Purpose

Dragons Volleyball Association is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for children by placing their safety and wellbeing first, while providing opportunities to foster a love of volleyball and the development of volleyball skills.

These guidelines are intended to provide a summary of what is expected of Dragons staff* in relation to child safety practices. For more information, please refer to Dragons’ Child Safety Policy.

* ‘Dragons staff’ refers to committee members, coaches, administrators, volunteers, and anyone who has a role in the successful running of the club.

Child abuse or neglect

Child abuse and neglect refers to any non-accidental behaviour by parents, caregivers, other adults or older adolescents that is outside the norms of conduct, and entails a substantial risk of causing physical or emotional harm to a child. Child abuse can be, but is not limited to the below categories:

1. Physical abuse – occurs when a child has suffered, or is at risk of suffering non-accidental physical trauma or injury. Physical abuse can include, but not be limited to hitting, shaking, throwing, burning, biting or poisoning.
2. Sexual abuse – occurs when an adult, stronger child or adolescent uses their power or authority to involve a child in sexual activity. Sexual abuse can include, but not be limited to kissing or holding a child in a sexual manner, exposing a sexual body part to a child, having sexual relations with a child under 16 years of age, talking in a sexually explicit way that is not age or developmentally appropriate, making obscene phone calls or remarks to a child, sending obscene mobile text messages or emails to a child, fondling a child in a sexual manner, oral sex, rape or forcing a child to watch a sexual act.
3. Emotional abuse – occurs when a child’s social, emotional, cognitive or intellectual development is impaired or threatened. Emotional abuse can include, but not be limited to rejection, hostility, teasing/bullying, yelling, criticism, exposure of a child to domestic or family violence.
4. Neglect – occurs when a child’s basic necessities of life are not met and their health and development are affected. Basic necessities can include, but not be limited to food, housing, health care, adequate clothing, personal hygiene, hygienic living conditions, timely provision of medical treatment or adequate supervision.
5. Exposure to family violence – A child being exposed to domestic violence.

Key Practice and Behaviour Guidelines

More detail on many of these areas may be found in Dragons’ Child Safety Policy. The below guidelines are intended as a summary.

Staff Prerequisites and Training

All Dragons staff should hold and maintain a valid blue card. It must be ‘linked’ with Dragons. Dragons must be notified if there is a change to your police information.

All staff should complete the Play by the Rules courses ‘Child Protection’ and ‘Harassment & Discrimination’. These must be re-done every two years. New coaches should also complete the ‘Community Coaching General Principles’ online course.

Supervision of Children

Dragons accepts that staff can provide only limited supervision, and that parents should only leave children in our care if their child has the maturity to largely look after themselves. We should provide at least one supervisor for every 20 children at volleyball activities.

Physical Contact

It is acceptable to have physical contact with a child for the purposes of demonstrating a skill or providing an instruction as part of an activity, assisting with an injury or illness, protecting the child from harm, or giving a congratulatory pat on the back or hand.

Physical contact is not appropriate if it involves violent/aggressive behaviour (for example hitting, kicking, slapping, pushing), hugging, kissing or touching of a sexual nature.

All physical contact by Dragons staff should fulfil the following criteria:

·         Any contact should be in full view of others, never in private.

·         Prior to touching a child: Staff are to give a verbal explanation of how, where, when and why so that the child and other persons can hear.

·         Ask the child for permission: After the verbal explanation, staff are to ask the child if touching for the purpose of carrying out the activity is ok. If permission is granted, the demonstration can continue.

Relationships with children

Dragons expects all staff to demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility when dealing with persons under 18 years of age.

Where a power imbalance exists (e.g. coach/player), adults should seek to maintain only a professional relationship with children and should ensure that interactions with children are primarily regarding volleyball activities.

Children should not be shown favouritism. While children may sometimes be subject to competitive volleyball selection processes, these processes should be fair (not discriminatory).

Being alone with children

Dragons staff should avoid being alone with children and should have at least one (1) other person present (preferably an adult), apart from exceptional circumstances, such as a life threatening situation where first aid is required to be administered.

Collection arrangements

·       Children and their parents/guardians should be notified of the times of practices and games, and when the parent can expect to collect the child.

·         In the event that a child has not been collected on time, the Dragons’ staff member should avoid being alone with the child. They might request for another parent to wait with them.

·         Dragons’ staff should have access to parent’s contact details, so they can attempt to contact the child’s parent/guardian in the event that a child has not been collected.

·         If a Dragons’ staff member is willing to transport the child, we expect that:

1)      they have the written permission of a parent/guardian to do so;

2)      they are correctly licensed;

3)      they use a vehicle that is registered, comprehensively insured and safe;  and

1.       transporting children only in one-off situations where there is no other option;

2.       have children sit at a distance from the driver, eg in back of vehicle;

3.       have three or more people in the vehicle

Injuries and Illness

Only Dragons staff who are qualified in administering first aid or treating sports injuries should attempt to treat an injury. Dragons’ staff should avoid treating injuries out of sight of others.

·         The comfort level and dignity of the child should be considered.

·         If necessary, seek medical attention as soon as possible

·         Dragons staff must always report injuries and any treatment to parents asap, as well as document the incident (see Error! Reference source not found.).

·         Persons providing first aid are discouraged from providing any medicines or drugs, including paracetamol, to a child. If there is a good reason to make an exception, ensure that Dragons has written approval from the parent/guardian.

Smoking, alcohol and use of medications and drugs

Smoking is not acceptable at club activities, and especially around children. Illegal drugs and alcohol should not be consumed at training or games. Dragons’ staff must be in a fit state to perform their role, especially when that involves a duty of care to children.

Photographing (& taking video) of children

-          Dragons’ staff must be mindful of people at sporting events taking photos of children. Any suspicious or irregular activity must be reported to the event organiser for further action.

-          Dragons’ staff may take photo or video footage of children at trainings or games for the purposes of improving techniques or documenting game play, or at club social events.

-          Photos or videos must not be taken, kept or circulated if footage is inappropriate (for example if clothing in the footage is too revealing or the footage would be humiliating).

-          A photo or video featuring a child must not be published publicly with identifying information about the child where it can be avoided.

-          If photos/videos of children are for private use (eg your social media), please seek permission from parents.

Use of technology and social media

Dragons’ staff, members and associates must follow the guidelines set out in the VQ Social Media Policy (https://www.vq.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/VQ-Social-Media-Policy-November-2019.pdf).

Any Dragons member or associate should avoid bringing Dragons into disrepute through the use of technology or social media.

Child Behaviour Management

In the event that a child exhibits unacceptable behaviour:

-          Ask the child to stop and explain to the child what is expected.

-          If the behaviour continues, you can ask the child to perform another activity, stop participating and/or ask them to leave (keeping in mind their safety and the safety of other children in the area).

-          Ensure that any penalty is fair, proportionate and not humiliating or aggressive. Consult with your supervisor when considering penalties of moderate to high level.

-          Communicate with the child’s parent/guardian to keep them informed of what is happening and ensure they understand the reasons for any penalty/s.

Bullying and Harassment

Bullying and harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.

General Safety

Dragons’ staff must routinely check the venue, equipment and behaviours of participants to minimise the risk of injuries etc occurring.

Confidentiality of Information

Personal information about children and/or their parents/guardians must be distributed only to those that have a need to know. Consult with your supervisor or the committee if unsure.

Change Rooms/Toilets

Dragons’ staff, regardless of gender, should only enter children’s change rooms if accompanied by another adult. However, if this is not possible:

-          Wait in close proximity to the entrance of the change room/toilet for the children but not actually entering the facility, unless there is a valid reason to do so, such as an emergency situation.

-          A staff member of the same gender should supervise if possible.

-          Before entering, notify your supervisor or another adult of your intended entrance, and loudly and clearly announce to the occupants in the room before entering to ensure privacy and respect for all.

-          Photos and videos must not be taken in change rooms/toilets.

-          If a Dragons staff member requires to use the change rooms themselves, they should avoid changing in the presence of children.

Motel rooms and other accommodation

Accommodation arrangements must be negotiated and communicated with parents.

Dragons will aim to avoid having a single child alone in a room with a single adult/staff member. In the case this occurs, the doors should be left open.

Reporting Obligations

If you have reasonable grounds to suspect a child is at risk of harm (whether the suspected perpetrator is associated with Dragons or external) you should report these suspicions immediately.

Reasonable grounds to suspect harm

Dragons staff will have ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect harm if:

·           A child informs them that he/she has been harmed.

·           A child informs them that he/she knows another child who has been harmed.

·           Someone who knows a child informs them that the child has been abused.

·           Professional observations of the child’s behaviour or development leads a professional to form a belief that the child has been harmed or is likely to be harmed.

·           They are concerned at significant changes in the behaviour of a child, or the presence of new unexplained and/or suspicious injuries, and/or

They witness the harm occurring. If this is the case, Dragons staff should intervene immediately and call the police on 000 (provided it is safe to do so).

How to report

·         If you can, peruse Dragons Child Safety Policy, section 5 ‘Managing suspicions and/or disclosures of child abuse or harm’, for more guidance.

·         If appropriate, report the situation to your Dragons supervisor (perhaps the head coach) and/or the Dragons President asap.

·         Document the disclosure (see Child Safety Policy)

·         Consider also whether to report to Queensland Child Safety.

·         If a child is at imminent risk of harm or in immediate danger, the staff members should report the situation to Police on 000.

Commitment

I have read, understood and agree to comply with Dragons Child Protection Guidelines. I understand that failure to comply with this may result in disciplinary action and/or dismissal, appropriate to the situation and my role.