including fostering a culture of openness that supports all members to report any concerns about child safety 

• report all forms of suspected abuse, neglect, racism or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authority, and take action upon report of any suspected harmful or abusive behaviours

• ensure children know the options available to them if they are concerned or feeling unsafe, and foster an environment where children are safe to raise such concerns 

• recruit coaches who are suitable to work with children 

• have policies, procedures and supports in place to reflect these commitments, and review these on a regular basis.

Child or young person means person who is under 18 years of age, unless otherwise defined by law or noted in this Policy 

Child abuse or risk of harm means conduct and/or the risk of conduct towards, against, with or in the presence of a child, including: 

• physical violence or harm (including family violence)

• sexual misconduct 

• sexual offences (including sexual abuse and/or grooming a child) 

• significant emotional or psychological harm 

• significant neglect of a child 

Child Safety means protecting all children from harm, promoting the safety and wellbeing of children, managing child abuse or risk of harm, taking steps to prevent the occurrence or reduce the occurrence of child abuse or risk of harm, providing support to a child at risk of child abuse, and responding to incidents, allegations, concerns, suspicions and reports of child abuse or risk of harm. 

Child Safety Officer or CSO means a person appointed by the Club to listen, discuss and clarify issues raised by members and children in relation to actual or suspected child abuse or risk of harm. 

Club means Knox Baseball Club, Inc. 

Grooming means an adult communicates, by words or conduct, with a child under the age of 16 years or with a person who has care, supervision or authority for the child with the intention of facilitating the child’s involvement in sexual conduct, either with the groomer or another adult, unless otherwise defined by law or noted in this Policy. 

LGBTIQ+ means lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer. 

Members means all Committee members, volunteers, supporters, parents of players and players belonging to the Knox Baseball Club. 

Reportable Conduct Scheme means the reportable conduct scheme under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic). 

Sexual misconduct includes behaviour, physical contact, gestures, speech or other communication of a sexual nature, inappropriate touching, grooming or behaviour.

Our Club’s Child Safety Commitment Statement aims to ensure that children and young people who engage with our Club are safe. It outlines the expected behaviour for all members in their interaction with children and young people. 

Our Child Safety Commitment Statement is available on our website.

All members are expected to act in accordance with the Child Safety Commitment Statement in their interactions with children and young people.

The Club values diversity and pays particular attention to the safety of the following groups of children: 

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people

• Children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds

• Children with a disability

• Children who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or intersex

• Children who are non-binary or gender diverse

• Children who have experienced out of home care and youth justice settings.

Our Club will comply with all laws including the Reportable Conduct Scheme 

All members: 

• have a shared responsibility for contributing to the safety of children from child abuse or risk of harm

• are responsible for identifying child abuse or risk of harm, and taking steps to prevent, reduce or eliminate child abuse or risk of harm to the greatest extent possible

• must always promote Child Safety and provide a safe environment for all children

• must comply with the Reportable Conduct Scheme if they believe there is a serious or immediate risk of child abuse or risk of harm. 

All Committee members are required to: 

• read and comply with this Policy and the Child Safety Commitment Statement 

• take all reasonable steps to maintain an environment that is safe and prevents child abuse or risk of harm

• respond to a child disclosing an incident of child abuse or risk of harm in a sensitive and supportive manner that prioritises their health and wellbeing 

• report any allegations, concerns, suspicions and reports of child abuse or risk of harm in accordance with the law and are strongly encouraged to report those concerns to the CSO or President. 

• report any breach or suspected breach of this Policy, the Child Safety Commitment Statement as soon as possible to a CSO or the President. 

Child Safe Officer (CSO) 

The CSO is available to listen, discuss and clarify issues confronting members in relation to child abuse or risk of harm. 

The Club CSO is responsible for:

• responding to and escalating the investigation of complaints and disclosures under this Policy.

• reporting any risks to Child Safety, including child abuse or risk of harm to the Club President.

• promptly recording allegations, concerns, suspicions and reports of child abuse or risk of harm 

• supporting members to promptly record allegations, concerns, suspicions and reports of child abuse or risk of harm 

• reporting child abuse or the risk of harm 

• maintaining adequate records of all complaints, decisions and actions taken in relation to any allegation, concern, suspicion or report of child abuse or risk of harm

• being familiar with the types of child abuse or risk of harm and be alert to any indications of such conduct, including harm caused by children. 

Working with Children Clearances 

The President, all committee members who have direct contact with our junior members, all coaches who have direct conduct with our junior members, and all members required by law must obtain and keep current a Working with Children Check.