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Safe and Fair Sport

Active Tasmania is committed to a safe, fair and inclusive sport and recreation sector. It is important that clubs and organisations uphold integrity, display a positive and healthy culture and commitment to ethical and inclusive practices.

Risk Management

What is Risk?

Risk is the chance of something happening that will have an impact upon objectives. It is measured in terms of consequences and likelihood. Risk is the effect of uncertainty on objectives.

Current formal standards on risk management define a ‘risk’ as the chance of something happening that will have an impact upon an organisation's objectives.

Risk management is about being aware of what may happen at your organisation and taking steps to limit the chances of it occurring. Risk is not necessarily harmful on its own but left unaddressed it can have a significant negative impact on an organisation and its community.

The Australian Sports Commission has developed an online training course to assist organisations with understanding risk management – The Defence (Risk Education)

Visit the Board Responsibilities within the National Governance Resource Library to access risk management resources and template.

Member Protection

It is prudent for all sports to have a Member Protection policy in place before a complaint or grievance arises. This policy provides guidance on how to manage complaints and grievances. It also identifies the rights of individuals involved in the dispute.

Most state sporting organisations adopt policies drafted by their national sporting organisation (NSO). Check with the relevant state sporting organisation if the club is unsure which policies apply.

A Member Protection policy template is available from Sport Integrity Australia.

It is important that any complaint is dealt with appropriately and within a reasonable time period. Ignoring or mishandling the complaint is likely to exacerbate the issue.

The Play by the Rules website provides advice to assist in dealing with a complaint and offers a free online complaint handling course. When dealing with a complaint the club must follow the grievance procedure outlined in the Member Protection policy.

Play by the Rules website

Member Protection Policy template

Online complaint handling course

Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO) Training

Member Protection Information Officers (MPIOs) are a proactive way of managing the rights of members in your sport. Having dedicated people who are well versed with your sport's member protection policy is a pre-emptive strategy in managing concerns, complaints and member protection matters.

Sometimes in sport there are incidents or concerns that need to be addressed. There are formal pathways to report, but often people feel most comfortable reporting an incident or concern to someone they know and trust.

MPIOs advise members on their rights and can provide guidance on complaint procedures. Every sport should have at least one trained MPIO in each region. Larger sports may require more.

MIPO Training Dates 2024

Work Health and Safety

There are several facts that sporting clubs or associations and should know about health and safety laws. Protecting volunteers in sport from harm is a mandatory requirement.

Like paid staff, volunteers undertaking community services face a wide range of possible risks and injuries in carrying out work. Protecting the health and safety of volunteers demonstrates that their commitment is valued and recognises the vital role they play in the community.

The WHS Act applies if your sporting club or association has paid workers, as well as utilises volunteers in your sporting club or association’s activities.

For the purpose of the WHS Act, a person is considered a volunteer if they are working without payment or financial reward although they may be being reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses they incur directly while carrying out volunteer work.

Diversity and Inclusion

Our community is a diverse mix of people - race, ethnicity, gender, age, ability, sexual orientation and religion.

Being inclusive means deliberately providing opportunities for all Tasmanians to participate in sport, recreation and community life. Sport and recreation organisations should be aware of the diversity of their community and provide opportunities for everyone to participate.

For more information on inclusion and diversity in sport and recreation, visit;

Child Safety

Child safeguarding is about ensuring children and young people are safe from harm or abuse. Protecting children and young people from harm and abuse in sport and recreation is a moral and legal obligation.

Concussion

Concussion can affect athletes at all levels of sport from junior participants to recreational athletes and elite and professional athletes.

Other Resources