Standard 1- Organisational Culture

Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements

This Means:

Leading from the top down and embedding a culture that makes child safety everyone's business by:

• Protecting the interests of children, not the organisation
• Making child safety a top priority within the organisation
• Taking a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and to racial, religious or cultural discrimination
• Establishing values, behavioural expectations and recruitment practices that are consistent with a child centred, child safe culture

Examples of how your organisation can meet this Standard:

• Include a commitment to child safety in your communications and key documents (i.e. website, newsletters and registration forms)
• Report on your progress towards child safe sport in your yearly review or annual report
• Discuss child safety and your organisation’s approach to the Standards at key events such as your AGM and highly attended functions (i.e. presentation, trivia nights and other fundraisers)
• Discuss child safe scenarios at team and committee meetings
• Have designated child safety representatives or champions within your organisation
• Include child safety as a regular communication item with your members, along with a standing item at committee meetings
• Undertake awareness training for all committee members, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents and children.
• Have a dedicated section on your website outlining your organisation’s approach to child safety and the support available to members
• Display information and posters throughout meeting rooms and facilities, outlining your commitment to child safe sport
• Promote what is happening within your organisation through short case studies or articles in your newsletters/social media
• Utilise upcoming events and training days to present to your members about the Standards
• Congratulate members who are taking steps to address the Standards via presentations, emails and your website

You can support your members by:

• Providing clear communication about what you have done and are planning to do
• Providing a contact person/people to assist with their enquiries and activities

Helpful Resources:

PPT Presentation Template & Presenter Guide

Child Safe Sport Posters (Vicsport)

• We Are a Child Safe Club
• Child Safe Sport
• Child Safe Sport - Super Powers!

Child Safe Standards Posters (CCYP)

• About the Standards
• Youth Poster
• Play by the Rules – Online Courses (Child Protection, Discrimination & Harassment, Complaint Handling)
• CCYP – Standard 1: Governance & Leadership