Member Protection

Sport and Recreation Victoria encourages all sporting organisations to maintain policies and procedures that create safe, welcoming and enjoyable environments.

Sporting 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 related resources

Play by the Rules

Play by the Rules provides information, resources and tools 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.

Learn more on the Play by the Rules website.

Fair Play Code

The Fair Play Code outlines the standards of behaviour expected of everyone involved in sport and active recreation in Victoria. It is guided by the 5 principles of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness and Safety. Victorian sporting organisations receiving funding support from the Victorian Government must adhere to, and promote the Fair Play Code.

A number of Fair Play Code resources are available on our Fair Play Code web page.

Sport Integrity Australia

Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) delivers sport integrity functions on behalf of the Australian Government . SIA provides advice, assistance, resources and free training and webinars to National Sporting Organisations and their members who have signed up to the National Integrity Framework.

For more information, visit the Sport Integrity Australia website.

National Integrity Framework

The National Integrity Framework offers a suite of policies that set out expectations for the conduct of all participants in sport. There is a specific Member Protection Policy (MPP) template for sporting organisations to adopt. The MPP outlines the intent of the policy, who the policy is applicable to and what constitutes prohibited conduct under the policy.

Learn more about the National Integrity Framework on the Sport Integrity Australia website.

Member Protection Information Officers

Member Protection Information Officers (MPIOs) 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 an issue within a sport club, association or organisation.

Victoria’s free MPIO training program

Play by the Rules offers MPIO training. The course is delivered across 2 parts consisting of an online course (Part 1) and a face-to-face or virtual face-to-face session (Part 2). Both parts must be completed to become a recognised MPIO.

MPIO Part 1 training may be accessed via Sport Integrity Australia’s eLearning Platform. Learn more about MPIO Part 1 training on the Play by the Rules website.

For MPIO Part 2 training, Sport and Recreation Victoria has engaged Vicsport to deliver a number of training courses tailored to the Victorian sport and active recreation sector over 2024-2025.

Details on Vicsport MPIO Part 2 training dates can be found on the Play by the Rules Victorian Member Protection Information Officer Calendar.

For further information, please email Vic Sport at mpio@vicsport.com.au.

Vicsport Member Protection Help Desk

Vicsport offer a free help desk to assist all Victorian sporting organisations, from grassroots through to state sporting associations with any member protection related issues.

Email Vicsport at admin@vicsport.com.au.

Phone Vicsport on 03 9698 8100.