Tennis West

Member Protection

Member Protection Policy

WWCC Booklet

The Tennis West Member Protection Policy aims to ensure the core values, good reputation and positive behaviours and attitudes of Tennis West are maintained. It aims to assist Tennis West in ensuring that every person affiliated with Tennis West is treated with respect and dignity and is safe and protected from abuse. It outlines the legal and ethical rights of all persons associated with Tennis West whether that be members, volunteers, employees or spectators.

• Member Protection Policy
• Part B Child Protection

• Part C Procedures
• Part D Codes of Conduct

Tennis West’s Member Protection Information Officer/s (MPIO)

The MPIO is the first point of contact for complaints involving harassment, discrimination, bullying and abuse. All Tennis West’s members have access to Tennis West’s MPIO. The MPIO is trained with the information and skills to adequately handle member issues and complaints. The following people are trained MPIOs at Tennis West:

Brooke Koenig

Becoming a MPIO

The MPIO course is a one day course that aims to equip you with the information and the skills required to become a point of contact within your clubs issues and complaints concerning harassment, discrimination, bullying or abuse.

If you would like to become a MPIO for your club, contact Brooke Koenig on 08 6462 8305

Working with Children Legislation

The Working with Children (WWC) Check is a national criminal record check, required for certain people in WA who are in ‘child-related work’*. Employers and Volunteer Coordinators have an obligation to keep records and ensure that all people who need a WWC Check have one.

* Child related work has a specific definition in the WWC Legislation. “Work” is child-related if the usual duties of the work involve, or are likely to involve contact with a child in connection with at least one of the 19 categories of child-related work. For the purposes of the WWC Legislation volunteers under 18 years of age are exempt from the legislation and not in child-related work.

There is a three-step process to identify who needs a Check:

1. Are you doing paid work under an agreement with another person or organisation in connection with any of the categories of child-related work?	YES Go to Question 2	NO WWC Check NOT required
2. Do the usual duties of the work involve, or are they likely to involve, contact with a child?	YES Go to Question 3	NO WWC Check NOT required
3. Does an exemption apply?	YES If an exemption applies to you, you should NOT apply for a WWC Check.	NO If no exemption applies you are in child-related work.

In addition to determining and ensuring those need a Check have one, there are other compliance obligations. These include: record keeping, registering and de-registering employees and volunteers, and periodically checking cards.

If you are unsure about your obligations and would like clarification, visit the Working with Children website, the Department of Sport and Recreation website or alternatively contact Brooke Koenig on 08 6462 8305

National Police Checks for Volunteers

Tennis West recommends all individuals who occupy or apply for a position that involves working with children complete a National Police Check for Volunteers.

The National Police Check for Volunteers offers volunteers in sporting organisations the national police check at a discounted rate of $11.30. This Check is not the same as a National Police Clearance and will only show the type of offence (traffic, minor, serious or a combination), not the offense itself.

Play by the Rules

Play by the Rules is a website that aims to assist clubs and associations with issues they may face.  It provides guidelines for administrators, coaches, officials and parents. The website includes the following sections:

• About Complaints
• Got an issue?
• Interactive Scenarios
• Legal Stuff
• Managing Risks
• Online training
• Resources

Visit www.playbytherules.net.au for further information.

Safe Clubs 4 Kids

The Safe Clubs 4 Kids (SC4K) program aims to increase awareness of child protection in sport and active recreation. The SC4K program is designed to educate the industry to have knowledge and skills to create safe environments for children, identify possible child abuse and to know what should be done where a child discloses abuse to staff or volunteers.

Tennis West is working collaboratively with the partners of SC4K and encourages all clubs to have a minimum of person attend a workshop. If you would like to attend a SC4K workshop, contact Brooke Koenig on 08 6462 8305

Links

• Childwise
• Department for Communities
• Department of Child Protection
• Department of Sport and Recreation
• Equal Opportunities Commission
• Play by the Rules
• WA Police
• WA Sports Federation
• Working with Children Screening Unit