Club Policies | Child Safety, Conduct & Integrity at LWA

Policies

Child Safe Commitment & Child Safe Policy

Our commitment to children and young people

We are committed to the safety and well being of all children and young people who access any of our activities, programs or event
We are committed to providing children and young people with positive and nurturing experiences
We commit to supporting families and communities to promote children and young people’s healthy development and wellbeing
We will strive to ensure that children and young people are protected and are not exploited, abused or harmed during their involvement with any of our activities, programs or events
We will listen to children and young people and empower them by taking their view seriously and address any concerns that they raise with us. Our commitment to ensuring a child safe organisation. We are committed to using good practice standards in the recruitment, screening and employment of IAP people, so as we protect from harm, abuse or exploit children and young people who are involved in our events, programs or activities.
We commit to creating an environment for children and young people to be safe and to feel safe in any of our programs, activities or events.

Our commitment to ensuring a child safe organisation

We are committed to using good practice standards in the recruitment, screening and employment of IAP people, so as we protect from harm, abuse or exploit children and young people who are involved in our events, programs or activities.
We commit to creating an environment for children and young people to be safe and to feel safe in any of our programs, activities or events.

IAP Behavioural Guidelines

In Australia we are proud of our sporting ability and our reputation as a nation of good sports. Our society expects high standards of behaviour from all people involved in sport, and it is vital the integrity of sport is maintained. At every level of sport, the principles of fairness, respect, responsibility and safety should be maintained.

All levels, committed to upholding the principles of:

Fairness: Operating within the spirit of the rules, never taking an unfair advantage and making informed and honourable decisions at all times

Respect: Recognising the contribution that people make to sport, treating them with dignity and consideration, as well as caring for the property and equipment they use.

Responsibility: Taking responsibility for one's actions and being a positive role model at all times.

Safety: Encouraging healthy and safe procedures, preventing and reporting dangerous behaviour, while demonstrating concern for others.

Competitor Behavioural Guidelines

Abide by the General Behavioural Guidelines.
Follow the rules of Swimming Australia at all times.
Give your best at all times. Be a good sport and a team player. Swim for enjoyment
Compete according to the competition conditions and rules. Accept the decisions or directions of the referees or officials. If in disagreement with a decision, raise it with your coach or team manager.
Control your temper and your language. Never argue with the official. Verbal or physical abuse is not acceptable. No criticism by word or action.
Work equally as hard for your team as your would for yourself. Your team’s performance will benefit as will your own.
Be a good sport. Applaud good performances whether they are made by your team or the opposition.
Treat all swimming participants, as you would like to be treated. Do not bully or take unfair advantage of another competitor.
Cooperate with your coaches, teammates, opponents, management, event staff and officials.
Participate for your own enjoyment and benefit, not to satisfy the expectations of others.
Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of their gender, ability, ethnicity, cultural background or religion.
Ensure you have adequate rest to obtain your best performance.
Take responsibility for your actions – follow the directions of coaches and managers at all times.

Parents / Guardians Behavioural Guidelines

Abide by the General Behavioural Guidelines.
Encourage your child to participate in sport for their individual enjoyment, personal satisfaction, and improvement.
Remember that people participate in sport for their enjoyment and benefit, not yours.
Focus on your child’s effort and performance, rather than winning or losing.
Respect the decisions of officials and encourage your child to abide by the rules and accept judgements made by officials.
Applaud good performance and efforts from all individuals and teams. Children learn by example.
Congratulate all participants on their performance regardless of the outcome.
Never ridicule or scold an athlete for making a mistake. Positive comments are motivational.
Be an example to your child and others. Appreciate good performances by all participants.
Reject the use of violence in any form, whether it is by spectators, coaches, officials or competitors.
Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from the sporting environment.
Show appreciation and respect for all people involved in your child’s swimming.
Show respect for all athletes. Without them there would be no competition.
Encourage competitors to follow the rules and the officials’ decisions.
Do not use foul language, sledge or harass other competitors, coaches or officials.
Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants, regardless of their gender, ability, ethnicity, cultural background or religion.
Recognise the value and importance of volunteer officials, coaches and team managers. They give their time and resources to provide the knowledge and support for your child’s sporting benefit.
Help new parents feel welcome.

Swimming Australia, supported by LWA, promotes the following behavioural guidelines to all people involved in any way with the sport of swimming, particularly those responsible for activities involving members under the age of 18 years. These behavioural guidelines highlight the principles and values of Swimming Australia and are the core principles of Member Welfare.

National Integrity Framework

LWA fully supports the Swimming Australia National Integrity Framework (NIF) which is a set of rules that all members of our sport need to follow when it comes to their behaviour and conduct in swimming including obligations to report misconduct. Those rules are contained in the following policies (available below):

Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
Member Protection Policy
Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy
Competition Manipulation and Sport Wagering Policy
Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy (CDDP)
Code Of Conduct

The further details and resources to the above procedures, can be found at: https://www.swimming.org.au/resources/swimming-national-integrity-framework.

The NIF allows complaints to be made either to Sport Integrity Australia (an independent government body) or to the Swimming Australia integrity team. The type of complaint will determine where the complaint should go.

Member Protection Officer

The Member Protection Officer (MPO) is the first point of call in the club for any enquiries, concerns or complaints (internal or external) about harassment and abuse. The MPO provides confidential information and moral support to the person with the concern or who is alleging harassment, they provide impartial information about the options available but do not mediate or investigate complaints. The MPO is responsible to the Club’s Committee.

LWA’s MPO details can be contacted at mpo@lwaquatics.org

Club’s Code of Conduct

The Club’s Code of Conduct for Parents applies to parents and guardians in situations where they are acting as a representative of, or in the environment of LWA. The Code guides the expected behaviour of parents when engaging with their own children, coaches, other participants and parents, officials and event organisers.

LWA Parents will:

Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all individuals in dealings connected with the Club swimming environment.
Encourage your child to principate in sport for their individual enjoyment and personal fulfillment.
Focus on your child’s effort and performance, rather than winning or losing, ensuring you do not openly compare or criticise your child, other children or parents.
Encourage your child to abide by the rules and accept judgements made by officials.
Trust others and respect decisions made in relation to the development, encouragement and directions for your child.
Appreciate and value the roles undertaken, the contributions made, and the efforts of volunteers throughout the Club.
Take personal responsibility for your own actions and behaviours at all times whilst involved in LWA.
Show trust and respect to coaches and administrators, ensuring that matters are raised in the appropriate forum and at the applicable time and place.
Refrain from any form of abuse, intimidation, harassment or discrimination towards any other parents, club members or staff.
Consider and respect all rules relating to facilities access, equipment and resources that the Club has provided for your child to enhance their swimming development.

Other Policies

Sport and Recreation Victoria - Fair Play Code

Restoring sportsmanship, integrity and respect in sport.

https://sport.vic.gov.au/resources/fair-play-code

Swimming Victoria Members Welfare Policy

The Members’ Welfare Policy assists in ensuring that everyone involved in our sport of swimming is treated with respect and dignity, and is safe and protected from abuse. https://vic.swimming.org.au/about-us-0/our-business/rules-policies