Ashwood Junior Football Club
Reporting Child Abuse
Written By: Dale Wain / Jo Reid
Approved By: Rick Loveless (President)
Endorsed By: AJFC Committee, May 6th, 2019
Date for Review: 2021 or as required
Purpose
This Child Safety Reporting Procedure sets out the procedure that all AJFC people must follow to meet their responsibilities in relation to identifying, reporting, and responding to any concerns about, or incidents of, Child Abuse or other inappropriate behaviour towards Children or Young People in our sport. The Reporting Procedure was issued in connection with the Child Safety Policy.
Immediate Response
Overriding any practical requirements outlined through this procedure, if a Child or Young Person is at imminent risk of harm or in immediate danger, all AJFC People are required to report the situation directly to the Police - CALL ‘000’.
What is to be reported
The following types of behaviours, including observed or suspected abuse, in relation to any Child or Young Person involved in AJFC activities, programs or services must be reported in the manner described in this Reporting Procedure:
- Child Abuse, Harm, Neglect or any other form of inappropriate behaviour such as Grooming or Bullying to a Child or Young Person (Emotional or Phycological, Physical or Sexual); and
- any breaches of the Policy or Code of Conduct
Minimum Requirements when responding to disclosure of child abuse
The following points are to be considered and utilised when a reporting person is receiving a disclosure of Child Abuse from a Child or Young Person.
DO
* Activiely Listen to the Child or Young Person Emotional or Physiological Abuse, Physical Abuse or Neglect
* Reassure the Child or Young People that they have done the correct thing by reporting
* Respect the Child or Young person may only reveal some details
* Let the Child or Young Person use thier own words in thier own time - be patient
* Ask openended questions
* Explain to the Child or Young Person that other people may need ot be told
DON'T
* Ask leading questions
* Make your own judegment or assessment
* Press for detail, a minimal accoutn will suffice
* Make promises you cannot keep
* Make your own enquiries / investigations in relation to the allegations made
Share infomration with others *Excl Police, Child Protection, AFL ISD Manager
How to make a report & obligations
- AJFC People must report Child Abuse or other inappropriate behaviour in relation to a Child or Young Person that they are informed of, observe or suspect.
- Any reports of child abuse or deviation in the Code of Conduct policy are to be made to the organisation’s Child Safety Officer (CSO).
- If a child is in immediate danger of sexual or physical abuse of a child, the person reporting and / or the CSO must report it to the Police immediately. Child Safety Officer to stay in contact with reporter and alleged victim to provide support.
- CSO may need to communicate to Auskick Centre Coordinator/Club President/League Management. A detailed written report of supplied information from the reporter must be recorded and stored, including Who, What, When, Where & Why the incident is of concern. All discussion is to be kept confidential
- When practical, the reporting person must make a report on the AFL’s online reporting platform. In some circumstances, the Child Safety Officer may take a statement and formally record the statement on the online reporting platform. The online reporting platform can be accessed via this link https://eafl.austfoot.com.au/afl-makeareport/#/landing
- Alleged perpetrator (if member of staff/volunteer) to be reassigned or relieved of other duties until further notice or the investigation is complete.
Child Safety Officer’s Reporting Obligations
When a Child Safety Officer is notified by a reporting person of an incident, they are to;
- ensure the reporting person of the CSO themselves makes an online report as per Step 5 of section above;
- provide advice and guidance as per the step by step process detailed in How to make a report;
- provide general advice and guidance on ‘what’ to report and the Policy’s purpose;
- notify the SMJFL Club Development Coordinator by email of the notification as soon as possible and ensure the report is received by the AFL Integrity & Security Department; and
- not provide investigative advice to the reporting person unless consent is provided from the AFL Head of the Integrity & Security Department or nominated delegate.
In taking a report or disclosure of an incident from others, the reporting person or Child Safety Officer is not to assess the validity of such allegations or concerns, but to report all allegations as described in the step by step process outlined in section above
What happens to a report
The AFL Integrity & Security Department (ISD) will:
- receive the online report through its secure Incident Management System (IMS);
- contact the reporting person;
- conduct an assessment of the disclosed information;
- ensure adequate support services are provided to all relevant persons; and
- notify the relevant Law Enforcement agencies if criminality has been identified, pursuant to mandatory reporting compliance.
- If the report is deemed to be at a league / club level, then it will be passed back to this level
- Reassessment of the report will occur at the league and club level and re adjustment / or re-education may be needed
Who investigates the report
Complying with legislative and policy requirements, the ISD are bound to ensure that one (1) or more of the following entities will investigate the report or disclosure;
- State or Federal Law Enforcement Agency (i.e. Police) *Where Required
- Child Protections Services or State equivalent *Where Required
- AFL Integrity & Security Department
- (Where the report or disclosure does not relate to the AFL or AFL People) Independent League/Administration through the engagement of independent investigative and welfare services. NOTE: At no stage will the ISD investigate in parallel to a State or Federal Law Enforcement Agency (i.e. Police) investigation. The ISD, will only investigate once they have received confirmation and permission in writing from the relevant Law Enforcement Agency (i.e. Police) that their investigation is completed.
Reviewing this policy
This policy will be reviewed every two years or as required, and we undertake to seek views, comments and suggestions from children, parents, carers, staff and volunteers involved in the Club.
