Member Protection

Life Saving Victoria is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of all its members and is dedicated to providing a best practise approach to ensure a safe environment for those participating in lifesaving activities.

Life Saving Victoria is a unique organisation that has multiple purposes including community service, sporting, education and leadership opportunities and programs. Each of these individual aspects inter-relate with each other. It is due to the multifaceted nature of Life Saving Victoria, that members 18 years of age and over interact with children across a broad spectrum of activities, that this policy must be broadly applied.

To request support regarding a member protection issue please email member.protection@lsv.com.au 

Member Protection Officer (MPO)

Life Saving Victoria is committed to health, safety and wellbeing of all its members and is dedicated to providing a safe environment for those participating in lifesaving activities and events. We want lifesaving to be fun, enjoyable and safe for all.  Lifesavers are nurtured in and environment that values safety, trust, respect, caring and responsibility.  The environment encourages acceptance, confidence and educated risk taking.

Clubs – Member Protection Officer

All clubs are required to have an appointed MPO and communicate to all members, who they are, how to contact and their role.  We strongly advise Clubs to appoint an MPO to be independent and where possible not directly reside on the Committee, this avoids conflict of interested perceived or actual.

It is important that your MPO is skilled and exhibits behaviour consistent to those of the role, including high level of integrity, ability to maintain confidentiality and treat matters with independence and sensitivity.

People with a background in counselling, teachers, police officers, or similar skills often make good MPO’s.

LSV can assist with identifying independent MPO’s if clubs are unable to identify a resource for the role.  We also strongly encourage clubs to work with other clubs in their area, local sports and emergency services to share resources.

The Role of an MPO

The role of the MPO is to support members and protect them and the club’s wellbeing, to provide member welfare education and support.

Their primary role includes:

• Provision of confidential support and assistance to other members who wish to raise a concern or grievance, or who have had a grievance lodged against them.
• Provide Triage; act as initial contact for members; their role is to prioritise actions, needs and urgency based on assessed risk, need and grievance/complaint.
• Investigate and manage complaints and moderate mediation conferences or refer such matters to appropriate person.
• Provide support and education around safeguarding children to other members.
• Refer matters to Life Saving Victoria and/or police as outlined in Member Protection Policy

Position Description: LSV MPO Club Position Description V2.0

Complaints Handling

Complaints Handling Policy

GQM-PO-003 V2.0 Member Protection Complaints Handling Policy

Complaints Handling Process

GQM-PR-002 V3.0 Member Protection Complaints Handling Process

Complaints Support Form

Complaint Support Request Form

Upcoming Training Opportunities:

Please see link for a number of upcoming workshop opportunities, these workshops are intended to assist club officers to undertake and be confident in their roles.  Member Welfare Training Opportunities  please refer to the development section.

Safeguarding Children and Young People

“Safeguarding Children and Young People is Everyone’s Business”

This page is an information page and will be maintained on a continuous basis, all latest information and resources for staff, volunteers, clubs and licencees will be found here.

Background

The Victorian Government announced the introduction of compulsory Child Safe Standards for organisations which work with children in Victoria.

The Standards arose from a key recommendation from the landmark Betrayal of Trust Inquiry and support cultural change across organisations in order to ensure that children are protected from abuse and exploitation by staff and volunteers. The scheme builds on existing policies and procedures already in place to improve capacity and consistency across sectors.

The new Standards are planned to apply to organisations in a two-phased approach:

1. Organisations that provide services for children that are government funded and/or regulated (from 1 January 2016)
2. Other organisations that provide services for children (from 1 January 2017)

Life Saving Victoria (LSV) and affiliate clubs are part of Phase 2 and will need to fully comply with the Child Safe Standards from 1 January 2017.

LSV is working with Surf Life Saving Australia and the Australian Childhood Foundation to ensure that LSV and clubs are provided with the resources and training to comply with these standards.

Noting, Victoria is the only state that will be legislatively required to meet these standards by 1 January, 2017.

Complying with the standards will be achieved through the development and implementation of the following key outcomes, which LSV will deliver to Clubs to assist with their implementation over the next period;

Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements

A child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety

A code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children

Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel

Processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse

Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse

Strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children

LSV Commitment Statement

Life Saving Victoria is committed to the Safeguarding of Children and Young People (SCYP) and acknowledges a safeguarding organisation doesn’t just happen; it requires conscious action to protect children from harm.

It is imperative that we provide a safe and supportive environment for children and young people, that focus’ on fun, education and building the confidence of our people through positive learning and development.

LSV’s core values include being open, welcome and inclusive and building stronger and safer communities for everyone. LSV empowers and expects all employees, members, board members, affiliated Clubs, consultants, contractors and licensees, to create and maintain a safe culture for children and young people.

LSV is committed to reducing the risks of abuse and harm to children and young people, and will ensure all staff; members, affiliated Clubs, consultants, contractors and licensees understand and adhere to the SCYP Policy and Procedure, relevant legislation, and statutory requirements.

OUR COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

•We are committed to the safety and well being of all children and young people who access any of our activities, programs, events or services
•We are committed to providing children and young people with positive and nurturing experiences
•We commit to supporting families and communities to promote children and young people’s healthy development and wellbeing
•We will strive to ensure that children and young people are protected and are not exploited, abused or harmed during their involvement with any of our activities, programs, events or services
•We will listen to children and young people and empower them by taking their view seriously and address any concerns that they raise with us

OUR COMMITMENT TO PARENTS AND CARERS

•We are committed to supporting parents and carers to protect their children. We will offer assistance that builds on a family’s strengths and empowers them to meet the changing needs of their children
•We are committed to communicating honestly and openly with parents and carers about the wellbeing and safety of their children
•We will promote and distribute information about this Child Protection Commitment Statement to children and young people and parents/carers as part of an introduction to our services and programs.
•We commit to transparency in our decision-making with parents and carers as long as doing so does not compromise the safety of children and young people or breach any confidentiality obligations
•We will work to create an environment in which children and young people are safe and feel safe in any of our program, activities, and/or events

OUR COMMITMENT TO LSV PEOPLE

•We commit to a management structure that supports and develops staff in their roles
•We commit to providing all LSV people with the necessary support to enable them to fulfil their roles. This will include regular and appropriate development opportunities and supervision.
•We commit to providing regular opportunities to clarify and confirm policy and procedures in relation to children and young people protection and welfare.
•We commit to regular training with regards to understanding the principles and intent of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
•We commit to listen to all concerns voiced by LSV people in regards to keeping children and young people safe from harm.
•We are committed to providing a robust reporting mechanism for all LSV people for any concerns around the safety or well being of children and young people.
•We commit to provide opportunities for LSV people to receive the most appropriate support, which may include formal debriefing and counselling arising from incidents of child and young person abuse.

OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING A CHILD SAFE ORGANISATION

•We are committed to using good practice standards in the recruitment, screening and employment of LSV people, so as we protect from harm, abuse or exploit children and young people who are involved in our events, programs, services or activities.
•We commit to creating an environment for children and young people to be safe and to feel safe in any of our programs, activities or events.

Latest News, Training and Resources;

Upcoming Training Opportunities:

Please see link for a number of upcoming workshop opportunities, these workshops are intended to assist club officers to undertake and be confident in their roles.  Member Welfare Training Opportunities  please refer to the development section

Resources:

• Child Safe Standards
• Creating Safe Environments for Children Handbook
• What is Child Abuse Fact Sheet
• LSV Safeguarding CYP Commitment Statement
• LSV Safeguarding CYP Behavioural Guidelines
• LSV Safeguarding CYP Risk Matrix
• LSV Safeguarding CYP Assessment and Control Tool
• Safeguarding CYP Awareness Online Course User Guide
• LSV Safeguarding CYP Reporting Process
• LSV Safeguarding CYP Report Form
• LSV Safeguarding CYP Media Consent Form
• LSV Safeguarding CYP Travel Consent Form
• LSV Position Description Template
• LSV Safeguarding CYP Poster V1
• LSV Safeguarding CYP Poster V2
• LSV Safeguarding CYP Social Media Poster

Critical Incidents

A critical incident is any situation faced by emergency service personnel that causes unusually strong emotional reactions which have the potential to interfere with their ability to function either at the scene or later. Please refer to the LSV Standard Operating Procedures and the following documents for more information.

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Health and Safety

Sun Safety

SunSmart, SmartPlay, Cancer Council Victoria and the Victorian Government have developed resources to help clubs spread the message of sun and heat safety whilst participating in sport/outdoor activities. Feel free to download the following resources and forward onto your members.