Child Protection is about keeping children safe from abuse and protecting them from people who are unsuitable to work with children.
The Working with Children Check (WWCC) provides a mandatory minimum standard for assessing the suitability of people working with children and young people. The check aims to screen for people who may pose a risk to the safety of children and young people in either paid or volunteer work.
It applies to people who have regular direct contact with children where that contact is not directly supervised.
The WWC Check is managed by the Department of Justice and is now being phased in for the sport sector. Under the phasing-in plan, people who work or volunteer in connection with AFL Football and who need a WWC Check are required to apply between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009.
WWC Check Cards are valid for five years (unless revoked because of a relevant change in the holder’s circumstances or voluntarily surrendered by the holder).
People working within football are required to have undertaken the WWCC by 30 June 2009. Penalties and restrictions will apply from 1 July 2009 if these procedures have not been followed.
AFL Victoria has developed a guideline for Clubs, Leagues and Associations to follow to ensure the sport is doing everything possible to prevent child related offences.
Under the Act, a person involved in football is considered to be engaging in child related work and must apply for the WWCC if they:
- Work or volunteer in a role that brings them into contact with children under 18; and
- Volunteer or do this work on a regular basis; and
- Have direct contact with children under 18 which is not directly supervised; and
- Do not qualify for one of the exemptions in the legislation (subject to AFL Victoria’s policies).
EXEMPTIONS
AFL Victoria endorses the following exemptions from the legislation and it will recognize that Clubs and Associations shall not require the following individuals to apply for the WWCC (subject to appropriate proof being sighted):
- persons aged under 18;
- sworn Members of Victoria Police (who are not suspended from duty);
- teachers registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching; (clubs are required to sight the VIT registration)
Under the legislation, parents do not have to apply for a WWCC if their child is involved in the relevant activity. However, AFL Victoria does not endorse this exemption and it expressly requires that all parents that meet the criteria set out above apply for, and obtain a WWCC. AFL Victoria is one of a number of sports that have taken this view in order to maximise the protection of children involved in football.
CLUBS:
AFL Victoria recommends that Clubs, with players under 18 will, as a minimum requirement, have the following people obtain a WWCC:
- All Executive Committee members i.e: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, as well as Canteen Manager / Supervisor;
- Coach of a team;
- Team Manager of a team;
- Club Trainer of a team;
- Any adult attending an overnight trip with a player under the age of 18 (Please note this is a requirement that has been in place since 30 June 2007 under the WWC legislation);
- Other members of the club who are involved in regular contact with children that are not directly supervised by a person who has completed a WWCC.
It’s a good idea to have someone at the club who is responsible for WWC Check matters. This person can provide members with information, validate the WWC Check cards and record details. In the majority of instances this will be the Club Secretary. It is recommended that where exemptions apply, the Nominated Person of each Club, League or Association records this to ensure up-to-date records are maintained.
An example record keeping form is available from http://www.sport.vic.gov.au and is attached to this guideline.
LEAGUES AND ASSOCIATIONS:
AFL Victoria recommends that Leagues and Associations should , as a minimum requirement, have the following people obtain a WWCC:
- For League or Association representative team that have players under 18 participating
- Coaches;
- Trainers; and/or
- Team Managers
- Members of the League or Association Umpiring Board and/or Umpire Coaches.
- Any adult attending an overnight trip with a junior team (Please note this is a requirement that has been in place since 30 June 2007 under the WWC legislation)
- Other members of the League or Association who are involved in regular contact with children that are not directly supervised by a person who has completed a WWCC;
League and Associations should also maintain a register of the people within the League or Association who have been approved under the legislation.
For information regarding the process of obtaining a WWCC, please visit the Department of Justice website atwww.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren or your nearest Australia Post outlets – bulk lodgments are available for your Club from Australia Post.
The above requirements, to comply with the WWC legislation, are in addition to all existing AFL Victoria and affiliated member policies such as Code of Behaviour and Member Protection Policies.
