At the Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association (BPBA), the safety and well-being of all children and young people are our top priorities. We are dedicated to creating an environment where every participant feels safe, supported, and heard.

 

Our Commitment

BPBA fully supports the rights of children and is unwavering in our commitment to maintaining a child-safe environment at all times. We adhere to the Victorian Child Safe Standards, which are designed to protect children from abuse and ensure their voices are empowered within our community.

 

Understanding the Child Safe Standards

The Victorian Child Safe Standards are a set of mandatory requirements aimed at ensuring the safety of children in various organizations, including sporting bodies like ours. These standards encompass:

• Cultural Safety: Establishing an environment that respects and values the diverse identities and experiences of all children, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
• Leadership and Governance: Embedding child safety and well-being into our organizational culture and practices.
• Empowerment and Participation: Ensuring children are informed about their rights and are actively involved in decisions affecting them.
• Family and Community Engagement: Involving families and communities in promoting child safety and well-being.
• Equity and Diversity: Upholding equity and respecting diverse needs in our policies and practices.
• Suitable and Supported Staff: Ensuring all individuals working with children are suitable and supported to reflect child safety values in practice.
• Child-Focused Complaints Processes: Implementing processes for complaints and concerns that are child-focused.
• Education and Training: Equipping staff and volunteers with the knowledge and skills to keep children safe.
• Safe Physical and Online Environments: Promoting safety and well-being while minimizing opportunities for harm.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly reviewing and improving our child safety practices.
• Documented Policies and Procedures: Clearly documenting how our organization is safe for children.

 

Our Actions

To uphold these standards, BPBA has implemented the following measures:

• Child Safe Policy: BPBA have adopted the Basketball Victoria Child Safety Policy. A comprehensive policy outlining our commitment to child safety and the procedures we follow to protect children.
• Code of Conduct: A clear set of guidelines for appropriate behavior, ensuring all interactions with children are respectful and safe.
• Child Safety Officer: A designated individual responsible for overseeing child safety matters and serving as a point of contact for any concerns.
• Training and Education: Ongoing training for all staff and volunteers to ensure they are equipped to uphold our child safety commitments.

 

Reporting Concerns

We encourage anyone with concerns about child safety to come forward. Reports can be made to our Child Safety Officer or through our confidential reporting channels. All concerns are taken seriously and handled with the utmost care and confidentiality.

Resources and Support

The BPBA Child Safety officer is Tyrene Kane and she can be contacted at admin@bpba.org.au

For more information on child safety, please refer to the resources provided by Basketball Victoria.

 

Together, we can ensure that BPBA remains a safe and nurturing environment for all our young athletes.