Half Moon Bay SLSC (HMBSLSC) seeks to provide a safe, fair, and inclusive environment for everyone involved in lifesaving. We are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all Children and Young People. Our policies and guidelines seek to address risks to child safety and to establish child safe culture and practices in line with the Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECKS

All members of Half Moon Bay Surf Life Saving Club (HMB SLSC) aged 18 years and over must hold a current and valid Working with Children Check (WWCC).

The WWCC must be linked to both HMB and Life Saving Victoria (LSV).

Members must provide a copy of their WWCC card to the HMB Club Administrator for verification purposes and ensure that their WWCC details remain current and up to date.

NIPPER FAMILY MEMBERSHIP AND WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECKS (WWCC)

HMBSLC requires each Nipper to be linked to a family membership comprising two parents/guardians, each with their own individual Life Saving Services (LS) account, linked through the relevant membership system.

Both parents/guardians must hold a current and valid Working with Children Check (WWCC), in accordance with HMB and LSV requirements.

The WWCC must be linked to both HMBSLSC and Life Saving Victoria (LSV), where required by the relevant systems and procedures.

Members must provide a copy of their WWCC card to the HMBSLSC Club Administrator for verification purposes and ensure that their WWCC details remain current and up to date.

HMBSLSC will verify WWCC details and family membership information as part of the membership approval process and follow up any outstanding requirements before approving membership, in accordance with applicable HMB and LSV procedures.

ONLINE CHILD SAFETY TRAINING

HMBSLSC is committed to ensuring that members and volunteers in designated positions of authority or child-related roles have the knowledge and understanding required to keep children and young people safe. HMBSLSC will ensure that relevant individuals are informed of and complete the required SLSA Child Safe Awareness course in accordance with applicable SLSA and LSV requirements.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Committee members

• Nipper Age Managers

• Coaches (Nippers and Seniors)

• Patrol Captains

• Trainers and Assessors

• HMB bus drivers where their role involves transporting children or young people

• Other HMB members or volunteers undertaking designated child-related or child safety responsibilities.

Individuals are responsible for completing the required training and keeping their training up to date in accordance with SLSA and LSV requirements. HMBSLSC will monitor and maintain records of course completion where required.

BATHROOMS / CHANGE ROOMS

Supervision of bathrooms/change rooms

HMBSLSC will ensure appropriate supervision of bathrooms/change rooms during Nipper training and other activities where children and young people are participating under the supervision of HMBSLSC.

This will include:

• At least two authorised adults supervising the area, where practicable, with consideration given to the gender of the children and young people being supervised.

• Supervising adults will monitor access to the bathroom/change room area while respecting the privacy and dignity of children and young people.

• All adults supervising children and young people must hold a current WWCC.

• Parents/carers can accompany their child if necessary to provide assistance or support. Parents/carers must hold a WWCC and should leave the bathroom/change room area once they have attended to their child.

• HMBSLSC will take reasonable steps to ensure that adults who are not required to be in the bathroom/change room area do not enter or remain in the area while children are changing or showering.

Access to private change room

HMBSLSC will provide access to appropriate private changing facilities to accommodate individual needs, circumstances and preferences. This may include individual, disability-accessible or otherwise private facilities where available.

Members will not be required to disclose personal information or provide a reason for requesting an alternative changing arrangement.

Nipper/Young person (YP) leaving training/carnivals to access bathroom

HMBSLSC will utilise a buddy system where practicable. Where a child or young person needs to leave training or competition to access a bathroom or change room, they should be accompanied by another child or young person wherever reasonably practicable.

The coach or team manager will check on the whereabouts of the child/young person if they do not return within a reasonable period of time or there is a concern about their safety or wellbeing.

Senior members accessing bathrooms/change rooms when a child/YP is present

Adults and children should not change or shower together where this can reasonably be avoided.

Adults in positions of authority must not undress in the presence of children or young people, except where permitted under the SLSA Child Safe Guidelines, such as where the adult is participating in the same SLS training or competition activity.

Appropriate supervision must be maintained while respecting the privacy and dignity of children and young people.

Where practicable, adults should use individual or private changing facilities when children and young people are present.

HMBSLSC will take reasonable steps to ensure that adults who are not participating in the relevant activity do not use shared changing or shower facilities at the same time as children or young people.

Mobile phone use in bathrooms/change rooms

Mobile phones, cameras and other photography or recording devices must not be used in change rooms or bathrooms. This includes photography, video recording and live streaming.

TRAINING

HMBSLSC will ensure that appropriate supervision and child safe arrangements are in place for all training sessions involving children and young people.

Training times will be set by coaches, and parents/guardians will be informed of these times.

Where a scheduled training session results in only one child or young person and one coach being present, the following requirements will apply:

• The parent/guardian must remain present for the duration of the training session, either at the club or on the beach.

• Training must take place in an appropriate, visible area closer to the beach and must not extend beyond the Cerberus.

• If the parent/guardian is unable to remain present for the duration of the session, the session must be cancelled or rescheduled to ensure appropriate supervision arrangements are in place.

These requirements also apply to additional training sessions arranged outside scheduled training times where only one child or young person and one coach are present.

To assist with planning appropriate supervision, coaches should confirm attendance with parents/guardians before additional training sessions.

Where more than one child or young person is attending training, parents/guardians should ensure that appropriate supervision arrangements have been confirmed with the coach before leaving their child at the session. Parents/guardians should be encouraged to remain available and contactable throughout training.

All training sessions must be conducted in a manner that prioritises the safety, wellbeing and supervision of children and young people, in accordance with HMBSLSC 's Child Safe Policy and applicable SLSA and LSV requirements.

EVENTS AND CARNIVALS WHERE A PARENT/GUARDIAN IS NOT PRESENT

HMBSLSC will ensure that appropriate child safe arrangements are in place when children and young people attend club events, carnivals, competitions or other activities without a parent/guardian present.

Day trips where a parent/guardian is not present.

Where a parent/guardian wishes their child or young person to attend an event or carnival without them, prior written consent must be obtained from the parent/guardian before the activity takes place.

The parent/guardian must notify the coach or relevant team manager that their child will be attending without them and complete the required consent and event documentation.

HMBSLSC will use the Day Trips and Competitions Checklist, developed by Sport Integrity Australia, as a planning resource where appropriate, alongside applicable SLSA and LSV requirements.

The completed documentation must be reviewed and approved by an authorised HMBSLSC representative, such as the Club President, a relevant Director or another designated senior club representative, before the child or young person participates.

The coach or team manager must ensure that appropriate supervision, emergency contacts, medical or support needs, transport arrangements and communication with parents/guardians have been considered before the event.

Overnight stays where a parent/guardian is not present.

HMBSLSC will ensure that additional planning and child safe safeguards are in place when children and young people participate in overnight stays, camps, trips or extended activities without a parent/guardian present.

Where a parent/guardian wishes their child or young person to attend an overnight stay or extended activity without them, prior written parental/guardian consent and approval from an authorised HMBSLSC representative must be obtained before the activity takes place.

HMBSLSC will use the Overnight or Extended Stays Travel Checklist, developed by Sport Integrity Australia, as a planning resource where appropriate, alongside applicable SLSA and LSV requirements.

The parent/guardian must complete and sign the required consent documentation. The coach, team manager or designated event organiser must submit the completed documentation to the authorised HMBSLSC representative for review and approval.

Before approval is granted, HMBSLSC must consider appropriate supervision arrangements, accommodation and sleeping arrangements, bathroom and changing facilities, transport, emergency contacts, medical or support needs, and arrangements for communicating with parents/guardians.

Completed checklists and consent forms must be provided to the HMBSLSC Club Administrator for record-keeping in accordance with HMBSLSC procedures.

HMBSLSC will communicate the relevant requirements to parents/guardians, coaches, team managers and other responsible adults before the activity takes place.

TRANSPORTING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

HMBSLSC will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place whenever children and young people are transported in connection with club activities.

Coaches and other HMBSLSC members or volunteers must not transport a Nipper or young person in a private vehicle in a one-to-one situation unless prior approval has been obtained from the parent/guardian and an authorised senior HMBSLSC representative, such as the Club President, a committee member or the Child Safety Officer.

Any transport must be directly related to an authorised HMBSLSC activity and must not be for private or unrelated purposes.

Before transport occurs:

• Prior written consent must be obtained from the parent/guardian. In regard to the HMBSLSC bus, consent can be obtained for all trips at the start of the season.

• Approval must also be obtained from an authorised senior HMBSLSC representative.

• The child or young person must travel in the rear seat of the vehicle, using an appropriate seatbelt or child restraint as required by law.

• The driver must hold a current and valid driver licence and comply with all applicable road safety laws.

Where reasonably practicable, alternative arrangements should be made to avoid one-to-one transport, such as having another authorised adult present or transporting children together.

All transport arrangements must prioritise the safety and wellbeing of the child or young person and comply with applicable SLSA and LSV child safe requirements.

COMMUNICATION WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

HMBSLSC will ensure that all electronic and online communication between adults acting on behalf of the club and children or young people is appropriate, transparent and consistent with child safe requirements.

• Adults must not engage in private, one-to-one electronic or online communication with a child or young person in connection with HMBSLSC activities.

• Where direct electronic or online communication with a child or young person is necessary, a parent/guardian must be included in the communication.

• HMBSLSC will ensure that parents/guardians are included in relevant club communication groups and online platforms used to communicate with children and young people about HMBSLSC activities, where practicable.

• HMBSLSC will require coaches, team managers and other club officials to ensure that electronic and online communications relate directly to their official role and are appropriate in content and tone. For example, a coach may notify members of a change to training times.

• Adults acting on behalf of HMBSLSC must not add, friend or follow children or young people on personal social media accounts, unless expressly permitted under applicable SLSA and LSV requirements and appropriate safeguards are in place.

HMBSLSC will communicate these requirements to relevant members, coaches, team managers and volunteers and take reasonable steps to ensure they are followed.

PATROLS INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE

HMBSLSC will take reasonable steps to ensure patrol rosters provide appropriate supervision and a suitable mix of ages and genders, having regard to the needs and safety of participating members.

Where a patrol results in only one young person and one adult being present due to other members not attending, the parent/guardian must remain present for the duration of the patrol.

If the parent/guardian is unable to remain present, the following arrangements must be made:

• The parent/guardian must be contacted and informed that the required supervision arrangements cannot be maintained.

• The young person must remain under appropriate adult supervision until the parent/guardian or an authorised alternative adult arrives to collect them.

• The young person must not be left alone, sent home unaccompanied or permitted to leave without an agreed and safe collection arrangement.

• The patrol supervisor or designated responsible adult must ensure that the young person remains safely supervised until they have been collected.

HMBSLSC will ensure that appropriate supervision and collection arrangements are in place before the young person leaves the patrol location.

CHAIN OF NOTIFICATION – CHILD SAFETY CONCERNS AND INCIDENTS

HMBSLSC will ensure that all child safety concerns, disclosures, allegations and incidents are taken seriously, documented appropriately and reported promptly in accordance with SLSA and LSV policies and applicable Victorian legislation.

All HMBSLSC members, coaches, officials, employees and volunteers have a responsibility to report child safety concerns. A person does not need to investigate a concern or prove that abuse has occurred before reporting it.

1. Reporting a concern within HMBSLSC

Any person who witnesses, receives a disclosure about, or otherwise becomes aware of a child safety concern must report it promptly to the HMBSLSC Child Safety Officer or the designated senior club representative, such as the Member Protection Officer.

If the concern involves the Child Safety Officer, Club President or another person who would ordinarily receive the report, the concern must be reported to another appropriate senior representative, LSV or the relevant external authority.

2. Immediate danger or suspected criminal conduct

If a child or young person is in immediate danger, or urgent police assistance is required, call 000 immediately.

Where there are reasonable grounds to suspect child abuse, neglect or criminal conduct, the matter must be reported to Victoria Police and/or the relevant Victorian child protection authority, as required by law. Internal reporting to HMBSLSC must not delay or replace an external report.

3. Notification to LSV and SLSA

The HMBSLSC Child Safety Officer or designated senior club representative will ensure that child safety concerns and alleged breaches of the SLSA Child Safe Policy are reported through the applicable SLSA reporting system and that LSV is notified in accordance with its current reporting procedures.

Any person may report a concern directly through the applicable SLSA reporting pathway or to LSV. They are not required to report internally first.

External contacts:

• LSV Integrity Team: integrity@lsv.com.au

• SLSA Reporting System: https://complaints.sls.com.au/

4. Recording and managing the concern

HMBSLSC will ensure that concerns and incidents are documented accurately, including the date, people involved, nature of the concern and actions taken. Records must be stored securely and access restricted to authorised persons.

HMBSLSC will take appropriate steps to protect the child or young person from further harm while the matter is being addressed. Members must not conduct their own investigation, confront the person who is the subject of an allegation, or promise confidentiality that cannot be maintained.

5. External reporting obligations

HMBSLSC will ensure that any additional reporting obligations under Victorian legislation are met, including obligations relating to child protection and the Reportable Conduct Scheme, where applicable.

6. Follow-up and support

HMBSLSC will cooperate with LSV, SLSA, police, child protection authorities and other relevant agencies as required. The safety, privacy and wellbeing of the child or young person will remain the priority throughout the process.

HMBSLSC will ensure that relevant members and volunteers are informed of the reporting process and know who to contact if they have a child safety concern.