Victorians love their sport.
There are approximately 2.2 million participants, 980,000 paid staff and volunteers, 12,000 sports clubs, and 9,500 community sports facilities in Victoria.
Victorians are involved in sport in many different capacities. Positive and appropriate actions and behaviours of each and every one of these individuals is essential to ensuring safe, fair and inclusive sporting environments.
There is no place in sport for bad behaviour, violence, cheating or intimidation.
At the heart of the Fair Play Code are the five principles:
- Integrity
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Safety
- Fairness.
These principles apply to everyone involved in sport in Victoria, no matter what role they play.
As an individual, team, club, league or association, if you encounter bad behaviour, either on or off the sporting field, refer to the Fair Play Code.
The Fair Play Code is a guide on how to apply the principles, and the responsibilities of those involved in sport.
The Fair Play Code first came into effect on 1 July 2018. Victoria's sporting organisations who receive funding from the Victorian Government are required to actively promote, adhere to and enforce the Fair Play Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does the Fair Play Code affect me?
Local council
- Actively promoting and advocating for the Fair Play Code, and providing support to member clubs and the local community.
- Ensuring sport and recreation clubs who use council sporting facilities are compliant with the Code.
- Making the Fair Play Code available and visible in all council facilities.
Officials and volunteers
- Being informed about, abiding by, and promoting compliance with the Code.
- Reporting potential Fair Play Code breaches to the appropriate authorities.
Players or participants
- Understanding the Fair Play Code and how it applies when participating in sport. This includes knowing your rights and obligations as a player/participant.
- Speaking out against abuse, violence, cheating and intimidation.
Parents
- Educating children about the importance of demonstrating good sportsmanship and modeling these behaviours.
- Understanding the actions that can be taken when there is a potential breach of the Code.
Spectators and members of the public
- Abiding by the Code when attending sport and recreation training, club events and activities.
- Encouraging good sportsmanship and behaviour.
State sporting associations and active recreation bodies
- Including the Fair Play Code in your governance documentation.
- Ensuring your organisation has systems and processes in place to manage a complaint or breach of the Code.
Leagues, associations and clubs
- Actively promoting, adhering to and enforcing the Code.
- Educating everyone at the organisation about the Fair Play Code and ensuring it’s part of any induction process.
- Making the Fair Play Code available and visible to everyone.
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How do I become a Fair Play Organisation?
Use the Fair Play Code Self-Assessment Tool to help your organization implement better policies and practices.
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What does being a Fair Play Organisation mean?
Being a Fair Play Organisation means supporting good sportsmanship, exercising integrity and respect, and speaking out against bad behaviour.
If you receive Victorian Government funding, or would like to in the future, it is a requirement that your organisation adheres to, enforces and promotes the Fair Play Code.
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What is the Fair Play Code form for Tenants?
The Fair Play Code form for tenants (Word) must be completed by organisations or local councils who seek funding from the Victorian Government for a sporting facility.
- All fields of the form must be completed by an authorised representative of the organisation.
- The form must be included as part of the funding application.
- The organisation must actively promote, adhere to and enforce the Fair Play Code to be eligible for funding.
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How can I promote my club, league or association as a Fair Play organisation?
- Promote the Fair Play Code via social media channels and on your website.
- Download the Fair Play Code posters and supporting information to display at your venue (see Additional Resources section below).
- Ensure your members know the Fair Play Code, and include it in your induction process for new members.
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Where can I find more information or support?
Fair Play Code breaches should be reported to the appropriate organisation:
- Your state sport organisation.
- Vicsport - represents sport organisations in Victoria.
- Sport Integrity Australia - provides national policy direction and complaints support on integrity issues for those sports that are signed up to the National Integrity Framework.
- Sport Australia - provides strategic guidance, leadership and funding for sports in Australia.
- The Commission for Children and Young People is the regulatory body for the Victorian Child Safe Standards. It provides publications, useful links, resources and support for the Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Further assistance
- Play by the Rules provides support for sporting organisations to put policies and guidelines in place to deal with unlawful or inappropriate behaviour like abuse, harassment, unfair treatment and discrimination.
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For more information and assistance
Contact sportprograms@sport.vic.gov.au for more information about the Fair Play Code, or to receive promotional material for your organisation.