Child Safe Policy

Alpine Cycling Club Junior Program

Child Safe Policy

January 2019

 

  • Commitment to child safety

 

Alpine Cycling Club (‘Club’) respects the right of all children who are members of the Alpine Cycling Club or who participate in Club activities to have the right to feel and be safe.  We are committed to the safety and well-being of all children and young people accessing our Club. We aim to create a child safe and child friendly environment where all children are valued and feel safe.

The Club opposes all forms of harassment, discrimination and bullying.  We take this issue seriously and encourage anyone who believes that they, or another person, has been harassed, discriminated against or bullied to raise this issue with the Junior Program Coordinator or the Club President.

The Junior Program Coordinator is the Club’s designated Child Safety Officer who will act as the first point of contact to provide advice and support to children, parents, employees and volunteers regarding the safety and well-being of children in our programs.

The Club values diversity and does not tolerate any discriminatory practices.

The Club will listen to and act on any concerns children, their parents or guardians, raise with us.

 

  • Code of Conduct

 

The Club recognises that in a small community ride leaders, coaches and other officials may be ‘family friends’ of children in the program and close contact may be more acceptable than in other situations; the Club also recognises that cycling and in particular mountain bike riding have inherent risks of physical injury.

The Club will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the people who work with children whether in a paid or voluntary capacity are the most suitable and appropriate people to work with children and who understand and agree to comply with the Code of Conduct for the Safety of Children.  

The Club will take all reasonable steps to ensure that risks of injury to children whilst riding is managed appropriately.

Code of Conduct for the Safety of Children   

Every person involved in the Junior Program will

  • refrain from any behaviour, which causes harm to children
  • respect the rights, dignity and worth of all people involved in the program, regardless of their age, gender, ability or cultural background
  • refrain from any form of harassment or language which discriminates based on gender, age, ability or cultural background
  • not tolerate any form of harassment or language which discriminates based on gender, age, ability or cultural background
  • condemn unsporting behaviour
  • not tolerate cyber bullying of any kind by or towards juniors, coaches, parents or administrators under any circumstances
  • be focused on what is best for junior development rather than on winning and achieving awards
  • Any person who is concerned about the wellbeing of child or children on the program should report their concerns to the Child Protection Officer or to the Club President.

To maintain the safety and wellbeing of children on Junior Program:

  • Every ride group should have at least two ride leaders, one of those ride leaders should be the parent of one of the children in the group, or, if this is not possible the parent of a child on the program
  • Ride leaders under the age of 18 should not be solely responsible for a group
  • Adult ride leaders and coaches should avoid being alone with a single child during program activities except in the case of emergency
  • The ride group should always stay together unless it is deemed to be inappropriate ie. for children to remain at the scene of an accident or medical emergency
  • Each ride leader should carry a working phone for emergencies
  • Every person who works with the program either in a voluntary or paid capacity who is not the parent of a child on the program will provide the Program Coordinator with a valid Working With Children’s Check
  • The Program Coordinator will monitor Working With Children’s Checks annually
  • A risk assessment and management strategy will be undertaken for each new activity.

To avoid unnecessary incidents:

  • Ride leaders should ensure that their planned activity is suitable for the skills and competencies of their group
  • One ride leader in each group should carry a Club backpack with first aid kit and basic repair tools
  • Children should carry any medications which may be required during the course of the activity
  • Children should carry sufficient drinking water for the duration of the activity
  • Every child should have a name plate attached to their bike with emergency contact details written on the back
  • Ride leaders may call a child’s emergency contact at any time if they are concerned about the ability of a child to participate in the activity.
  • Ride leaders must notify the Program Coordinator that a child has been removed from the activity in the event of accident, illness or behavioural incident.

All administrators, members, coaches, volunteers, carers and parents are made aware of, and must abide by, our Code of Conduct.  

 

  • Support for employees and volunteers

 

The Club will provide support and supervision so people feel valued, respected and fairly treated.  We ensure that administrators, coaches, volunteers, members, parents and carers who work with children have ongoing supervision, support and training so that their performance is developed and enhanced to promote the establishment and maintenance of a child safe environment.

 

  • Reporting and responding to suspected child abuse and neglect

 

The Club will not tolerate child abuse.  

Any administrator, member, coach, volunteer, carer or parent notify the Child Abuse Report Line on 13 14 78 as soon as practicable if they have a reasonable suspicion that a child has been, or is being, abused or neglected by a member of their family or other person.  

Administrators, members, coaches, volunteers, carers and parents must report to The Child Safety Officer or President of the Club any reasonable suspicion that a child has been, or is being, abused or neglected by another administrator, member, coach, volunteer, carer or parent.  

 

  • Communication

 

Alpine Cycling Club will ensure that everyone to whom this policy applies is aware of and has had an opportunity to read the policy.  

We also ask administrators, members, coaches, volunteers, carers and parents (where appropriate) to sign a written statement indicating that they have read and will abide by our child-safe policy.  We retain an electronic copy of all signed statements.

 

This policy was adopted by Alpine Cycling Club Junior Program on 31 January 2019 and should be reviewed January 2020.

 

In developing this policy Alpine Cycling Club have utilised a template provided by the Department for Families and Communities that has drawn on resources prepared by the Play by the Rules initiative (www.playbytherules.net.au), South Australian Office for Volunteers (www.ofv.sa.gov.au) and the NSW Commission of Children and Young People