Child safety

Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy

In Queensland, a child is anyone under the age of 18.

Does your club come into contact with children during the normal course of delivering your activities (for example, members, volunteers or participants in club events)? If so, you have a responsibility to create and maintain a safe environment for them.

UQ Sport clubs operate under the UQ Working with Children Policy.

This policy includes the following statement:

Before engaging in activities with children and regulated activities or employment with children, members of the UQ Community and controlled entities are responsible for ensuring that they:

• Assess activities and events involving WWC (Working With Children) and identify compliance obligations and responsibilities with regard to regulated activities and any restrictions or exemptions that may need to be considered;

• Hold a current Blue Card (positive notice or valid exemption) that is linked to the relevant UQ entity, in line with the No Card No Start Policy in Queensland;

• Are not a Restricted Person undertaking Restricted Employment;

• Have received the prerequisite management approval to undertake the activity or project, and an appropriate risk management plan has been established to safeguard the needs of children; and

• Read relevant policy and procedures, and undertake any relevant training as directed.

Creating a safe environment for children

The Queensland government requires any business (including clubs) regulated by the blue card system to have a Child and youth risk management strategy and it may request a copy of that Strategy at any time. Failure to comply with this request is an offence under the blue card system.

What is a Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy?

Developing a strategy helps clubs to identify potential risks of harm to children and young people so they can create and implement solutions to minimise these risks.

A well developed strategy will help your club achieve its objectives by providing a clear and consistent framework to guide and support members, volunteers and participants.

UQ Sport has its own UQ Sport Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy which you could use as a template.

Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy Checklist

A strategy has eight mandatory requirements:

1. Statement of commitment.
2. Code of conduct.
3. Recruitment, selection, training and management.
4. Reporting disclosures and suspicions of harm.
5. Managing breaches.
6. Risk management plan for high-risk activities.
7. Managing compliance with the blue card system.
8. Communication and support.

Checklist for clubs:

Further resources

The National Integrity Framework was developed by Sport Integrity Australia to help keep sport safe and fair. The Framework sets out rules that all sport participants need to follow when it comes to their conduct and behaviour.

Over 80 recognised National Sporting Organisations and National Sporting Organisations for people with disability have adopted the framework and its policies, including child safeguarding. Your National Sporting Organisation’s child safeguarding policies could address several requirements of the child and youth risk management strategy. Refer to your National Sporting Organisation’s website for copies of their policies. 

Play by the Rules (PBTR) provides information, resources, tools and free online training to increase the capacity and capability of administrators, coaches, officials, players, parents and spectators to assist them in preventing and dealing with discrimination, harassment, child safety, inclusion and integrity issues in sport.

PBTR (together with Sport Integrity Australia) hosts an e-learning hub which includes a Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction course. This course is free and includes case studies, practical scenarios and a quiz. 

Sport Integrity Australia provides several resources relating to the National Integrity Framework, including child safeguarding.

Whilst Queensland is currently developing its approach to implementing child safe standards, you might find these National Principles for Child Safe Organisations useful.