The Children and Young People Safe Practices exist to identify and prevent behaviour that may be harmful to children and young people participating in sport. The Practices are defined in our Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, so compliance with them is compulsory (as well as being a vital step in protecting children in sailing).

In this series of articles, we'll look at some of the Practices and give some practical tips on implementing the Practices around your club. All of these tips come from the Children and Young People Safe Practices Do's & Don'ts booklet published by Sport Integrity Australia.

This article focuses on transporting children and young people. In this case, the message is simple: except in an emergency, do not transport children or young people without prior written approval from their parent or carer.

Do

Always seek written approval from the child or young person’s parent/carer before travel. This approval must include information about the proposed journey, including the: 

• • form of transport to be used
  • reason for the journey
  • route to be followed, including any stops or side trips
  • details of anyone who will be present during the journey.
• Make sure the child or young person sits in the back seat, appropriately secured.
• Drive responsibly, ensure you are not impaired by alcohol or any other mind-altering substances and have an unrestricted drivers’ license
• Ensure, to the extent possible, you are not alone in the car with a child or young person.

Don’t

• Transport children or young people in your sport if not necessary.
• Allow other unauthorised adults to travel with you (for example, stopping to pick up a friend on the way to the game you are taking your players to).
• Make any unnecessary or unplanned stops during the journey.
• Allow a child or young person to sit in the front seat.
• Take children or young people to your home.

The Child and Young Person Safe Practices are a helpful set of practical guidelines to help keep everyone safe.

To read the Children and Young People Safe Practices Do's & Don'ts booklet, click here.
If you need to report a breach of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, click here.
If you have any questions about Safeguarding, contact your local Club Support team.

By Michael Arnold, National Officiating and Integrity Lead.