Child Safe Policy

– Melbourne Wolves Basketball Club –

All children who are a part of the Club have a right to feel and be safe.

The welfare of the children in our care will always be our first priority and the Club has a zero tolerance to child abuse. The Club aims to create a child safe and child friendly environment where children feel safe and have fun and the Club’s activities are always carried out in the best interests of the children.

The Club’s Child Safe Policy applies to all individuals involved in our organisation including: Administrators, Coaches, Officials, Participants, Parents, Spectators. All of the people to which this policy applies have a role and responsibility in relation to child protection. They must all:

• understand the indicators and risks of child abuse;
• appropriately act on any concerns raised by children; and
• understand and follow all applicable laws in relation to the protection of children and reporting or management of child safety concerns.

The Club encourages children to express their views about their safety. We listen to their suggestions, especially on matters that directly affect them. We actively encourage all children who use our services to ‘have a say’ about things that are important to them. We teach children about what they can do if they feel unsafe. We listen to and act on any concerns children, or their parents, raise with us.

It is not the responsibility of anyone engaged with the Club 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 to allegations/suspicions of abuse occurring within our club’s activities and to allegations/suspicions that abuse is taking place elsewhere.

We thank you for reading and getting familiar with our Child Safe Policy.