Safeguarding Children

Every child deserves to enjoy croquet in a safe, positive and welcoming environment. Croquet Australia is committed to protecting the safety, wellbeing and rights of every child and young person who takes part in our sport.

Our Policy

CA's Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy sets out a proactive, preventative approach to child safety. It covers:

Child-safe practices, and examples of prohibited conduct
Our obligations around mandatory reporting and responding to allegations
Recruitment and screening requirements for volunteers and staff, including Working with Children Checks
How we respond to and report allegations of child abuse

The policy is aligned with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, developed following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

View the full Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy (PDF)

Reporting and responding to a breach – flow chart (PDF)

What Counts as Prohibited Conduct

This includes, but isn't limited to:

Any form of child abuse - physical, emotional, psychological or sexual - as well as neglect or exposure to family violence
Grooming
Age-inappropriate behaviour, or behaviour that puts a child at risk
Asking a child to keep a communication secret
Supplying alcohol, drugs, tobacco or medicine without proper consent or prescription
Not following recruitment and screening requirements
Failing to report a breach
Breaching child-safe practices around photography/filming, travel, overnight stays, changerooms, online communication, discipline or physical contact

Safe Practices Do's & Don'ts (PDF)

Kids Fact Sheet – How Your Sport Looks After You (PDF)

Your Rights at Sport, ages 7–12 (PDF)

Your Rights at Sport, ages 13–17 (PDF)

Reporting a Concern

If a child is in immediate danger, call 000.

For non-emergency situations that still need a prompt response, contact your local police station or call 131 444.

To report a child protection matter, contact the agency in your state or territory:

State/Territory	Agency	Phone
NSW	Department of Communities & Justice	132 111
VIC	Department of Families, Fairness and Housing	131 278 (after hours)
QLD	Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs	1800 177 135 (after hours)
WA	Department of Communities – Child Protection and Family Support	1800 273 889 (Crisis Care after hours: 1800 199 008)
SA	Department for Child Protection	131 478
TAS	Department of Communities Tasmania	1800 000 123
ACT	Community Services Directorate	1300 556 729
NT	Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities	1800 700 250

Concerned about online sexual exploitation? Report it via the "Report Abuse" button on the Australian Centre To Counter Child Exploitation or ThinkUKnow.