Whether you're a coach, administrator, athlete, volunteer, parent or official, you have a vital role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and adults in sport.
Every child and young person deserves to feel safe, supported and protected from harm while participating in sport.
Safe sport starts here
Children and young people thrive when sport is respectful, affirming and enriching.
Though our national safeguarding policies, resources and education we help sporting organisations and individuals to provide safe, supportive and friendly sporting environments. These approaches also help protect children and young people from harm and abuse.
Safeguarding children and young people
The safety of children and young people must be embedded in every Australian sporting organisation’s culture. It must be understood and practised at all levels of the sport.
It is essential that everyone involved in delivering sport in Australia understands the important legal, ethical and governance responsibilities they have in relation to child safety. This includes boards, committees, administrators, volunteers, coaches, parents and participants.
There must be zero tolerance for any behaviour that puts the wellbeing of children and young people at risk.
Watch the video that explains child safeguarding in sport
Safeguarding quick links
Reporting and responding
If you see or suspect that a child is being harmed or is at risk, report it immediately. It's important you know your organisation’s reporting process and how to use it.
Resources
Access more information, guides, webinars, and checklists in our resources section.
AIS Elite Youth Athlete Guidelines
- Recommendations for supporting the wellbeing, development, and performance of U18 individuals across high performance sport
How to keep children and young people safe
- Learn the do's and don'ts for common scenarios in sport.
Sport is for Every BODY
- Help promote positive language and behaviours around body image in sport.
Travel arrangements
- It's important to think about how to approach the risks when travelling with children and young people in sport.
National child safe principles
The National Principles reflect the 10 child safe standards recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The principles extend beyond sexual abuse to also focus on protecting children and young people from other types of harm.
These principles are designed to help organisations across Australia create safe and supportive environments for children and young people.
- Watch our webinar about applying the Child Safe National Principles
Creating safer sport for children and young people
We have developed a guide to creating safer sport for children and young people.
Youth perceptions of safety in sport study
Hear me play: a long-term study designed to amplify the voices of children and young people in Australian sport.
