Statement of Commitment to Child Protection  

Rise Up Basketball is committed to child safety.  

We want children to be safe, happy and empowered. We support and respect all children, as  well as our staff and volunteers.  

We are committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of all children.  

We have zero tolerance of child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated  very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures.  

We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s  safety, which we follow rigorously. Our organisation is committed to preventing child abuse and  identifying risks early, and removing and reducing these risks.  

Our Organisation has robust human resources and recruitment practices for all staff and  volunteers.  

Our Organisation is committed to regularly training and educating our staff and volunteers on  child abuse risks.  

We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, the cultural safety of children  from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment  for children with a disability.  

We have specific policies, procedures and training in place that support our leadership team,  staff and volunteers to achieve these commitments.  

Our Children  

This policy is intended to empower children who are vital and active participants in our  Organisation. We involve them when making decisions, especially about matters that directly  affect them. We listen to their views and respect what they have to say.  

Rise Up Basketball Policies- Child Safe Policy 1 Rise Up Basketball Child Safe Policy  

We promote diversity and tolerance in our Organisation, and people from all walks of life and  cultural backgrounds are welcome.  

In particular we:  

• promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal children  
• promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children from culturally and/or  linguistically diverse backgrounds  
• ensure that children with a disability are safe and can participate equally 

RISE UP BASKETBALL – CHILD SAFETY POLICY 

Child Safe Policy  

1. Introduction  

Everyone who participates in our Organisations activities is entitled to do so in an  enjoyable and safe environment. Rise Up Basketball has a moral and legal obligation to  ensure that, when given responsibility for young people, coaches, officials, volunteers,  staff members and parents provide them with the highest possible standard of care.  

Rise Up Basketball is committed to devising and implementing policies so that everyone  in sport accepts their responsibilities to safeguard children from harm and abuse. This  means to follow procedures to protect children and report any concerns about their  welfare to appropriate authorities. The aim of the policy is to promote good practice,  provide children and young people with appropriate safety/protection whilst in the care  of Rise Up Basketball and to allow staff and volunteers to make informed and confident  responses to specific child protection issues.  

1.1 Definition of Child The words ‘child’ and ‘children’ in this policy refer to  children and young people up to the age of 18 years. This definition is  

consistent with the national framework, Creating Safe Environments for  

Children – Organisations, Employees and Volunteers, the Commission for  Children and Young People Act, the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 and  the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005. The term ‘child’ in this guide is  inclusive of anyone under 18 years of age. Not utilising the term ‘young  

people’ is not intended to diminish any emphasis on, or acknowledgement  of, the safety risks to older children or teenagers.  

1.2 Policy Statement RISE UP BASKETBALL is committed to the following:  

• the welfare of the child is paramount,  
• all children, whatever their age, culture, ability, gender, language, racial  origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity should be able to participate  in basketball in a fun and safe environment,  
• taking all reasonable steps to protect children from harm,  

discrimination and degrading treatment and to respect their rights,  

wishes and feelings,  

• all suspicions and allegations of poor practice or abuse will be taken  

seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately,  

• all RISE UP BASKETBALL employees who work with children will be  

recruited with regard to their suitability for that responsibility, and will be  provided with guidance and/or training in good practice and child  

protection procedures, and  

• working in partnership with parents and children is essential for the  

protection of children 

RISE UP BASKETBALL – CHILD SAFETY POLICY 

2. Promoting Good Practice  

To provide children with the best possible experience and opportunities in  basketball everyone must operate within an accepted ethical framework such  The Codes of Conduct. This framework is outlined in the Basketball Victoria (BV)  Codes of Conduct. It is not always easy to distinguish poor practice from abuse.  It is therefore not the responsibility of employees or participants in basketball to  make judgements about whether or not abuse is taking place. It is; however,  their responsibility to identify poor practice and possible abuse and act if they  have concerns about the welfare of the child.  

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2.1 Child Abuse Examples  

• Physical Abuse  
• Emotional Abuse  
• Sexual Abuse  
• Neglect  
• Family Violence  
• Grooming 

3. Children’s Rights to Safety and Participation  

RISE UP BASKETBALL is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children  accessing our service. We support the rights of the child and will act without  hesitation to ensure a child safe environment is maintained at all times.  

RISE UP BASKETBALL also promotes the involvement and participation of  children and young people in developing and maintaining child-safe  

environments. We involve them when making decisions, especially about  matters that directly affect them. We listen to their views and respect what they  have to say.  

We promote diversity and tolerance in our Organisation and people from all  walks of life and cultural backgrounds are welcome. In particular we:  

• promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of  

Aboriginal children,  

• promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of  

children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds,  

• Are inclusive of all players/volunteers/staff/families. 
• Listen to and acknowledge concerns to help promote safety and  

empowerment 

• Enforce zero tolerance of discrimination, and 
• Ensure that children with a disability are safe and can participate  

equally 

RISE UP BASKETBALL – CHILD SAFETY POLICY 

• Uphold principles established in State and Government Legislation 

4. Identify and Analyse Risk of Harm  

RISE UP BASKETBALL will develop and implement a risk management strategy,  which includes a review of existing child protection practices, to determine how  child-safe and child-friendly the organisation is and to determine what  additional strategies are required to minimise and prevent risk of harm to  children because of the action of an employee, volunteer, official, parent, player  or another person.  

5. Ensure that Adults and Children Adhere to the Codes of Conduct  

RISE UP BASKETBALL will ensure that all adults are aware of and adhere to the  organisation’s Codes of Conduct that specify standards of conduct and care  when dealing and interacting with children, particularly those in the  

Organisation’s care. The Organisation will also implement a Code of Conduct to  address appropriate behaviour between children. All staff and volunteers, as  well as children and their families, are given the opportunity to contribute to the  development of the codes of conduct.  

6. Training and Supervision  

Training and education is important to ensure that everyone in our organisation  understands that child safety is everyone’s responsibility. Our organisational  culture aims for all staff and volunteers (in addition to parents/carers and  children) to feel confident and comfortable in discussing any allegations of child  abuse or child safety concerns.  

We train our staff and volunteers to identify, assess, and minimise risks of child  abuse and to detect potential signs of child abuse. We also support our staff  and volunteers through ongoing supervision to develop their skills to protect  children from abuse; and promote the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, the  cultural safety of children from linguistically and/or diverse backgrounds, and  the safety of children with a disability.  

New employees and volunteers will be supervised regularly to ensure they  understand our organisation’s commitment to child safety and that everyone has  a role to play in protecting children from abuse, as well as checking that their  behaviour towards children is safe and appropriate  

Any inappropriate behaviour will be reported through appropriate channels,  including the Department of Health and Human Services and Victoria Police,  depending on the severity and urgency of the matter. 

RISE UP BASKETBALL – CHILD SAFETY POLICY 

7. Child Welfare Officer  

It is not the responsibility of anyone working for RISE UP BASKETBALL in a paid or  unpaid capacity to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However,  there is a responsibility to act on any concerns through contact with the  appropriate authorities so that they can then make inquiries and take necessary  action to protect the young person. This applies BOTH to allegations/suspicions  of abuse occurring within our Organisation’s activities and to  

allegations/suspicions that abuse is taking place elsewhere.  

RISE UP BASKETBALL has appointed a Welfare Office to look over matters  concerning child safety and abuse. We expect our members and staff to discuss  any concerns that they may have about the welfare of a child IMMEDIATELY with  the nominated Welfare Officer.  

The Welfare Officer will ensure that the concerns/incident reported to them  remain confidential and that the identity of the person reporting the  

concern/incident is not revealed. The Welfare Officer will be required to report  all the incidents noted by them to the Organisations Director who will then  ascertain whether or not the person/s involved in the incident play a role in the  organisation and act accordingly.  

8. Fair and Just Procedures for Personnel  

The safety and wellbeing of children is our primary concern. We are also fair and  just to personnel. The decisions we make when recruiting, assessing incidents,  and undertaking disciplinary action will always be thorough, transparent, and  based on evidence. We record all allegations of abuse and safety concerns,  including investigation updates. All records are securely stored. If an allegation  of abuse or a safety concern is raised, we provide updates to children and  families on progress and any action taken.  

9. Privacy  

All personal information considered or recorded will respect the privacy of the  individuals involved, whether they be staff, volunteers, officials, parents or  children, unless there is a risk to someone’s safety. We have safeguards and  practices in place to ensure any personal information is protected. Everyone is  entitled to know how this information is recorded, what will be done with it, and  who will have access to it. 

RISE UP BASKETBALL – CHILD SAFETY POLICY 

10. Legislative Responsibilities  

RISE UP BASKETBALL will comply with our legal responsibilities seriously,  including:  

• Failure to disclose: Reporting child sexual abuse is a community 

wide responsibility. All adults in Victoria who have a reasonable  

belief that an adult has committed a sexual offence against a  

child under 16 have an obligation to report that information to the  

police  

• Failure to protect: People of authority in our organisation will  

commit an offence if they know of a substantial risk of child  

sexual abuse and have the power or responsibility to reduce or  

remove the risk, but negligently fail to do so. 

11. Risk Management In Victoria 

Organisations are required to protect children when a risk is identified. In  addition to general occupational health and safety risks, we proactively manage  risks of abuse to our children.  

12. Regular Review  

This policy will be reviewed every two years and following significant incidents if  they occur. We will ensure that families and children have the opportunity to  contribute. Where possible we do our best to work with local Aboriginal  communities, culturally and/or linguistically diverse communities and people  with a disability.  

13. Allegations, Concerns and Complaints  

RISE UP BASKETBALL takes all allegations seriously and has practices in place to  investigate thoroughly and quickly. Our staff and volunteers are trained to deal  appropriately with allegations. We work to ensure all children, families, staff and  volunteers know what to do and who to tell if they observe abuse or are a victim,  and if they notice inappropriate behaviour.  

We all have a responsibility to report an allegation of abuse if we have a  reasonable belief that an incident took place. If an adult has a reasonable belief  that an incident has occurred then they must report the incident. Factors  contributing to reasonable belief may be:  

• A child states they or someone they know has been  

abused (noting that sometimes the child may in fact be  

referring to themselves), 

• Behaviour consistent with that of an abuse victim is  

observed 

RISE UP BASKETBALL – CHILD SAFETY POLICY 

• Someone else has raised a suspicion of abuse but is  unwilling to report it, and 
• Observing suspicious behaviour. 
• https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au//what-we do/safeguarding 

RISE UP BASKETBALL – CHILD SAFETY POLICY