Child safeguarding

Safeguarding Children and Young People

Participation in sport should be safe for all. We are committed to ensuring that people in sport, including children, are treated with respect dignity and are protected from bullying, discrimination, harassment or abuse.

The Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy highlights the important legal and governance responsibilities in relation to child safety.

For more information on safeguarding children and young people check out the Safeguarding Children and Young People Fact Sheet.

Chaperones as Champions for Children and Young People

Being a chaperone to children and young people at skate events and activities is an important and rewarding safeguarding role. Chaperones supplement the key roles of additional Skate Australia personnel such as coaches, team managers and medical support staff. Often chaperones act as a key trusted contact for children or young people, who may come to chaperones with questions or concerns. For a full briefing on the roles and responsibilities of chaperones, please see the guide below which will assist you in fulfilling this role adequately.

Member Protection Policy

The Member Protection Policy highlights the important legal and governance responsibilities in relation to member protection.

For more information on Member Protection check out the Member Protection Fact Sheet.

How Skate looks after your kids (7-12)

How Skate looks after you (13-17)

Learn about your rights at Skate (7-12)

Your rights at Skate (13-17)

How Skate looks after all its participants

Chaperone Roles and Responsibilities

SA Child and Young Person Safe Commitment Statement

Start to Talk Campaign

Start to Talk is a national campaign which aims to encourage parents and sporting organisations to discuss how they can work together to create a child safe environment.

The campaign features Child Safe Sport resources developed by Sport Integrity Australia.

You can find links to the Safeguarding webpage and supporting Child Safe Sport resources below:

These are very useful for Skate clubs, committees, volunteers, parents and/or guardians and all relevant stakeholders in our Skate communities to utilise.

Responding and Reporting a Child Safeguarding Concern

Protecting Australia’s children is everybody’s business. If you suspect a child or young person is at risk of harm, abuse or neglect you can contact your relevant state or territory child protection agency.

Report your Concern to Sport Integrity Australia

As a person involved in sport, you play a crucial role in protecting children. It is crucial you follow the following steps below if you suspect there has been a breach of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy.

Call Sport Integrity Australia on 1300 027 232

(select option 3 for an integrity matter)

9:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday (excluding national and ACT public holidays)

Responding and Reporting a Breach of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy

Report your Safeguarding Concern to Sport Integrity Australia

Contact the Skate Australia National Integrity Manager

Safe Sport Hotline

1800 161 361

7am-7pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

The Safe Sport Hotline is part of an expanded service offered to members of sport to share their story with a trusted member of the Sport Integrity Australia team about integrity issues they have experienced.

The service includes an anonymous reporting capability that covers wider racial and cultural issues in sport for people who feel they have been discriminated against in their sport.

Working with Children Checks

If you work within the Skate community as an employee, contractor or volunteer in any child-related positions you are required to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC).

In Australia, people who work or volunteer with children are screened for suitability. As part of this screening process, nominated state agencies examine an applicant’s police information including criminal charges, offences, findings of guilt and professional conduct reports across the applicant’s lifetime.

The screening process also considers the relevant state or territory legislation, which differs in terms of:

the type of history that may prevent a person from obtaining registration or a WWCC
how long the registration is valid for
who is required to be registered.

If an applicant passes the screening processes they may be registered to work with children and/or vulnerable people for a set period of time according to the state or territory that issues the registration.

If you or the applicant you are conducting a check for will be working with children or vulnerable groups, you will need to determine if a working with children and/or working with vulnerable people check is required to be conducted by the relevant screening unit.

Where can I apply for a Working with Children Check?

A single screening unit has been set up in each state and territory to conduct working with children checks and issue the resulting cards, registration or permits. The following state and territory screening units are the only organisations allowed, under legislation, to conduct working with children checks.