What Are The Childsafe Standards?
Child safety in sport means protecting children from abuse, providing safe, quality experiences and empowering children’s voices. The Victorian Government’s Betrayal of Trust report and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse highlighted just how significant an issue child safety is within sport and that action is required now.
Basketball Victoria is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. We support the rights of the child and will act without hesitation to ensure a child safe environment is maintained at all times.
The Victorian Child Safety Standards apply to sporting organisations that operate and provide sporting services to children within Victoria (including National Sporting Organisations). There are several different requirements which make up the standards, and which sports will be required to comply.
The standards relate to child protection within your Association or Club, and include requirements to have practices, procedures and policies in place. Basketball organisations should be reviewing their compliance with the standards, as well as checking if the culture and environment within their organisation is supportive and protective of children.
The following resources from the Social Service Regulator provide further information and details:
The Standards apply to organisations as a whole, not only the areas that work with children. This includes:
- Board of management/committee members
- All paid staff (CEO, Executive, employees)
- All volunteers (coaches, officials, administrators, scorers etc)
- All students on placement
- Any contractors that are engaged.
Basketball Victoria encourages all of its affiliated members to review their culture, processes and practices against the Child Safety Standards and make any changes that are required moving forward. This should be communicated to your affiliate clubs and all members.
Remember: Child safety is not an add-on or one-off exercise. It is a legal requirement that your organisation will need to be compliant with. Having policies and procedures in place is not enough. It’s about creating a culture and environment within sport that is supportive and protective of children.
Child Safeguarding in Basketball
Basketball Victoria has zero tolerance to child abuse in any form.
All children and young people have the right to participate in basketball environments where they feel safe, encouraged, and heard.
Included below are policies and other information that help to inform and guide our members, employees, and volunteers of their Child Safeguarding responsibilities.
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Resources
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Please access Basketball Victoria's Got something to report page via the link below.
Services Victoria
Basketball Victoria held our Working with Children Connect webinar on the 05th of November 2026. A recording of the webinar can be accessed via the link below.
WWC Connect - Webinar Recording
For information regarding Working with Children Check requirements go to: http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
Information on the Reportable Conduct Scheme can be accesed via the link below. The Social Services Regulator oversees the reportable conduct scheme.
Your Child Safety Officer
Your association or club should take steps to ensure that a Child Safety Officer is appointed to look over matters concerning child safety and abuse. All members and staff are expected to discuss any concerns that they may have about the welfare of a child IMMEDIATELY with the nominated Child Safety Officer.
The Club or Association safety officer will be required to report all the incidents noted by them to the appropriate authority at Basketball Victoria who will then ascertain whether or not the person/s involved in the incident play a role in the organisation and act accordingly.
Child Safe Standards Contacts
Phone Number: 03 9837 8025
E-mail: child.safety@basketballvictoria.com.au
