Patterson Lakes Netball Club

Child Protection Commitment Statement

PLNC make the following commitments:
1. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who access any
netball activities, programs, events, or services.
2. We are committed to providing children and young people with positive and nurturing experiences
for healthy development and wellbeing.
3. We will listen to children and young people; address any concerns they raise and strive to ensure they
are protected and safe from harm.
4. We will ask for consent from children, young people, and their parents/carers before we seek out or
provide information about them to any other individuals or organisation. However, we may not ask
for consent to disclose information to Police, regulatory authorities, or relevant statutory child
protection agencies if we have concerns about the safety and wellbeing of a specific child or young
person.
5. We will provide and communicate training opportunities to persons in positions of responsibility and
authority where reasonably practicable to do so.
6. We will make it clear to persons in positions of responsibility and authority what their obligations,
duties and responsibilities are in relation to this Policy and the protection of children and young
people in netball generally.
How does this Child Protection Commitment Statement apply to Persons in Positions of Responsibility and
Authority?
Persons in Positions of Responsibility and Authority are required to comply with this Policy and the Code. In
summary, persons in positions of responsibility and authority are expected to:
a) Understand the rights of children and young people, as appropriate to their role.
b) Understand and acknowledge the significance of family relationships for the development of children
and young people.
c) Respect the cultural and religious practices of families who access PLNC netball services, programs, or
events.
d) Understand and appropriately respond to the special needs of children and young people with
developmental delays or disabilities.

This includes:
Acting in ways that communicate effectively with and are supportive of children and young
people with developmental delays or disabilities; and
 Being proactive in recognising the additional vulnerability to exploitation and hard that children
and young people with developmental delays or disabilities may experience.
e) Be respectful of children and young people by:
 Facilitating opportunities for them to provide views and feedback
 Treating children as individuals and respecting their unique abilities and vulnerabilities; and
 Expressing attitudes and engaging in behaviour that respect and support them.
f) Appropriately act on any concerns raised by children, young people and/or their parents/carers. Any
complaints or allegations made against any persons in positions of responsibility and authority will be
taken seriously and appropriately investigated by the PLNC Committee. Any alleged crimes against
children, young people or other family members will be reported to the Police. Persons in positions of
responsibility and authority are expected to follow the Complaints Procedure immediately in
response to concerns raised by children, young people and/or their parents.
g) Understand the definitions, indicators, and impact of child abuse, including grooming. Persons in
positions of responsibility and authority must, wherever possible:
 Intervene to identify and prevent child abuse from occurring; and
 Take action to protect children and young people from further child abuse.
h) Know and follow regulations in relation to the care of children and young people. Persons in positions
of responsibility and authority must understand and follow laws and regulations governing how we
safeguard children and young people. They must take all reasonable steps to ensure that applicable
laws and regulations are adhered to.
i) Know and follow the relevant law(s) in relation to reporting child abuse and grooming.
j) Co‐operate with Police and/or other formal investigations to the best of their ability to safeguard
children and young people.
k) Always follow the Codes implemented by Netball Victoria, its affiliates and PLNC that set out the rules
for behaviour with each other and around children and young people.

l) Not harm or exploit children and young people who access netball services, activities, programs, or
events, nor contravene any laws or regulations regarding the safety and wellbeing of children and
young people
m) Support children, young people and their families as directed by Senior Persons if a child or young
person is or is suspected of being abused, bullied, or exploited. Provide opportunities for formal
debriefing and/or counselling to children, young people and their families who have experienced child
abuse and any other child, young person and family in the community who may be affected by the
incident(s).
It is a serious breach of this Child Protection Commitment Statement and possibly the law, if any persons in
positions of responsibility and authority, whether participating in a program, event, service, or activity, or
working in a paid or volunteer capacity, harm or exploit children and young people who are involved in any of
PLNC’s activities, services, events, or programs. Breaches of this include, but not limited to:
a) Sexual assault of children and/or young people.
b) Physical assault of children and/or young people.
c) Verbal abuse, denigrate or bully children and/or young people.
d) Sexual harassment of children and/or young people.
e) Engage in grooming behaviour of children and/or young people.
f) Take, reproduce and/or distribute photos of children and/or young people without their consent and
consent of their parents/guardians.
g) Publish any material containing images of children and/or young people without their consent and
consent of their parents/guardians.
h) Access, download, store or distribute any form of child abuse material.
Who is responsible for implementing the Child Protection Commitment Statement (CPCS)?
Everyone associated with PLNC are responsible for implementing this CPCS.
PLNC:
 Promote the commitment to this CPCS and its expectations. Strive to ensure that all persons in
positions of responsibility and authority understand their obligations in accordance with the CPCS
and any relevant policy and procedural documentation.
 Strive to ensure that the CPCS is implemented and adhered to amongst their members.
 Proactively share resources and experience in the development of child safe initiatives within
PLNC and Netball Victoria as they are identified.
 Advocate and promote child rights, empowering and engaging children and young people in
support of this Statement.
 Develop opportunities for regular discussion at all levels to support a culture of continuous
improvement and accountability of child protection and member welfare. Eg. in
coach/committee meetings, include Child Safety as a regular agenda item.
 Promote policy review on an annual cycle as a minimum or at a time governed by legislation,
regulations, Netball Australia, Netball Victoria or Australian Sports Commission directions or
organisational learnings that promote a change to the Child Protection Commitment Statement
and all relevant policy or procedural guidelines.
 Strive to ensure compliance by continuous review by peers and committee members.