MEMBER PROTECTION AND CHILD SAFETY
The SLSA Member Protection Policy aims to assist us to uphold our organisation’s core values and create a safe, fair and inclusive environment for everyone associated with our organisation. It sets out our commitment to ensure that every person involved in our organisation is treated with respect and dignity and protected from bullying, discrimination, harassment and abuse. It also ensures that everyone involved in our organisation is aware of their legal and ethical rights and responsibilities, as well as the standards of behaviour expected of them.
In conjunction with the SLSA Member Protection Policy, the SLSA Child Safe Policy aims to assist us to strive for the highest possible standards with respect to keeping children and young people safe from abuse and neglect. It has been developed to assist us to identify and prevent behaviour that may be harmful to children and young people, inclusive of those from all backgrounds and vulnerable groups.
These policies describes the practical steps we will take to eliminate bullying, discrimination, harassment, child abuse and other forms of inappropriate behaviour from our activities.
Please ensure you are familiar with the SLSA Member Protection Policy and the SLSA Child Safe Policy, , including the Member Code of Conduct.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A DISPUTE WITH ANOTHER MEMBER / CLUB
The SLSA Complaint Resolution Policy seeks to provide clear processes for disciplinary matters and complaints. Everyone involved in surf lifesaving is encouraged to voice concerns that they may have at any point regarding the safety, health, welfare, behaviour or conduct of Members and associated persons or organisations.
For Child Safe Matters, please proceed immediately to the SLSA Reporting System and follow the directions relating to your complaint.
For all other matters follow the SLSA Complaints and Grievance Flowchart, and before you lodge a formal complaint you should:
- attempt to speak to and resolve your grievance with the person your complaint relates to; and
- discuss your grievance with our Member Protection Information Officer.
If you wish to lodge a formal complaint once you have taken these steps, please proceed to the SLSA Reporting System and follow the directions relating to your complaint.
WHO TO CONTACT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MEMBER PROTECTION
Please contact the Club Grievance Officer if you would like more information about how the SLSA Member Protection Policy, SLSA Child Safe Policy or SLSA Complaint Resolution Policy are being implemented by the Club.
If you don’t want to lodge a formal complaint but would like ideas about how to resolve your grievance, please consider the following ways of “Putting Things Right”:
- Have you talked to the person and explained how you feel? Sometimes your team members may not be aware of the way you are feeling. Respectfully communicating with the person involved, telling them how you feel and asking for what you want in a calm considered manner, gives you both the best chance of achieving a positive outcome.
- Have you tried to find a way to manage your own expectations about the outcome of a situation? The Club is made up of many individuals from very diverse backgrounds, so having empathy and compassion for others’ uniqueness is very helpful.
- Is a decision you don’t agree with based on a policy or procedure of which the person delivering the message may not have control over? Maybe you need to talk the issue through with a different member of the Club and as a result you may gain a better understanding of why things are the way they are.
- Are there outside influences that may be playing a part in how you feel? It is very human to let emotions build up and come out all at once in unrelated situations. Calmly and respectfully communicating with people involved, saying how you feel, and asking for what you want in a respectful manner gives you the best chance of getting what you want.
