5 August 2021 | Tennis Victoria

As part of affiliation in 2021/22 we are asking all Tennis Victoria affiliated venues to appoint a Safeguarding Officer. This is a positive move to support venues in creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.

Some of the key duties and responsibilities of the safeguarding officer are:

· Hold a current Working with Children Check – apply here! It’s free for volunteers.

· Complete basic training – Sport Integrity Australia have a great online module which takes approximately 40 minutes to complete.

· Promote their clubs Member Protection and Safeguarding Policies – view Tennis Australia policies here which venues can adopt.

· Make sure safeguarding is an agenda item at every committee meeting – PBTR have a great set of resources to inspire discussion.

The Safeguarding Officer role is not something that is onerous or anything to fear. The key role is making sure Safeguarding is a priority for all members and users of the venue; and to report any concerns to the Tennis Australia Integrity team who investigate issues.

Carefully consider who would make a good safeguarding officer for your venue. They should be approachable and trustworthy; children especially should view them as being friendly and a good listener. They will use their position at the club to communicate the message that we all have a part to play in keeping our sport safe.