Child Safety

YOUR SAFETY IS OUR FIRST CONCERN.

If you are in Australia and a child is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, call your local law enforcement agency or dial triple zero (000).

Badminton Australia  has a zero-tolerance policy to harm, abuse and/or neglect of a Child/Young Person in any form. All Children/Young People have the right to feel safe and protected from all forms of abuse, harm, and neglect. Children/Young People have the right to take part in sport in a safe, positive, and enjoyable environment.

Badminton Australia (BA) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Children/Young People in Badminton by providing a safe and inclusive environment and by ensuring that everyone involved in Badminton is aware of their rights and responsibilities in relation to Children/Young People.

Our Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy is designed to protect children and young people under the age of 18 in sport by putting in place rules and processes to ensure sporting environments are inclusive, positive and safe for all children and young people, all the time.

Prohibited conduct under this policy includes (but is not limited to):

  • Child Abuse
  • Harmful behaviours towards a child/young person including harmful training methods
  • Forcing a child/young person to train while ill or injured
  • Sexual or adult comments to or in the presence of a child/young person
  • Taking inappropriate photos or inappropriately touching a child/young person.
  • Any act affecting a child/young person that would be considered a breach of the Member Protection policy including bullying, harassment, discrimination, victimisation and vilification.
  • Asking a child/young person to keep any communication secret.
  • Supplying alcohol or drugs (including tobacco) to a child/young person.
  • Failing to comply with recruitment and screening requirements.
  • Failing to report a breach of Prohibited Conduct.
  • Being found guilty of Child Abuse or Grooming under state, territory or Commonwealth law.

As well as outlining prohibited conduct the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy outlines mandatory child safe practices in sport, guidelines for child safe recruitment and the process for reporting concerns about the safety of a child.

It is important to note that complaints regarding breaches of this policy should be reported to Sport Integrity Australia. Our National Integrity Manager can also assist with reporting and can be contacted via email integrity@badminton.org.au

Sport Integrity Australia have a significant library of resources to support sporting organisations to keep children and young people safe.

Steps for reporting a child at risk of abuse or neglect

Legislation regarding who must legally report concerns that a child is at risk of harm does differ across Australia, however we want our sport to be a safe place for children and young people.

Annexure A in our Safeguarding Children and Young People policy sets out the steps for responding when you believe a child is at risk. Here we set out the key steps and considerations. The key message is that if you see something, say something.

If a Child/Young Person is at risk of immediate harm, you must ensure their safety by:

  • Calling 000 for medical and/or police assistance to respond to urgent health or safety concerns;
  • Administering first aid, if required:
  • Separating at-risk Child/Young Person and others involved;
  • Identifying an appropriate contact person for any on-going liaison with the Police.

If you suspect, on reasonable grounds* that a Child/Young Person was or is at risk of being abused or neglected, you must report it to the police and/or the relevant state/territory Child protection agency, a list of which can be found here. 

If the alleged Child Abuse is occurring within our sport it should also be reported to Sport Integrity Australia as it may be a breach of our Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy.

*reasonable grounds simply means that if other people had the same information would they also be likely to suspect a child/young person is at risk.

The next step is to contact parents/carers of the child involved but there are some essential things to consider first

-If the police or child protection have been notified regarding concerns a child/young person has been harmed or is at risk of harm from a family member/guardian you MUST seek advice from them BEFORE contacting parents or guardians.

-For all other concerns consider who in the organisation is going to be the best contact person and contact parents/guardians as soon as possible.

-Document all actions and discussions.

All parties involved are likely to need some support (including the child/young person, their family, the reporter, any witnesses and those within the organisation who are involved) Before offering support consider the following:

  • Is support part of your role?
  • If support is outside of the scope of your role consider referrals to support services. A list of free support services is available here:  The National Integrity Manager can also assist with this.
  • Support should include maintaining a calm open manner when listening to any allegations and disclosures, while avoiding seeking detailed information or asking leading questions.
  • Information regarding allegations of Abuse need to be well documented and shared with the National Integrity Manager or Sport Integrity Australia.
  • Ensure you are supported. Managing cases involving possible harm to children can be distressing.