Member protection involves the implementation of practices to protect all members of a sporting organisation, association and club from discrimination, vilification, abuse and other forms of inappropriate behaviour.
Sport and Recreation Victoria encourages organisations to maintain practices and procedures that create safe, welcoming and enjoyable environments.
Organisations are required to comply with legislative requirements (such as anti-discrimination and racial and religious vilification laws), identify the potential for any incidents relating to harassment and abuse of members and develop strategies to reduce the likelihood or severity of harassment or abuse.
Member Protection Resources
Play by the Rules provides information, resources, tools and free online training to increase the capacity and capability of administrators, coaches, officials, players, parents and spectators to assist them in preventing and dealing with discrimination, harassment, child safety, inclusion and integrity issues in sport.
The Fair Play Code outlines the standards of behaviour expected of everyone involved to ensure participation for all Victorians to participate in safe, welcoming and inclusive sport and recreation.
The Fair Play Code is guided by the five principles of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness and Safety and provides a framework of responsibility for all involved in sport and recreation in Victoria. The Fair Play Code came into effect from 1 July 2018.
Established on 1 July 2020, Sport Integrity Australia combined the functions of the Australian Sports Doping Authority, the National Integrity of Sport Unit and Sport Australia to safeguard the integrity of sport.
The role of Sport Integrity Australia is to provide advice and assistance on the:
- use of prohibited substances and methods in sport
- abuse of children and other persons in a sporting environment
- manipulation of sporting competitions
- failure to protect members of sporting organisations and other persons in a sporting environment from bullying, intimidation, discrimination or harassment.
The National Integrity Framework offers a suite of policies that set out expectations for the conduct of all participants in sport. These expectations relate to safeguarding children, member protection, competition manipulation and sports wagering, and the misuse of drugs and medicines.
Sport Integrity Australia together with Sport Australia have developed a Member Protection Policy Template to assist sporting organisations to implement a easy to follow, meaningful policy.
Vicsport together with Sport and Recreation Victoria, deliver a Member Protection Network several times a year to bring together state sporting associations and regional sports assemblies to discuss topical member protection issues.
Vicsport also offer a help desk to assist all Victorian sporting organisations, from grassroots through to state sporting associations with any member protection related issues.
Contact Vicsport at admin@vicsport.com.au or via phone on 9698 8100.
Member Protection Information Officers
Member Protection Information Officers (MPIO) play an important role in the sporting community. They provide information and guidance on complaints procedures - they are the first point of contact for anyone wanting to discuss problems within a sport club, association or organisation.
Member Protection Information Officer Training
To support the capacity of the Victorian sport and recreation sector to provide safe and inclusive environments for participants, the Victorian Government through Sport and Recreation Victoria, engages a provider to deliver MPIO training. Training is offered twice per year at no cost to participants.
The Victorian Government offers free MPIO training twice a year in April and October.
For more information about MPIO Training or emai sportprograms@sport.vic.gov.au