Evolve All Stars- Child Safe Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct outlines appropriate standards of behaviour by adults towards children. Evolve All Stars commitment to child safety should be acknowledged before signing this code of conduct.

The Code of Conduct aims to protect children and reduce any opportunities for abuse or harm to occur. It also helps staff and volunteers by providing them with guidance on how to best support children and how to avoid or better manage difficult situations. This Code of Conduct applies to all people involved in Evolve All Stars activities, including staff, coaches, officials, volunteers, and parents.

All Star Cheerleading and Dance can be highly competitive, so having behavioural standards to manage the risks to children is important. This Code of Conduct identifies positive child safe behaviours that we ask staff to demonstrate. It also identifies behaviours that we consider unacceptable and not permitted at our organisation.

Not following standards of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour is a breach of this Code of Conduct and may result in disciplinary action. Some behaviours on their own may not be a serious breach of the Code of Conduct but together may indicate a concerning pattern of behaviour that poses a risk to the safety of children. Our disciplinary policy provides further information on processes that will be followed if breaches are identified.

Evolve All Stars Staff must always follow these standards of behaviour, including when at the Evolve All Stars facility, attending a competition, in any online classes and when engaging with Evolve All Stars athletes and their families at any time.

I WILL:

• adhere to our Child Safe Policy, this Code of Conduct and other Evolve All Stars policies
• take all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse
• take disclosures of harm or abuse made by a child seriously
• raise concerns with management if risks to child safety are identified. Report and act on any concerns or observed breaches of this Code of Conduct
• participate in all compulsory training and professional development including training on child safety and wellbeing
• treat everyone with respect regardless of race, sex gender, identity, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, nationality or cultural background, financial situation disability or other characteristics, including listening to and valuing their ideas and opinions
• consider the different needs of all children Evolve All Stars, support them to participate fully in programs and help them and their families feel included
• make Aboriginal children and families feel included and welcome at Evolve All Stars and support Aboriginal children to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights
• never be racist towards anyone at Evolve All Stars and report any instances of racism I become aware of
• help Evolve All Stars be a place where people of all cultures feel safe and included
• listen to children and respond to them if they feel unsafe
• value children and young people’s ideas and opinions
• promote friendships and encourage children and young people to support their peers
• involve children and young people in decisions about the activities they participate in Evolve All Stars and welcome the participation of parents and carers in these decisions
• report any conflicts of interest I have (such as an outside relationship with a child) that may affect my ability to perform my role
• respect the privacy of children and their families, including keeping all personal information confidential unless required by law to share it
• inform parents and carers if there are situations that need to be safely managed but are outside the boundaries of this Code of Conduct (such as driving a child to a competition)
• ensure breaches of this Code are reported to our Child Safety Person immediately
• comply with all relevant Australian and Victorian legislation and our child safe policies and procedures
• uphold the rights of the child and always prioritise their needs.
• comply with our guidelines on physical contact with children

I WILL NOT:

• condone or participate in illegal, unsafe, abusive or harmful behaviour towards children – this includes physical violence, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, grooming, neglect or sexual misconduct
• ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse or harm
• exaggerate or trivialise child abuse issues
• use hurtful or offensive behaviour or language with children
• fail to report information to police if I know a child has been abused
• touch children in a way that is unnecessary or unsuitable and falls outside what is reasonable to teach cheerleading/dance or otherwise engage in the activities of Evolve All Stars
• persistently criticise and/or denigrate a child
• deliberately prevent a child from forming friendships
• verbally assault a child or create a climate of fear
• offer children and young people alcohol, cigarettes or other drugs
• show children pornographic images
• share details of sexual experiences with a child
• use sexual language or gestures in the presence of children
• initiate unnecessary physical contact with children or do things of a personal nature that children can do for themselves such as changing clothes
• develop ‘special’ relationships with specific children or show favouritism through the provision of gifts or unnecessary or unsuitable attention
• have unauthorised contact with children and young people online, on social media or by phone
• take photographs, screenshots or share images of children involved in activities that are not authorised by Evolve All Stars
• be alone with a child when there is no professional reason for doing so
• engage in babysitting, mentoring and/or tutoring a child out of work hours (without managerial approval for this kind of secondary employment)
• enter changing facilities without first knocking.

If I suspect that this Code of Conduct has been breached by another person in the organisation:

I WILL:

• act to prioritise the best interests of the child or children
• promptly take actions to ensure the child or children are safe
• as soon as possible report the incident or concerns using the Evolve All Stars complaints process
• maintain the privacy of those involved, following Evolve All Stars record keeping, privacy and information sharing guidelines.

Complaints about a breach of this Code of Conduct must be reported to our Child Safety Person, Ascha Boag. Ascha can be conducted on her mobile: 0403570412, or via her email: ascha@evolveallstars.com.au

Some breaches of this Code of Conduct may need to be reported to the Victorian Police, or to the Commission for Children and Young People. Our Complaint Handling Policy provides more information about our reporting obligations to external authorities as well as describing protections and confidentiality provisions for anyone making a report. The policy can be found by asking at the front desk.

Staff and volunteers who breach our Code of Conduct may also be subject to disciplinary action. This can include increased supervision, appointment to an alternative role, suspension or termination from the organisation. Detailed descriptions of breaches are found in our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy. This can be found by asking at the front desk.

PLEASE NOTE:

If any person in a position of authority within our organisation becomes aware of a substantial risk that a child may become the victim of a sexual offence committed by an adult associated with the organisation (for example, an employee, contractor or volunteer), and they have the power or responsibility to reduce or remove the risk, then they must take all reasonable steps to do so. A person in authority who negligently fails to take appropriate action to address the risk may be charged with the criminal offence of ‘failing to protect’ and may face a term of imprisonment.

If an adult reasonably believes a sexual offence has been committed by an adult against a child under the age of 16, they must report it to Victoria Police by calling 000 or going to their local police station. Failure to disclose the information may be a criminal offence.