CHILD SAFETY STANDARDS

Acknowledgement of country

Sanctuary Lakes Netball Club acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we play our netball, the “Kurung-Jang-Balluk peoples of the Woiwurrung clan and acknowledge and pay our respect to their elders past, present and emerging. Sanctuary Lakes Netball club also acknowledges our club members that identify as first nations people.

At Sanctuary Lakes Netball, we are committed to the health, safety, and wellbeing of all our members and everyone who participates in our activities. We want netball to be fun, enjoyable, and safe for all, and we are dedicated to providing a supportive environment where every individual feels respected and valued.

We are especially committed to providing children and young people with positive and nurturing experiences that encourage healthy development and wellbeing.

Sanctuary Lakes Netball fully supports and implements Netball Victoria’s Commitment to Child Safety and the 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards.

We are compliant and remain committed to staying up to date with all procedures required to maintain a safe environment for children.

“Every person in the netball community has a responsibility to understand their role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in our care. Sanctuary Lakes Netball Association, along with Netball Victoria, is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of children and preventing abuse by fostering a culture where children feel safe and empowered. We also seek to ensure the cultural safety of First Nations children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and children with disability.”

THE VICTORIAN SAFETY STANDARDS

1. Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

2. Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance, and culture.

3. Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them, and are taken seriously.

4. Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

5. Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.

6. People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

7. Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused.

8. Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

9. Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for harm.

10. Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

11. Policies and procedures clearly document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

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SLNA COACHES & ASST COACHES UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE

At Sanctuary Lakes Netball, all under-18 coaches and assistant coaches are required to wear a Sanctuary Lakes Coaches Top and a pink wristband labelled SLNA Coach U18 Years of Age.

These have been provided to all our young coaches and assistant coaches, and they have been advised that they must be worn when coaching at Altona. By doing so, we demonstrate our commitment to child safety, support our developing officials, and ensure that the community recognises and respects them in their roles.

This initiative helps our community easily identify and support young coaches and assistant coaches, raises awareness about respectful behaviour, and reinforces the importance of reporting any unsafe or inappropriate interactions with children.

 Netball Respect: Green Bands – Supporting Under-18 Umpires

Umpires play a vital role in ensuring fair play and good sporting behaviour. To better support and protect our younger officials, Netball Victoria has introduced the ‘Netball Respect: Green Bands’ initiative for all umpires under the age of 18.

At Altona Netball Association they have also implemented the Green Bands for all umpires under the age of 18.

This helps our community identify and support them as developing officials and raises awareness of the importance of respectful behaviour. It also highlights the need to report any unsafe or inappropriate interactions with children.

CODES OF CONDUCT 

Sanctuary Lakes Netball Association is committed to providing an inclusive, friendly, and fair environment for all players, officials, volunteers, and spectators.

All members of SLNA are required to abide by the Codes of Conduct set by:

• Netball Victoria

• Altona Netball Association

• Sanctuary Lakes Netball Association

These Codes of Conduct are included in our By-Laws. All members have been provided with copies and are required to confirm, by signing, that they have read, understood, and agree to abide by them.

Players

• Play by the rules and in the spirit of the game.

• Respect teammates, opponents, coaches, and umpires.

• Never engage in bullying, harassment, or discrimination.

Coaches & Officials

• Lead by example with fairness, respect, and integrity.

• Place the safety and wellbeing of players above all else.

• Encourage positive behaviour and development in every player.

Parents & Spectators

• Support players positively — encourage, don’t criticise.

• Respect umpires, coaches, and officials — their role is vital.

• Never use abusive, threatening, or discriminatory language or behaviour.

Volunteers & Members

• Uphold the values of Sanctuary Lakes Netball Association.

• Treat everyone with respect and fairness.

• Report any behaviour that may be unsafe or inappropriate.

 Fair Play Code Victoria

The Victorian Government’s new Fair Play Code – a code of conduct for sport and recreation in Victoria, outlines the standards of behaviour expected for everyone involved in sport and recreation.

The Fair Play Code sends a loud and clear message – that bad behaviour, violence, cheating and intimidation has no place in sport and recreation in our state.

At the heart of the code are the five core values that will lead to fair play for all –  integrity – respect – responsibility – fairness – safety.

If you see any concerning behaviour towards a child at Altona on game day or at Jamieson Way during our training night, please contact us immediately via the details below so we can ensure the safety of the child and investigate the situation as necessary.