Ashwood Junior Football Club Child Safe Code of Conduct
Written By: Jo Reid / Dale Wain
Approved By: Paul Hattersley (President)
Endorsed By: AJFC Committee, Feb 26th 2018
Date for Review: 2020 or as required
Ashwood Junior Football Club: Child Safe Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct outlines appropriate standards of behaviour by adults towards children. The Code of Conduct aims to protect children and reduce any opportunities for abuse or harm to occur. It also helps affiliated members and volunteers by providing them with guidance on how to best support children and how to avoid or better manage difficult situations. This Code of Conduct applies to all people involved in AJFC’s activities, including but not limited to coaches, officials, volunteers and parents.
All AJFC affiliated members and club volunteers are responsible for promoting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people by:
Behaviour Guidelines
• Adhering to our Child Safe Policy, this Code of Conduct and other AJFC policies
• Welcoming - all children and their families and carers and being inclusive
• Respecting - cultural, religious and political differences and acting in a culturally sensitive way, particularly when interacting with children who are Aboriginal or otherwise culturally or linguistically diverse and those with a disability
• Positive guidance - acting appropriately with children.
• Adhering to role boundaries – should not act outside out of the confines of the duties of your role.
• Use of language and tone of voice – no swearing or defamatory language, clear direction and encouragement, not being harmful in what you say.
• Supervision – avoid being alone one on one with a child out of the view of others where possible.
• Use of electronic communications – where possible email, text messages and social media communications to include parent/guardian or within an open group message.
• Photographs of children and young people – within expectations of AFL privacy policy e.g. photos taken in context of the program, dressed appropriately, etc.
• Physical contact with children and young people – done when reasonable and in an appropriate manner.
• Sexual misconduct – under no circumstances are sexual acts to occur with or in the presence of children.
• Change room arrangements – important to supervise children while also balancing a child’s right to privacy.
• Transporting children – prior authorisation from child’s parents, if it is a permanent arrangement, the CSO should be notified.
• Gift giving – prior authorisation from management and child’s parents.
• Overnight stays – work purposes only within a part of a formal program with authorisations from parents. Gender of supervisors considered and balanced with children participating.
• Alcohol & Drugs – while on duty must not use, possess or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including being incapacitated from legal medications. And not supplying to children.
• Reporting – all affiliated members and volunteers must act on any breaches of this Code of Conduct, complaints or concerns and report these to the club CSO
By observing these standards you acknowledge your responsibility to immediately report any breach of this code to the CSO of AJFC
This Code of Conduct will be reviewed by SMJFL annually.
I have read this Code of Conduct and agree to abide by it at all times
Reviewing this policy
This policy will be reviewed every two years or as required and we undertake to seek views, comments and suggestions from children, parents, carers, staff and volunteers involved in the Club.
