Everyone has the right to feel safe and protected from harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and discrimination.
Hockey South Australia and Hockey Australia take safeguarding seriously and work to promote the welfare and wellbeing of all children, young people, vulnerable adults, members, volunteers, coaches, officials, and spectators involved in our sporting activities and programs.
Department of Human Services - Working with Children Check
A Working with Children Check is an assessment of whether a person poses an unacceptable risk to children.
As part of the process, the DHS Screening Unit will look at criminal history, child protection information and other information.
You need a Working with Children Check (WWCC) if you work, or intend to work, as an employee or volunteer, in a child-related area. This extends to people with access to childrens' information, such as treasurers and membership coordinators.
It's an offence to do child-related work without a WWCC.
Department of Human Services - Screening Unit
Mandated Reporters
A mandated reporter or notifier must report or notify the Department for Child Protection if they suspect on reasonable grounds that a child or young person is, or may be, at risk of harm, when the suspicion is formed in the course of their employment (whether paid or voluntary).
This is a legal obligation imposed on employees of, or volunteers in, an organisation that provides health, welfare, education, sporting or recreational, child care or residential services wholly or partly for children or young people.
THEREFORE ALL COACHES, MANAGERS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, UMPIRES, ETC ARE MANDATED REPORTERS.
It is a legal obligation inherent in volunteering/employment, and is seperate from the role of a Child Safe Officer or trained educator.
If you are concerned about a child or young person and have a reasonable suspicion they are, or may be, at risk of harm, call the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL):The report line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone: 13 14 78
If it is an emergency call 000 immediately.
More clarity/information on mandated reporting can be found here: Department for Child Protection
A failure by a mandated reporter/notifier to report/notify a suspicion formed on reasonable grounds that a child or young person is, or may be at risk, in the course of their work may result in a person being prosecuted.
Hockey SA recommends that all clubs include mandated reporter information into position descriptions/contracts for their volunteers.
RRHAN-EC mandatory notification training
To work or volunteer in education you must do mandatory notification training about child protection in education. The training is called Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care (RRHAN-EC). This training is relevant to club members delivering participation programs in schools.
RRHAN-EC mandatory notification training
Safe Hockey Practices
Hockey South Australia adopts Hockey Australia's policies, resources and reporting systems regarding safe hockey and integrity.
These policies and resources can be found on the Hockey Australia website.
Safe Hockey
Integrity Frameworks
The National Integrity Framework is a suite of policies that sets out rules for unacceptable behaviour in hockey and explains the way complaints about breaches of these rules are managed.
Hockey SA recommends that all clubs include "safe hockey environments" as a standing agenda item in their committee meetings.
Support Services
Mental Health & Crisis Support
- Lifeline — 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. Call 13 11 14.
- Lifeline Australia
- Beyond Blue — Mental health support for anxiety, depression, and wellbeing.
- Beyond Blue
- Kids Helpline — Free counselling service for young people aged 5–25. Call 1800 55 1800.
- Kids Helpline
Domestic & Family Violence Support
- 1800RESPECT — National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.
- 1800RESPECT
Online Safety
- eSafety Commissioner — Support and reporting for cyberbullying, online abuse, and harmful online content.
- eSafety Commissioner
Child Safety Officer Courses
Sport SA offer Child Safe Officer Training courses, both online and face-to-face.
A Child Safe Officer at your club is vital to keeping children safe is everyone's responsibility. All clubs should be working to ensure everyone is aware of the club's policies and procedures to support this goal.
Sport SA also offer Member Protection Information Officer Training, Mental Health First Aid and Complaint Handling Training.
National Redress Scheme
The National Redress Scheme was created in response to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The Scheme provides eligible people with access to the following three things:
- counselling
- a redress payment, and
- a direct personal response from an institution.
For more information, visit the National Redress Scheme Website.
Read more here - Information for Clubs & Associations
