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 

SLSA Member Protection Policy

WWC Check FAQs
Member Policies

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

The Complaints Resolution Policy outlines clear steps for complainants, respondents, and complaint handlers when complaints arise.

The Complaints Resolution Policy can be access via Surf Life Saving Australia website. Members are encouraged to log in to the SLS Members Area, select ‘Document Library’ from the home page menu and select ‘Governance/Policies’ from the categories menu. LSV has adopted the SLSA Complaints Resolution Policy.

All complaints are being handled under this policy. LSV and SLSA are very happy to assist clubs and members with questions that arise out of this policy.

Before lodging a formal complaint under the policy, we encourage you to reach out to your Club’s MPO, LSV on member.protection@lsv.com.au or SLSA on integrity@slsa.asn.au.

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.

Life Saving Victoria will be hosting Member Protection Officer workshop, which intended to assist club officers to undertake and be confident in their roles.  The workshops will be held at Life Saving Victoria and delivered by Morgan Lander.

We strongly encourage Club President’s, Member Protection Officers, Grievance Officers and applicable club committee roles to attend.

Member Protection Officer (MPO) Workshop

Workshop	Date & Duration	Registration
Member Protection Officer Training	Sat 21st November 9am – 12pm	Register Here
	Thurs 10th Dec 6pm – 9pm
Complaints Handling Training	Sun 22nd  November 9am – 12pm
	Thurs 17th Dec 6pm – 9pm
Safer Clubs – Creating a Safeguarding Culture	Sat 21st November 1pm– 2.30pm
	Mon 14th December 7pm – 8.30pm
Safer Clubs – Zero tolerance for Bullying, Sexual Harassment & Discrimination	26th November 7pm – 8.30pm
	3rd December 7pm – 8.30pm

 

PRESENTER: MORGAN LANDER, FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL

Morgan’s passion for protecting the vulnerable is second to none. Whilst undertaking a Bachelor Degree in Applied Science (Leisure & Health) through Sydney University, Morgan worked in disability, aged care and children’s residential facilities including Stewart House and Royal Far West Children’s Hospital on Sydney’s northern beaches. From this experience he developed a keen interest in human rights, risk management and the essential professional standards that are needed when working with vulnerable clientele.

From a young age and throughout his eight year front-line career, he developed and facilitated informative peer learning in a range of risk management areas. This resulted in a transition to Project Officer roles in the NSW public service including within the NSW Sport & Recreation – Child Protection & Employment Screening Unit, NSW Commission for Children & Young People and the Office of the Children’s Guardian.

Since 2006 he has developed and facilitated insightful and engaging adult learning seminars to a diverse range of industries within the human services and volunteer sectors. His delivery style and risk management knowledge are among his key strengths. Morgan has held recurrent contracts with both the NSW Office of Sport and Queensland Government in Member Protection and Complaint Handling facilitation since 2012.

Morgan continues to be an independent representative on the National Reference Group for Play By The Rules, a role that begun in 2006; has assisted the Australian Sports Commission in risk management, complaint handling and member protection since 2011 and is considered to be one of the leading practitioners in this field.

Morgan holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Leisure & Health) and Certificate IV in Training & Assessment.

 

Safeguarding Children and Young People

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

Please click through to the dedicated page for latest information: Safeguarding Children and Young People at LSV

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

Please contact LSVComms for further support.

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.