Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy

Our Commitment

Redcliffe Peninsula SLSC along with Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) recognises that the identification and management of risks of harm to children and young people is essential to the creation of a safe and supportive surf lifesaving environment. We acknowledge that our staff and volunteers provide a valuable contribution to the positive experiences of our junior activities and youth members. Redcliffe Peninsula SLSC is committed to ensure the protection, safety and welfare of our young participants and believe that we must place the safety and welfare of children and youth above all other considerations.

Redcliffe Peninsula SLSC's Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy provides avenues in which to provide children and young people with a safe and supportive environments in which to participate in Surf Life Saving. To ensure this happens, recruitment of the right staff is essential. Our policies set out ways in which this can be done successfully through the recruitment and maintenance of staff. All staff must have a blue card to have interaction with anyone under the age of 18.

It must be noted that the term staff includes all of the following; Administration staff, Directors, Officers, Coaches, Officials, Members, Team Managers, Age Managers, Chaperones, Youth Leaders and Volunteers.

What is Harm?

Harm to a child or young person can be classified under the following types:

Physical Abuse: beating, shaking, burning, giving children alcohol or inappropriate discipline
Emotional or physiological abuse: constant yelling, insults, swearing, criticism and bullying
Neglect: not giving children sufficient food, clothing, medical care
Sexual abuse exploitation: sexual jokes or touching, exposing children to sexual acts

How to deal with it?

Receive disclosure in a private place, tell them they have done the right thing, only ask questions that confirm the report and DO NOT conduct your own investigation
Document either a disclosure and/or suspicion of harm, ensure that it is done in a non-judgemental way and only the facts are reported, 'word for word'
The disclosure of harm must be reported to either the Dept. of Communities or the QLD Police Service
Ensure all people involved are offered support and counselling, and if the person of the allegation is an employee ensure all their further work with people under 18 is supervised

Redcliffe Peninsula Surf Life Saving Club

Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy

Our Commitment

What is Harm?

How to deal with it?

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