AFL New Zealand Child Protection Policy

AFL New Zealand Child Protection Policy.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to set out the rules and expectations that ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved or associated with AFL New Zealand (AFLNZ)is maintained.

This document covers all individuals, including administrators, elected officials, coaches, employees, contractors, parents and all volunteers. It protects our children, our volunteers and our community

By law, in New Zealand, a child is deemed to be any person below the age of 18 years old.

Child Protection Policy Statement

AFLNZ recognises the positive role sport plays in the lives of our junior members and acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care.

We are committed to providing a safe environment for all members and ensuring all necessary steps are taken to protect all junior members from harm. We recognise that parents and carers also play an important role in protecting their children and ensuring they get the best possible experience.

We encourage parents and carers to take an active interest in their child’s sport, setting an example for their children to learn how to have fun while being safe.

Key Principles

The key principles of the Club’s Child Protection and Safety Policy are that:

The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration
All children and young people have the right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, faith or beliefs
All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents/carers is essential

We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse.

We recognise that this is the responsibility of every adult involved with AFLNZ.

Volunteers and Staff

4.1. Recruitment

AFLNZ wouldn’t survive without the many volunteers involved. However, we mustn’t lose sight that anyone has the potential to harm or abuse junior members or young people. Therefore, all reasonable steps will be taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children and young people at the Club. Sound recruitment and selection procedures will help to screen out those not suitable to work with AFLNZ.

We endorse the following guidelines for recruiting volunteers and staff members:

Specify what the role is and what tasks it involves

Request identification documents
As a minimum, meet and discuss with the applicant(s) and when required, interview people before appointing them
If necessary, request a Police back ground check before appointing someone

4.2. Background and Disclosure

Coaches, managers, members, volunteers and any staff members are required to disclose any background information which may prove them unsuitable for working with children.

If a coach, manager, member, volunteer or staff member has anything in their background that, if it became public, could compromise the safety of junior members and damage the reputation of AFLNZ, they’re obliged to disclose this to AFLNZ. This is not an aspersion on character. If in doubt, please contact us.

AFLNZ may request the permission of any prospective volunteer to perform Police vetting. This service is provided by the New Zealand Police to protect society’s most vulnerable members from unsuitable individuals. All AFLNZ staff will be police checked

4.3. Adult Presence

Coaches and managers take responsibility for supervising children during training and games.
One-on-one coaching is unsupported by AFLNZ unless arranged with participant’s parent and authorised by AFLNZ. In these circumstances we require a parent or guardian to be in attendance.

AFLNZ encourages parents and carers to support their children by watching them train and play.

If the coach or manager is unable to be present, parents and carers are asked to take an active role to supervise their children.

We promote punctuality for drop off and pick up times; setting a positive example and ensuring children are never left alone with an adult.

4.4. Transport

Parents and carers are responsible for transporting their own children to and from events.

AFLNZ discourages coaches and managers from transporting children, apart from their own, to and from events, unless organised by AFLNZ. However, we do recognise the exception of a close pre-existing relationship between families.

Anti-Bullying

We are committed to providing a caring, friendly, family oriented environment for our members so they can enjoy their footy in a fun and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at AFLNZ and will not be tolerated. If bullying is witnessed, or suspected, members or parents should feel able to report it to any AFLNZ full time staff member.

Bullying is the use of aggression, force or negativity to influence, intimidate or hurt another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim and can devastate a young person and impact many parts of their life.

Bullying can occur in a range of ways:

Emotional – being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting another person
Racial – racial taunts, graffiti or gestures
Sexual – unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
Verbal – name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
Homophobic – because of, or focussing on sexuality
Physical – pushing, punching, hitting, kicking, spitting or use of any violence
Electronic – bullying by means of digital devices such as cell phones, internet, social media

Codes of Conduct

Codes of Conduct have been prepared and implemented for all players, coaches, administrators and volunteers involved with AFLNZ teams and academy’s. We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour.

We ask that all, administrators, coaches, managers, players and parents respect and abide by these Codes of Conduct at all times.

Action or sanctions against an individual(s) and/or team may be taken should there be a breach of the Club’s Codes of Conduct

Publishing Images

AFLNZ has sought permission as part of the registration process for junior members to be photographed during the course of the season and that images may be used for promotional purposes in AFLNZ printed promotional material and online

Complaints Process

Most complaints can be dealt with by referring to an AFLNZ Staff Member. However, at times there are complaints which cannot be satisfied via these routes. Where a complaint cannot be satisfied a formal complaint can be laid.

Formal complaints can be submitted in writing to the CEO or, alternatively, any elected board Member.

The complaint must contain details regarding the date, time, location, nature, parties involved and, where possible, evidence of the offending behaviour
The complaint will be investigated and a decision made
If a breach is deemed to have occurred the CEO will proceed accordingly
Should the complainant be unhappy with the original decision they can appeal to the AFLNZ Board.

During the course of a complaint the individual(s) concerned and the nature of the complaint is to be kept supressed to protect the identities of all parties involved. In addition, no public accusations of wrong doing, or otherwise, are to be made.

Disciplinary Process

If a breach of the Child Protection and Safety Policy is deemed to have occurred AFLNZ have the following avenues of action that can be pursued:

Issue a Verbal Warning

This consists of a formal meeting between the individual discussing the complaint and ways to improve/prevent future issues.

Issue a Written Warning

This consists of a formal letter advising of a formal warning. These will often, but not always, take place after the issuing of a Verbal Warning.

Exclusion from a specified number of matches or training sessions

This consists of excluding the individual from training sessions or matches as punishment for a breach.

Removal from their position for the remainder of the season

In the case of a serious breach AFLNZ can remove the individual from their position or team.

Removal from all future positions and roles within the Club

This is considered for the most serious of breaches or for repeated and unrelenting breaches. The individual will be refused all future requests to be involved be it as a player, member, volunteer, or staff member.

If the Club sees fit, any individual that has breached the Policy may be reported to the relevant governing bodies, or referred to the Police for further investigation.