Australian Institute of Family Studies. Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) is the Australian Government's key research body in the area of family wellbeing. It was established in 1980 under the Family Law Act 1975 to increase understanding of factors affecting how Australian families function by conducting research and disseminating findings. CFCA produces a range of publications which are available on the website. Some resources relevant to sporting organisations include:

• Reporting child abuse and neglect: Information for service providers, Child Family Community Australia, CFCA Resource Sheet, (June 2019). This resource sheet provides information to service providers and practitioners working in the child, family and community welfare sector on how to report suspected child abuse and neglect. It defines child abuse and neglect, and provides contact details for the reporting authority in each state and territory.
• Responding to children and young peoples disclosure of abuse, Child Family Community Australia, CFCA Practitioner Resource, (March 2015). This paper is a guide to responding to children and young people's disclosures of abuse. It outlines what we know about how, why, and when children and young people are likely to disclose and suggests actions to take at the time of disclosure and in the longer term.
• Understanding safeguarding practices for children with disability when engaging with organisations, Sarah Wayland and Gabrielle Hindmarsh, Child Family Community Australia, CFCA Practitioner Resource, (October 2017). This resource explores how an understanding of abuse and neglect relating to children with disability can assist in establishing child-safe organisations.

The National Office for Child Safety was established on 1 July 2018 in response to the 'Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse' (the Royal Commission). The National Office leads the development and implementation of several national priorities recommended by the Royal Commission. These priorities include: the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations; the Australian Government’s child safety policy, known as the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework, (Commonwealth Child Safe Framework); the National Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse; and, improvements to information sharing arrangements to strengthen child safety and wellbeing. Key non-government institutions that were involved in the Royal Commission also report to the National Office annually on their progress in implementing Royal Commission recommendations.

• National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (the National Principles) provide a nationally consistent approach to cultivating organisational cultures and practices that foster child safety and wellbeing across all sectors in Australia. They give effect to the Royal Commission’s recommended child safe standards while including broader child safety and wellbeing.
• National Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse. The National Office for Child Safety is responsible for designing and implementing a National Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse. The National Strategy was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and will consider child abuse in all settings including institutional and non-institutional settings.
• Child Safe Sectors Leadership Group. The Child Safe Sectors Leadership Group informs government on approaches to national child safety initiatives, while also promoting and sharing information about child safety requirements and practices across sectors engaging with children and young people. Sport Integrity Australia is a representative on this group.
• Commonwealth Child Safe Framework. In response to the Royal Commission’s findings about creating environments that are safe for children, the Australian Government has introduced the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework, a whole-of-government policy that sets minimum standards for creating and embedding a child safe culture and practice in Commonwealth entities.
• Reporting. The Royal Commission recommended that non-government institutions and peak bodies involved in child-related work report on their progress implementing the Royal Commission’s recommendations. The Royal Commission recommended that, at a minimum, eleven institutions that were the subject of relevant Royal Commission hearings should provide annual progress reports by the end of 2018. In 2019, the National Office for Child Safety contacted 42 other institutions whose conduct was considered as part of the Royal Commission, to encourage them to submit a progress report. These institutions included some sporting organisations.

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner is the Australian Government statutory body responsible for promoting and enhancing online safety for all Australians. Resources are available relating to various online issues including: cyberbullying, use of social media, protecting your information, and more.

• Sporting organisations and community groups, (accessed 22 September 2020). eSafety offers a range of resources to help sporting organisations, clubs and community groups review and improve their online safety policies and practices.

Play by the Rules is a unique collaboration between Sport Integrity Australia, Sport Australia, Australian Human Rights Commission, all state and territory departments of sport and recreation, all state and territory anti-discrimination and human rights agencies, the Office of the Children's Guardian,  and the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW. These partners promote Play by the Rules through their networks, along with their own child safety, anti-discrimination, and inclusion programs.

• Child Safe Sport. Play by the Rules, (accessed 22 September 2020). Provides an overview of the available resources and information to help sport and recreation organisations keep kids safe.

Sport Integrity Australia works to develop national policies, resources and education to build the capacity of sporting organisations and individuals to provide safe sporting environments. Focus areas include: child safeguarding; member protection; and complaint and dispute management.

Sports peak bodies to develop independent framework on member protection issues, Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, Commonwealth Games Australia, (3 September 2020). Australia’s three peak sporting bodies have created a working party with Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) and the National Sports Tribunal (NST) to develop a fully independent framework to deal with abuse, intimidation and other safeguarding issues in Australian sport.

Agencies and resources

• Child safety law in NSW, NSW Office of Sport, (accessed 4 November 2020). When it comes to child safety, it’s important to understand there are legal requirements for sporting organisations, staff and volunteers in NSW.
• Child Safe Sport, NSW Office of Sport, (accessed 4 November 2020). The Office of Sport is committed to safeguarding children and young people in sport and recreation. We work with the sector, NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian, Play by the Rules and other lead child safe agencies to help create child safe sport in NSW.
• Office of the Children's Guardian. The Office of the Children’s Guardian is an independent statutory authority in NSW Government. They promote and regulate the quality of child safe organisations, services and people.
  • Working with Children Check

Agencies and resources

• Working with Children Clearance Notice: before you apply, NT Government, (last updated 5 February 2019).
• SAFE NT conducts Working with Children checks (WWC) and recommends on 'clearance notices' (Territory Ochre Card) to persons working with children (under the Care and Protection of Children Act (CPCA).

Agencies and resources

• Blue Card Services
• Queensland Family and Child Commission
• Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women

Agencies and resources

Government of South Australia’s response to the Child Protection Systems Royal Commission report: The life they deserve, Government of South Australia, (November 2016). Children and young people have a fundamental right to grow up happy and cared for, to be kept safe from harm and to be supported to fulfil their potential. The government's response, 'A Fresh Start,' aims to improve outcomes for vulnerable children, their families and the broader South Australian community by proposing extensive improvements to our state’s child protection system. It responds to each of the recommendations from the Child Protection Systems Royal Commission, but also goes further to develop a broader child development system. This system begins before birth and seeks to avoid children ever needing statutory child protection.

• Child Protection Systems Royal Commission: SA commits $432 million to changes, Nick Harsen, ABC news, (29 November 2016). South Australia will spend $432 million on changes to its child welfare systems, in the wake of scathing findings by the Child Protection Systems Royal Commission.

Create a child safe environment, Office of Recreation, Sport and Racing, (accessed 22 September 2020). A child safe organisation protects children from harm in an environment where children feel respected, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. A child safe and child friendly environment minimises the risk to children from physical, sexual, emotional and psychological harm and from neglect. SA legislation requires that organisations that provide services for children create and maintain a child safe environment.

Screening Unit, Department of Human Services, (accessed 22 September 2020). The Department of Human Services (DHS) Screening Unit provides checks of workers and volunteers to organisations, contributing to creating safe environments for children and other vulnerable people.

Trust is a Must: What does it take to be child friendly and child safe? Commissioner for Children and Young People, (September 2020). At the core of creating child friendly and child safe environments, is the need for organisations to put policies and procedures in place that ensure children and young people feel they are being listened to and believed.

Agencies and resources

• Child Safety Service, Department of Communities Tasmania, (accessed 16 November 2020).
  • Child Safe Sport, (November 2019). The care and protection of children is a legal requirement, as well as a moral obligation, that requires commitment from everyone involved in all levels of sport to ensure sporting environments are safe and supportive for all children.
• Registration to work with vulnerable people, Consumer, Building and Occupational Services, (accessed 22 September 2020).

Agencies and resources

Child safe standards, Commission for Children and Young People, (accessed 22 September 2020). Victoria has introduced compulsory minimum standards that apply to organisations that provide services for children to help ensure the safety of children. The child safe standards form part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry.

• Child Safe Standards, Vicsport, (accessed 22 September 2020) The Victorian Child Safe Standards (the Standards) apply to all sporting organisations that provide services or facilities to children within Victoria. This is a legal requirement for sporting organisations of all sizes from grassroots clubs all the way through to National Sporting Organisations. Vicsport provides a series of information sheets and templates designed to support State Sport Associations and Regional Sports Assemblies to meet the Child Safe Standards.

Working With Children Check Victoria

Agencies and resources

• Child safeguarding, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, (accessed 22 September 2020). Every child has the right to participate in sport and recreation activities without risk to their physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Working with Children Check and related resources.

• Child Safe Sport Framework, Artistic Swimming Australia, (July 2020). The Artistic Swimming Child Safe Sport Framework is a comprehensive policy and procedures document that details our shared responsibilities for protecting children and members' welfare. The ASAI Safe Sport Framework has been broken down into the following different components and provides a suite of policy documents and guidance to protect children and young people in our sport:
  • Child Safe Sport Commitment Statement;
  • Code of conduct;
  • Recruitment policy;
  • Induction and training policy; and
  • Reporting policy.

• Safeguarding Children and Young People policies, Australian Football League, (accessed 23 September 2020).
  • Safeguarding Children and Young People Commitment Statement (December 2019).
  • Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy (December 2019).
  • Safeguarding Children and Young People Code of Conduct (December 2019).
  • Safeguarding Children and Young People Reporting Procedure (December 2019).

• Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, Paddle Australia, (31 July 2020). Paddle Australia’s 'Policy for Safeguarding Children and Young People’ aims to ensure that Paddle Australia and the State Paddle Associations (collectively Paddle Australia) provide a
  safe and nurturing environment for all Children and Young People.
  • Code of Behaviour – Clubs, (31 July 2020).
  • Code of Behaviour – Paddle Australia Personnel, (31 July 2020).

• Safeguarding children and young people, Cricket Australia, (accessed 24 September 2020). Australian Cricket is committed to ensuring that every cricket participant, including children and young people, participates in our sport free of abuse, harassment, bullying or any other form of inappropriate conduct. Australian Cricket’s Looking After Our Kids details cricket’s commitment to safeguarding children and young people and other resources in the safeguarding of children and young people in our sport.

• Child Safe Sport Codes of Behaviour, AusCycling, (15 September 2020). AusCycling is committed to providing a safe, fair and inclusive environment for everyone involved in the organisation and in the sport. Developed to protect children and young people engaged in all disciplines of cycling, these guidelines have been formally approved and endorsed by our Board of Directors. As part of our commitment to observing these codes of behaviour Board, staff, officials, volunteers and AusCycling accredited coaches, instructors and presenters will be required to sign the appropriate declaration.
• Child Safe Sport Commitment, AusCycling, (2 September 2020). AusCycling is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who are involved in our sport.

• Safeguarding Children & Adults Policy, Dodgeball Federation Australia, (2018). The purpose of this policy is to outline the duty and responsibility of staff, volunteers and Members working on behalf of or as Members of Dodgeball Federation Australia (DFA), in relation to Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults.

• Child Safety Commitment Statement, Equestrian Australia, (effective 1 July 2018). The Equestrian Australia staff and volunteers within sport are responsible for upholding the Equestrian Australia Child Safe Sport Commitment. The role of each entity in relation to the development and compliance of the Equestrian Australia Child Safe Sport Commitment is detailed in the table below.

• Child Safe Sport Commitment, Australian Flying Disc Association, (12 May 2020). The AFDA Board approves and endorses the AFDA’s commitment to keeping children and young people from abuse and neglect.

• Gymnastics in Australia’s Commitment to Child Safety. Gymnastics Australia is proud to present two Commitment Statements, one co-signed by the President of Gymnastics Australia, alongside the Presidents of all our member State and Territory Associations and the other co-signed by the Gymnastics Australia CEO and the Executive Directors of all State and Territory Associations. 
  • Child Safety Commitment Statement: Gymnastics in Australia Executive Directors, Gymnastics Australia, (19 March 2019).
  • Child Safety Commitment Statement: Gymnastics in Australia Child Safety, Gymnastics Australia, (19 March 2019).
  • Child Safe Policy, Gymnastics Australia, (27 February 2019).
  • Codes of Behaviour, Gymnastics Australia, (accessed 23 September 2020). GA requires certain standards of behaviour by all persons involved in our organisation and in our sport. These codes of behaviour are outlined in full in the Member Protection Policy and Child Safe Policy. We have also developed more accessible versions of the Child Safe Codes of Behaviour as a series of Videos, a Guide and a Poster.
• Child Protection Resources. Gymnastics Victoria (August 2016). Updated standards and policies in line with the Victorian Government's compulsory minimum standards that apply to all organisations that provide services to children which came into effect in January 2017. Policies include: Child safe & child friendly policy; Member protection policy, including Codes of behaviour; Grievance & complaints policy; Photographic and filming policy; and Child protection code of conduct.
• Child Safety and Wellbeing Framework, Gymnastics New South Wales, (accessed 23 September 2020). Gymnastics NSW wants children and young people who participate in its activities to have a safe and happy experience. We consider that the health, safety and wellbeing of children takes priority over all other competing considerations, and that this is necessary to ensure the health safety and welfare of all members.

• Safe Hockey Framework, Hockey Australia, (August 2020). The key purposes of the Safe Hockey Framework are to enable and deliver targeted education on how to identify and respond to child safety issues, as well as educating children and young people on their right to feel safe. The Safe Hockey project was launched in July 2019 and forms a key component of the Integrity pillar in Hockey Australia’s four year Strategic Plan 2019-2022. Supported by all state and territory Member Associations, and with funding received from Sport Australia, the project is one of a growing number of whole of sport initiatives being delivered within Australian hockey.
  • Safe Hockey Statement of Commitment.
  • Safe Hockey Policy, (accessed 23 September 2020).
  • Safe Hockey National Policies, Resources and Guidelines.

• Child Safe Policy, Ice Hockey Australia, (August 2020). Ice Hockey Australia is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people accessing our service. Ice Hockey Australia supports the rights of the child and will act without hesitation to ensure a child safe environment is always maintained. We also support the rights and wellbeing of staff and volunteers and encourage their active participation in building and maintaining a secure environment for all participants.

• ALA Child Safety and Billeting Practices, Australian Lacrosse Association, (April 2019). This policy is to ensure that all ALA operational personnel, directors and volunteers are aware of, understand and put into action, ALA’s best practices to create and maintain a child-safe environment.

• Child Safety, Pony Club Australia, (accessed 24 September 2020). The Pony Club Australia board has developed a Statement of Commitment to Child Safety that applies to all members, supporters and people associated with Pony Club. This should be read in conjunction with the Child Safety Code of Conduct Policy.
  • Child Safe Sport Commitment, (June 2020).
  • Child Safety Code of Conduct, (June 2020).
  • Child Safety Code of Conduct, (June 2020).
  • Reporting Policy - Child Safety Concerns, (June 2020).

• Child Safety, Rowing Australia, (accessed 24 September 2020). Rowing Australia is strongly committed to Australian sport environments that are safe, supportive and friendly for children and young people, and particularly rowing environments. Includes links to Rowing Australia templates and other useful links.

• Child safety, Australian Rugby Union, (accessed 24 September 2020). Rugby Australia is committed to ensuring that rugby is a safe environment for children and young people. Includes child safety commitment statement, child safety framework, reporting, working with children checks, and further resources.

Child safety, Australian Sailing, (accessed 24 September 2020). Clubs and Classes need to ensure that they are adhering to the Child Protection Laws and requirements of the state/territory it is in. This webpage provides state-specific resources and information for clubs and classes to assist them to be compliant with the relevant laws as well as Australian Sailing's Statement of Commitment to Child Safety, Child Safety Policy and, Child Safety Code of Conduct.

• Child Safe Sport resources. Ski & Snowboard Australia (2018). Resources include Statement of Commitment to safety and wellbeing of children and young people; Child Safety Policy (excerpt from SSA Member Protection Policy, August 2017); and links to additional resources and upcoming seminars.

• Child Safety, Sport Climbing Australia, (accessed 24 September 2020). 
  • Child Safe Sport Commitment, (April 2020).
  • Child Safe Sport Code of Conduct, (May 2020).
  • Child Safe Sport Recruitment and Screening, (April 2020).

• Safe Sport Framework. Swimming Australia, (3 August 2020). Swimming Australia’s Safe Sport Framework (SSF) consists of two documents: Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy (matters or complaints concerning the safety and wellbeing of children or young people in swimming must be considered under this policy) and, Member Protection Policy (this concerns matters relating to such things as discrimination, harassment, bullying, victimisation and abuse).

• Child Safe Sport Policies, Australian Taekwondo, (accessed 24 September 2020). Australian Taekwondo is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who are involved in our sport. Our policies and procedures seek to address risks to child safety and to establish a child safe culture and practices. Documents include:
  • Child safe sport policy, (8 May 2020).
  • Child safe guidelines and reporting procedures, (8 May 2020).

• Safeguarding Children Resources. Tennis Australia, (accessed 23 September 2020). Resources include Tennis Australia's Commitment Statement, Member protection policy, Safeguarding children guidelines, and additional resources for administrators and parents/guardians of children.
  • Safeguarding Children Guidelines, (2017). The Tennis Australia Safeguarding Children Guidelines have been developed to assist all personnel meet their obligations, specifically relating to children, under the Tennis Australia Member Protection Policy.
  • Member Protection Policy, (effective 12 February 2019).

• Child Safe Sport Framework, Tenpin Bowling Australia, (8 February 2020). Tenpin Bowling Australia (TBA) is committed to the safety and well-being of all children and young people who participate in our sport or access our services. This Child Safe Sport Framework aims to assist TBA in creating a safe and positive environment for everyone participating in the sport of tenpin bowling.

• Child Safe Sport, Australia Curling Federation, (accessed 24 September 2020). Child safe documents and policies include: Child safe sport commitment; Code of conduct; Child abuse incident report form; responding to child abuse reports; and, Child safe induction and training.
• Child Safe Child Friendly Policy, Disabled Wintersport Australia, (12 June 2019). The aim of this Policy is to protect the safety of children in our care and prevent abuse occurring, and in the event that allegations are raised in relation to child abuse, to ensure that the allegations are properly addressed. All complaints will be treated seriously and fully investigated and handled with maximum confidentiality and discretion.

• Safe Sport Framework, Wrestling Australia, (accessed 24 September 2020). Wrestling Australia is committed to having an environment that is safe for people of all ages.  Wrestling Australia has adopted a Chid Safe Sport Framework that outlines the commitment of Wrestling Australia, the recruitment and training process, Wrestling Australia Codes of Conduct and child safe reporting requirements.

• Child safe sport commitment statement, Deaf Sports Australia, (November 2018). The DSA Board of Directors on behalf of its members approves and endorses this statement and commitment to keeping children and young people from abuse and neglect.
• Child Safe Sport Commitment, Disability Sports Australia, (April 2019). The Disability Sports Australia Board of Directors approves and endorses Disability Sports Australia and divisions and entities’ commitment to keeping children and young people from abuse and neglect.
• Keeping athletes safe, Special Olympics Australia, (accessed 24 September 2020). Special Olympics Australia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Children, young people and vulnerable adults who participate in Special Olympics Australia activities have the right to feel safe and to participate in an environment where they are protected from any form of abuse. We recognise that people with a disability may be vulnerable to abuse either by the actions of staff or volunteers, by the actions of other athletes, or by their family members or other associates. Abuse may take many forms and includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and neglect.
  • Keeping Athletes Safe, (August 2018).
  • Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, (October 2017).
  • Working with Children Check and Police Check, (October 2017).

• Child Safeguarding in Sport (CSiS) is a European Union (EU) and Council of Europe (COE) joint project (1 March 2020-31 October 2021). Its main aims are to guide and accompany European countries in the setting up of positions of Child Safeguarding Officers in sport. The CSiS project builds upon the results and lessons learnt from two previous EU-COE joint projects Pro Safe Sport for young athletes 2014-2015, and Pro Safe Sport+ (2017).
  • Pro Safe Sport, Council of Europe, European Union, (accessed 23 September 2020). The project entitled “Pro Safe Sport +: Put an end to sexual harassment and abuse against children in sport” (PSS+) was a nine-month project that commenced in April 2017, aimed at promoting a safe and healthy environment for young athletes. Sexual harassment, abuse and exploitation of children are widespread violations of the rights of the child, compromising the children’s social development and often having devastating mental and physical health consequences. Sport is an environment that encourages close relationships and trust between peers, coaches, team and support staff. Combating and preventing all forms of gender-based violence in the field of sport, and in particular sexual violence against children, is a priority for both the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (CoE). Progress has been made to implement policy standards that can help to effectively protect children; and prevent and respond to sexual and other forms of gender-based violence in sport. Despite the calls for reform and efforts to create standards that apply to sporting environments, progress is still slow and fragmented. A number of EU member states and sport organisations still have not prepared and adopted a national policy against sexual violence in sport.
  • Start to Talk, (accessed 23 September 2020) A Council of Europe call for action to public authorities and the sport movement to stop child sexual abuse launched in 2017. It is a follow-up to the two successful Pro Safe Sport projects (in 2014 and 2017). So far, Start to talk has been launched in seven countries (Croatia, Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Spain).
• European Sports Charter, Council of Europe, (2001). Provides guidance for the Council of Europe’s member states to perfect existing legislations or other policies and to develop a comprehensive framework for sport. The Code of Sports Ethics acts as a complement to the Charter.
  • Code of Sports Ethics, Council of Europe, (2010). The Code of Sport Ethics recommends when working with young people to ensure that safeguards are in place within the context of an overall framework of support and protection for children, young people and women, both to protect the above groups from sexual harassment and abuse and to prevent the exploitation of children, particularly those who demonstrate precocious ability.
• Safeguarding Children in Sport: A mapping study, European Commission, (September 2019). The key aims of this small-scale research study were to undertake a rapid review of empirical evidence on violence against children in sport across the EU and to analyse how safeguarding issues are dealt with at national and/or international level through legal instruments and policy initiatives. This would serve to provide the European Commission with adequate knowledge of existing initiatives in order to identify where best to focus its efforts and those of the Member States.

• Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Women Win (2012). Women Win (WW) is an internationally recognised centre of excellence on gender and sport. This policy is developed to ensure the highest standards of professional and personal practice by persons associated with Women Win, both inside and outside the work environment. This includes but is not limited to: staff, volunteers, interns, the leadership and beneficiaries of program partners (defined in this document as: local organisations working with children in sports related programs), consultants, suppliers, investors, strategic partners, researchers, Board members, Advisory Council members. Specifically this Child Protection Policy aims to protect children by prohibiting:
  • hitting, physically assaulting or physically abusing children;
  • any relationships with children which are exploitative, abusive or put children at risk of abuse;
  • employing children in contravention of ILO Convention 138 and 182;
  • putting children in harmful or potentially harmful situations.
• International Safeguards for Children in Sport, International Safeguarding for Children in Sport Working Group, (2016). These Safeguards aim to outline the things that should be put in place by any organisation providing sports activities to children and young people. The Safeguards should be viewed as guides, which facilitate an organisation’s journey towards safeguarding children rather than an end in themselves. They reflect international declarations, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, relevant legislation, government guidance, existing child protection/safeguarding standards and good practice. They have been informed by research conducted by Brunel University with a diverse range of perspectives from different countries and stakeholder groups during an extensive piloting phase. These Safeguards represent collective good practice at a point in time and will be subject to periodic review to ensure they reflect developments within safeguarding practice.

• Safeguarding Guidance for Children and Young People in Sport, Sport Ireland, (accessed 23 September 2020). The aim of this guidance document is to help sporting bodies to create a culture of safety that promotes the welfare of children and young people engaged in sporting activities. This guidance document supports National Governing Bodies to meet their child safeguarding and child protection responsibilities which are cognisant of, and in line with, requirements under policy/legislation and with best practice.
  • Safeguarding Training. Sport Ireland offers three workshop in the area of Safeguarding and child protection.
  • Staying Safe Online. The Sport Ireland Staying Safe Online resource is web based information and guidance tool on internet safety predominately aimed at parents/guardians/coaches. The resource provides detailed content on all aspects of online safety.
  • Garda Vetting. The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 - 2016 provides a statutory basis for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children or vulnerable persons. The Act also creates offences and penalties for persons who fail to comply with its provisions.
  • National Children Officers. Each Governing Body of Sport should appoint a National Children's Officer. The National Children's Officer should be a member of the Executive Committee, or have access to the committee and its accompanying documents, to ensure that children's interests are kept on, and influence the decisions of, the agenda of the Governing Body.

• Good Practice Principles for the Provision of Sport and Recreation for Young People, Sport New Zealand, (June 2014). Early experiences shape life-long attitudes. It's critical that young people enjoy their formative sport and recreation experiences in order to develop and retain a love of sport for the rest of their lives.
• Safe Sport for Children, Sport New Zealand (2017). Children want to be in an environment that is safe and supportive, where they are encouraged to be the best they can be and gain maximum enjoyment from what they are doing. Safe sport for children is about balancing what children want to get from their sports experience while ensuring they are not subject to harm caused by an adverse social/or physical environment. Children can be harmed through their experiences of sport and recreation. This harm can take many forms including: physical harm from engaging in a physical activity, emotional abuse, bullying, put-downs, inappropriate cultural practices, physical and sexual abuse, and other harmful practices. Harmful practices have no place in children’s sport.

• Child Protection in Sport Unit. a partnership between the NSPCC, Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland and Sport Wales. The Unit maintains a website which contains information including Resources, News and Events, Help and Advice.
  • Standards for safeguarding and protecting children in sport, (updated 7 September 2018). These Standards provide a framework for all those involved in sport to help them create a safe sporting environment for children and young people and protect them from harm.
    • The Framework for maintaining and embedding safeguarding for children in and through sport, (updated 27 February 2019). The Framework was developed in conjunction with partner agencies to support this 'maintaining and embedding’ safeguarding work.
  • Safe Sport Events Management Tool, (updated 25 August 2016).
  • Safe use of changing facilities, (updated 23 July 2020). This briefing on the safe use of changing facilities (PDF) provides guidance on how to safeguard children and young people when they are using sports changing facilities. It includes recommended levels of adult supervision and examples of changing-room policies.
  • Sample online safety and social media policy, (updated 23 November 2017). Provides an example of the procedures that should support the use of social media and other online services within your club or organisation.
• Duty of Care in sport review, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Independent Report to Government, (April 2017). In December 2015, as part of the Sporting Future strategy, the Minister for Sport asked Baroness Grey-Thompson to conduct an independent review into the Duty of Care sport has towards its participants. This report sets out the findings of that review.
  • Duty of care in sport, NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit, (2020). This briefing on Duty of Care (PDF) clarifies what that duty entails for sports organisations, and provides some guidance as to what steps can be taken in order to demonstrate that this duty is being met.
• Safeguarding, Sport England, (accessed 23 September 2020). We all have a role to play in keeping others safe and people should know what to do if they have any concerns. That’s why we're working to support parents, carers, organisations, associations, clubs, activity providers, instructors/teachers/coaches and leaders to safeguard children and adults at risk.
• Standards for child wellbeing and protection in sport, sportschotland, (2017). The Standards for Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport and accompanying self-evaluation tool have been developed by the Safeguarding in Sport service for sportscotland, to enable sports organisations to put measures in place that help them on a journey to achieve these goals and beyond.
• Truth Project Thematic Report: Child sexual abuse in sports, Dr Andrea Darling, Laura Pope, Dr Jamie-Lee Mooney, et.al., IICSA Research Team, Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse, (June 2020). This report describes the experiences of Truth Project participants sexually abused in sports contexts between the 1950s and 2010s, with the most recent cases in our sample beginning in the early 2010s. The research findings included in this report are only indicative of the specific experiences of those who chose to share their experiences with the Truth Project. Of the 3,939 people who shared their experience, 2% described child sexual abuse that took place in a sports context. Of these participants 91% reported being sexually abused by a sports coach or volunteer in a sports organisation and sports clubs were most frequently reported as the location of the abuse (61%).
• The Whyte Review, (2020). In July 2020 a significant number of gymnasts, and parents of gymnasts, made allegations about mistreatment within the sport of gymnastics. A number of the concerns alleged that British Gymnastics had failed to deal appropriately with complaints it had received. In response to these issues being raised, UK Sport and Sport England ('the Commissioning Organisations') have appointed Anne Whyte QC ('the Reviewer') to undertake an independent review ('The Whyte Review') into the issues that have been raised.

• Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017, Public Law No: 115-126, U.S. Government Publishing Office, (February 2018). Partially in response to the Larry Nassar case this Federal law was passed requiring sports governing bodies to promptly report allegations of abuse to law enforcement agencies.
• U.S. Center for SafeSport, The Center opened its doors in Denver, Colorado, in March 2017. Under the 'Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017' it develops resources and policies to safeguard athletes from bullying, harassment, hazing, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and sexual misconduct. The law entrusts the Center as the exclusive authority to respond to reports of allegations of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct within the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and their recognized National Governing Bodies (NGBs).
  • SafeSport Code, U.S. Center for SafeSport, (effective 1 April 2020).
  • Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP), (23 January 2019). The U.S. Olympic Committee and national governing bodies (collectively, “Covered Organizations”) are required to follow these Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies. At a minimum, these policies are also strongly recommended for National Member Organizations and Local Affiliated Organizations, and, at a maximum, the NGBs may require said organizations to follow them. Covered Organizations are responsible for implementing and monitoring compliance with these policies.
  • U.S. Center for SafeSport: Preventing Abuse in Sports, Nicole Johnson, Katie Hanna, Julie Novak, et.al., Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, Volume 28(1), pp.66-71, (2020). This paper seeks to combine the current research on abuse in the sport environment with the work of the U.S. Center for SafeSport. The inclusion of risk factors unique to sport and evidence-informed practices provides framing for the scope and response to sexual abuse in sport organizations in the United States. The paper then explores the creation and mission of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, including the role of education in prevention and of policy, procedures, audit, and compliance as important aspects of a comprehensive safeguarding strategy. This paper provides preliminary data on the reach of the Center, established in 2017. This data captures the scope of education and training and the increase in reports to the Center from within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
• United States Olympic Committee –Recognizing, reducing and responding to misconduct in sport: Creating your strategy, USOC Safe Sport Handbook (2012). There are many reasons to play sport with many potential benefits to participants. Unfortunately, sport can also be a high-risk environment for misconduct, including child physical and sexual abuse. This handbook offers strategies to deal with misconduct, they include: training and education; screening of staff, volunteers and contractors; establishing boundaries; managing training and competition; responding to abuse, misconduct and policy breaches, and; monitoring.

• 100s of USA swimmers were sexually abused for decades and the people in charge knew and ignored it, investigation finds, Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register, (16 February 2018).
• USA Swimming leaders Susan Woessner and Pat Hogan forced out following reporting on sexual abuse, Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register , (22 February 2018).
• Everett Uchiyama whistle blowers go public for first time, say USA Swimming failed to protect athletes, Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register, (23 February 2018).
• Top USA Swimming officials under fire for alleged culture of abuse, Scott McLean & Sara Weisfeldt, CNN, (26 February 2018).

• Safeguarding, Child Protection and Abuse in Sport: International Perspectives in Research, Policy and Practice, 1st ed., M. Lang, M. Hartill (Eds.). Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society, (March 2016). Provides insight into the broader understanding of, and growing interest in, child athlete health and welfare, rights, and integrity in sport.

• Bravehearts mission is to stop sexual assault in the community and it does this through a range of activities including educating kids with strategies and skills to stay safe in a range of situations from bullying to sexual assault. They have been working with Little Athletics among others to train up staff about the issue.
  • In May 2018 Gymnastics Australia announced an initiative with Bravehearts to deliver specialised education, training services, risk management and cultural reform outcomes to the management, staff, parents and children of Gymnastics Australia. Affiliated clubs will be provided with resources while Bravehearts’ specialised training will be a mandatory requirement for all coaches and officials.
• Safeguarding Children Accreditation Program. A unique voluntary accreditation scheme managed by the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) for organisations (such as sporting organisations/clubs) who have a duty of care to children and young people whilst delivering a service or activity to them and/or their families. The Safeguarding Children Program provides the resources to support organisations meet evidence based standards that ultimately reduce the risk of abuse of children and young people by employees and volunteers. Sport Australia (formerly the Australian Sports Commission), Surf Life Saving Australia, Swimming Australia, Tennis Australia, and the Australian Football League (AFL) are partner organisations.

• Best Practice For Handling Child Abuse Investigations In Sport, Law In Sport, (6 January 2017). Over the last few years, we have seen some of the UK’s most iconic and well-known institutions and individuals being faced with allegations of historical sex abuse of young people. Particular attention is now focussed upon the world of football, which is currently facing a tidal wave of sex abuse allegations made by former football players.[1] Numerous police forces are reported to have begun investigations as a result of hundreds of people coming forward to report sex abuse in connection with football in the UK.
• Creating a Safer Sport Environment with the Rule of Two, Michel Hachey, Coaching Association of Canada/SIRC, (13 June 2018). This three-part blog series will provide tools and resources to strengthen safety and ethical values in sport by introducing the Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM). Subsequent blogs: Background Screening (July 2018) and Respect and Ethics (August 2018).
• Jelena Dokic’s story of abuse shows links between elite sport and child labour, Michael Burke, Researcher and Senior Lecturer, Victoria University, The Conversation, (20 November 2017). It’s easy to blame controlling sport parents like Dokic’s father, but by doing this we’re ignoring a much larger problem. Child and adolescent sport at an elite level can mirror child labour, so the sport itself should be treated with same degree of scrutiny.
• Protecting Children from Violence in Sport, UNICEF, (2010). UNICEF has long recognized that there is great value in children’s sport and play, and has been a consistent proponent of these activities in its international development and child protection work.
• Top 10 Tips For Safeguarding Children And Vulnerable Adults In Sports, Alice Cave, Law in Sport, (6 December 2016). Disclosures by a number of former professional football players in recent weeks that they were victims of sexual abuse as children have highlighted the challenges which sports organisations face in trying to keep young participants safe. This demonstrates that real damage can be done if sports organisations are unable to prevent abusers from coming into contact with children through sport. This problem seems unlikely to be confined to football, and other sports may well become the focus of media attention over the coming weeks and months.
• What is child abuse and neglect? Child Family Community Australia, (September 2018). The purpose of this resource sheet is to provide practitioners, policy makers and researchers with a working definition of child abuse and neglect. It provides a general definition of child abuse and neglect and definitions of the five commonly regarded subtypes.

• A green flag for the Flag System? Towards a child protection policy in Flemish sport, Vertommen, Tine; Toftegaard-Stoeckel, Jan; Vandevivere, Lore et.al., International Journal of Sport Policy, Volume 8(1), pp.15-31, (March 2016). Despite a growing body of literature and research about sexual harassment and abuse in sport, there is hardly any evidence-based policy and prevention research to guide the policy implementation process. By using the Flemish sport system as its empirical focus, this article investigates the feasibility of the so-called Flag System to translate policy into practice. The Flag System is a didactic tool created to assist sport stakeholders in the assessment of sexual behaviour involving children. It is in the process of being implemented in Flanders, and preliminary findings suggest a high level of feasibility at all levels of organized sports. Demonstrating that a number of inhibiting forces have effectively been reduced in Flanders, the current analysis of the process of planned change suggests that the Flag System has potential in bridging the gap between policy and practice and may also be suitable for implementation in other Western countries.
• The Australian situation: not so touchy? Catherine Scott, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 18(5), pp.599-614, (2013). Fear of unmediated touch between adults and children has become a feature of life in Anglophone countries, including Australia. Previous research has shown that this fear has had an impact on interactions between adults and children, particularly in education and early years care contexts. To assess the extent to which these fears have influenced Australians' willing to participate or allow their children to participate in junior sport 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with sports administrators, parents, junior sports officials and young sportspeople. Results suggest that Australians are aware of the prevailing discourses of risk but see these as irrelevant to their own contexts. As a result, junior sport in Australia continues to thrive.
• The Balance of Benefit and Burden? The Impact of Child Protection Legislation on Volunteers in Scottish Sports Clubs, Nichols, Geoff; Taylor, Peter, European Sport Management Quarterly, Volume 10(1), pp.31-47, (February 2010). This paper explores the benefits and burdens experienced by volunteers in sports clubs in Scotland arising from child protection (CP) legislation. The paper concludes that the difficulties of producing accurate evidence in this sensitive area restrict the extent to which legislation can be informed by estimates of reduced risk, weighed against the increased burden on volunteers. However, if society values the voluntary sector in sport and what it provides, it will have to give this sector additional support to cope positively with the legislation and incorporate it into ‘good practice’ working with children.
• Child Protection in Sport: Reflections on Thirty Years of Science and Activism, Celia H. Brackenridge and Daniel Rhind, Social Sciences, Volume 3(3), pp.326-340, (2014). This paper examines the responses of state and third sector agencies to the emergence of child abuse in sport since the mid-1980s. As with other social institutions such as the church, health and education, sport has both initiated its own child protection interventions and also responded to wider social and political influences. Sport has exemplified many of the changes identified in the brief for this special issue, such as the widening of definitional focus, increasing geographic scope and broadening of concerns to encompass health and welfare.
• Children’s experience of sport in Australia. Lynne McPherson, Maureen Long, Matthew Nicholson, et.al., International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Volume 52(5), pp.551-569, (2015). This paper reports on a study designed to explore children’s experiences of organised sport, as recounted by young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years. Overwhelmingly, young people reported the lasting developmental benefits of participation in organised sport as children. More than 50% also reported negative experiences, including emotional and physical harm and sexual harassment. The reasons for these apparently contradictory findings are explored. The role of coaches, peers, parents and the wider sporting association ethos are investigated and suggestions made for future research.
• Interpersonal violence against children in sport in the Netherlands and Belgium, Tine Vertommen, Nicolette Schipper-van Veldhoven, Kristien Wouters, et.al., Child Abuse and Neglect, Volume 51, pp.223-236, (January 2016). Using a dedicated online questionnaire, over 4,000 adults who had participated in organized sport before the age of 18 were surveyed with respect to their experiences with childhood psychological, physical, and sexual violence while playing sports. The survey showed that 38% of all respondents reported experiences with psychological violence, 11% with physical violence, and 14% with sexual violence. Ethnic minority, lesbian/gay/bisexual (LGB) and disabled athletes, and those competing at the international level report significantly more experiences of interpersonal violence in sport. The results are consistent with rates obtained outside sport, underscoring the need for more research on interventions and systematic follow-ups, to minimize these negative experiences in youth sport.
• Kicking ‘No Touch’ Discourses into Touch: Athletes’ Parents’ Constructions of Appropriate Adult (Coach)-Child (Athlete) Physical Contact. Gleaves, Thomas and Lang, Melanie, Journal of Sport and Social Issues , Volume 4(3), pp.191-211, (2017). This paper reports on a study that investigates athletes’ parents’ perspectives of appropriate coach-child athlete physical contact within youth swimming. Parents constructed physical contact as necessary and legitimate in three specific contexts and drew on children’s rights principles to rationalize this. This paper discusses the significance of this and explores the benefits of adopting child-centred coaching practices.
• Protecting children from violence in sport: a review with a focus on industrialized countries, unicef, (2010). UNICEF has long recognized that there is great value in children’s sport and play, and has been a consistent proponent of these activities in its international development and child protection work. Health, educational achievement and social benefits are just some of the many desirable outcomes associated with organized physical activity. During recent years, however, it has become evident that sport is not always a safe space for children and that the same types of violence and abuse sometimes found in families and communities can also occur in sport and play programmes. The research presented in this publication shows a lack of data collection and knowledge about violence to children in sport, a need to develop the structures and systems for eliminating and preventing this form of violence, and that ethical guidelines and codes of conduct must be established and promoted as part of the prevention system. By addressing these gaps, significant improvements will be realized for the promotion and protection of the rights of children in sport.
• Protection of children in competitive sport: some critical questions for London 2012, Weber, Romana, International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Volume 44(1), pp.55-69, (March 2009). This article explores how children engaged in elite sport may suffer from health problems, lack of education and limited or no free time. Furthermore, it considers the ways through which they may be exploited by their training and competing environments and how their right to freedom of association is often limited. Adopting a human rights approach, this contribution seeks to examine national as well as international measures to protect child athletes. An analysis of existing regulation identifies shortcomings and is followed by suggestions on how to improve child protection in elite sport.
• Reports of child protection and safeguarding concerns in sport and leisure settings: an analysis of English local authority data between 2010 and 2015, Mike Hartill and Melanie Lang, Leisure Studies, Volume 37(5), pp.479-499, (2018). The abuse of children in sport has received considerable attention in recent years not least in the UK, where high-profile disclosures of abuse by former sports professionals have led to several independent inquiries and reviews. Subsequent public and media interest has focused on the potential scale of child abuse in sport. This scrutiny has highlighted how little data there are in this area, in a sector that thrives on statistics. This paper analyses official reports of child abuse in sport and leisure settings received by local authorities (LAs) in England during a five-year period (2010–2015) across a range of factors. Findings show that English LAs have varying capacity to provide data on sport/leisure contexts; receive substantively different volumes of reports of child abuse in sport/leisure; and record reports of sexual abuse in sport at higher levels than other forms of abuse. These data suggest that abuse in English sport is significantly underreported but that reports per annum increased over the period.
• Safeguarding in sport. Anthony Hedges, Sport in Society, Volume 18(5), pp.614-625, (2015). ‘Safeguarding’ is a new term, which has developed from child protection issues that resulted in UK legislation. It refers to an all-encompassing proactive approach to keeping children and vulnerable adults safe from harm or abuse. Sport leaders have both the opportunity and influence that may facilitate abuse. Therefore, all sports require robust safeguarding and safer recruitment policies and practices including the use of Criminal Record checks.
• Safeguarding the child athlete in sport: a review, a framework and recommendations for the IOC youth athlete development model. Mountjoy M, Rhind DJA, Tiivas A, et. al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 49(13), pp.883-886, (2015). This safeguarding model is designed to assist sport organisations in the creation of a safe sporting environment to ensure that the child athlete can flourish and reach their athletic potential through an enjoyable experience. The aim of this narrative review is to (1) present a summary of the scientific literature on the threats to children in sport; (2) introduce a framework to categorise these threats; (3) identify research gaps in the field and (4) provide safeguarding recommendations for sport organisations.
• Understanding the Use of Emotionally Abusive Coaching Practices. Ashley Stirling, International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, Volume 8(4), (2013). The purpose of this study was to explore coaches' reflections on their previous use of emotionally abusive practices in the coach-athlete relationship. Findings are interpreted to suggest two distinct origins of emotional abuse. Additionally, based on the coaches' reflections on perceived reasons for why they no longer use emotionally abusive practices, determinants of change in coach behaviour are proposed. Applied and theoretical recommendations are discussed.

• Child Safe Sport, Play by the Rules, (accessed 23 September 2020). Provides an overview of the available resources and information to help sport and recreation organisations keep kids safe.
• 'Child Safe Sport Toolkit', Sport Australia, (2017). Although responsibility for child safeguarding moved to Sport Integrity Australia when they commenced on 1 July 2020, the material is still available. View the material as it appeared on the Sport Australia website.
• Child Protection Resources. Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS), (26 May 2020). Resources include an Athlete Wellbeing Framework; Child Protection Policy & Procedure; QAS Code of Conduct for interacting with children & young people; and a Question & answers for athletes factsheet.
• Create a child safe environment. Resources from the Government of South Australia, Office for Recreation and Sport, (July 2016).
• Child protection and safeguarding in sport. sportanddev.org, (accessed 23 September 2020). This section is designed to provide more information on child safeguarding and - by linking with our Toolkit section - the necessary tools to develop and implement a culture that includes practices, procedures and policies. These practices, procedures and policies are to ensure that all who participate in sport remain safe, have fun and learn.
• Child Protection in Sport Resource Library, UK Child Protection in Sport Unit, (accessed 22 September 2020).
• Responding to children and young peoples disclosure of abuse, Child Family Community Australia, CFCA Practitioner Resource, (March 2015). This paper is a guide to responding to children and young people's disclosures of abuse. It outlines what we know about how, why, and when children and young people are likely to disclose and suggests actions to take at the time of disclosure and in the longer term.
• Understanding safeguarding practices for children with disability when engaging with organisations, Sarah Wayland and Gabrielle Hindmarsh, Child Family Community Australia, CFCA Practitioner Resource, (October 2017). This resource explores how an understanding of abuse and neglect relating to children with disability can assist in establishing child-safe organisations.

• Safeguarding Sport, Janise Mitchell, Australian Childhood Foundation, Our Sporting Future 2015, Gold Coast, Australia (22 October 2015)
• Creating Child Safe Environments Workshop, Our Sporting Future 2013, Melbourne, Australia (10 April 2013)
• Child Protection case study, Michael Haynes, Basketball Australia, Play By The Rules Forum for National Sports Organisations (18 April 2012)