Child Safety
Surf Life Saving (SLS) is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all Children & Young People (CYP) who are involved in SLS. Our policies and procedures seek to address risks to child safety and to establish child safe culture and practices in line with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
We promote equity, respect and diversity by:
• actively anticipating CYP’s diverse circumstances and responding effectively to those with additional vulnerabilities;
• providing all CYP access to information, support and reporting processes;
• empowering CYP by giving them a voice and encouraging them to speak up on decisions that affect them;
• creating a fun and positive environment for CYP to be involved in; and
• paying attention to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CYP, CYP with a disability, CYP who identify as LGBTIQ and CYP from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The SLSA Board endorses the Child Safe commitment to keeping CYP safe from abuse and neglect.
John Baker AM ESM
SLSA President
Child and Youth Safety at our club
Surf Life Saving Tasmania (SLST) prioritises the safety and wellbeing of children and young people within our community. In alignment with this commitment, the SLST Board has taken progressive steps to ensure that all volunteers, especially those in positions that interact with children and youth, adhere to important safety measures. As the next step in our ongoing process to adopt the Child and Youth Safe Standards, the SLST Board has mandated new safety protocols, to be implemented immediately.
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All SLST members aged 18 and over are now required to hold a current Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP), previously known as WWVP Card. This includes ensuring all details are accurately registered in the Tasmanian Government’s RWVP register, and that each member has completed the SLSA’s online Child Safe Awareness Course.
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Somerset Life Saving Club are committed to providing a safe environment for all children and young people within our organisation, are committed to working towards becoming compliant with the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023 and implementing the 10 Child and Youth Safe Standards within our Club. Adhering to this new policy is one step in reaching compliancy.
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If you are a current member of our club and intend to renew your membership for the upcoming season, you must have a RWVP registration. This is applicable to all members over the age of 18 years, regardless of your level of engagement within the club. This includes not only our Active and Patrolling members, but all Nipper Parents who are registered either as an individual or as part of a family membership, and all Associate or Social members.
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1. If you do not hold a RWVP, you must apply for your registration NOW.
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2. Ensure you have added “Somerset Surf Life Saving Club” to your RWVP registration as the organisation you are volunteering with.
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3. Provide us with the details of your registration by email, even if you have provided your registration details previously.
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4. You should complete the SLSA Child Safe Awareness online course, found within your SLS Hub E-Learning section- SLS Members Area – Login. This is a 10 minute process and is strongly encouraged for all members of our club.
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For more information on SLST’s Child Safe Policies, or the Child and Youth Safe Standards, you can visit the following pages:
What can I do?
Reporting
Reportable conduct includes any inappropriate actions by members (including workers, volunteers and contractors) against or in the presence of children and young people. This includes but is not limited to suspected criminal behaviour. Definitions and more information can be found in the Office of the Independent Regulator Reportable Conduct information sheet.
You must report any incidents or concerns of Reportable Conduct involving another Somerset SLSC Member, regardless of where this occurred. Reports should be made to the Club President or Member Protection Information Officer.
Immediate safety concerns for a child call Police on 000 or 131 444.
Child Safe Course
Child Safe Awareness Course provides participants with: an awareness of child abuse and child protection and the confidence to be able to take appropriate action when they become concerned for the safety of a child. To have this course recognised on your Surfguard record please complete the course via the Members Area.
WWVP
Working With Vulnerable People Registration
All members over 18 (including nippers parents), and Nippers helpers over 16, must hold a WWVP registration. Please email us this information ASAP. WWVP Cards are free to volunteers.
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All members over 18 must complete the child safe awareness course on the SLSA members hub.
Child Safe Code of Conduct
Somerset Child Safety
Commitment Statement
TBA
