Momentum Triathlon Academy
Child Safe Policy

Approved by: Committee | Review cycle: Annual | Last updated: 09 September 2025

1. Purpose

Momentum Triathlon Academy (MTA) is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in our programs. This policy aligns our club with Victoria’s 11 Child Safe Standards (effective 1 July 2022) and the AusTriathlon/Sport Integrity Australia National Integrity Framework (NIF).

2. Scope

This policy applies to all MTA activities and environments—training, competitions, travel, online platforms and social media—and to all coaches, officials, volunteers, committee members, contractors, parents/guardians and athletes under 18.

3. Definitions

  • Child/young person: a person under 18 years of age.

  • Child abuse: any act that harms, endangers or is likely to harm a child’s health, safety, development or wellbeing (including physical, sexual, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to family violence).

  • Child-related work: work that involves children and is a usual part of the role (paid or volunteer).

  • CSO: Child Safety Officer appointed by MTA to be a contact point and steward of this policy.

4. Our Commitments (Victoria’s 11 Child Safe Standards)

MTA implements the following measures to comply with the 11 Standards. A detailed mapping is in Appendix A.

  1. Leadership, governance and culture that prioritise child safety (Committee oversight, CSO appointments, policies and codes).

  2. Children and young people are empowered and their voices are heard (age‑appropriate information, feedback channels).

  3. Family and community involvement (decision‑making input, accessible information).

  4. Equity, inclusion and cultural safety (including Aboriginal cultural safety, disability inclusion, CALD and LGBTIQ+ young people).

  5. Child-focused complaints and concerns process that is easy to find and use.

  6. People working with children are suitable and supported (screening, induction, supervision and performance).

  7. Ongoing child-safe training and education for all roles.

  8. Physical and online environments promote safety and reduce opportunities for harm.

  9. Review and continuous improvement with documented risk management.

  10. Policies and procedures are documented, easy to understand and accessible (including for children).

  11. Cultural safety and inclusion for Aboriginal children and young people.

5. Roles and Responsibilities

  • Committee: approves policy; reviews annual CSS report; monitors incidents and training completion; ensures resourcing.

  • Child Safety Officers (two, different genders where possible): first contact; advise on reporting; maintain registers; coordinate training; oversee risk assessments.

  • Coaches/Team Managers/Officials: uphold Code of Conduct; use approved communication channels; complete screening and training; supervise appropriately.

  • Parents/Guardians: support safety rules; use reporting options; provide consents and accurate contact/medical information.

  • All adults: must report suspected child abuse to Police where required and to CSOs; cooperate with investigations; protect whistleblowers.

6. Code of Conduct

MTA’s Code of Conduct applies in person and online. It prohibits grooming, bullying, harassment, discrimination, and any one‑to‑one unsupervised contact. Adults model positive behaviours, respect boundaries and follow the ‘rule of two’.

7. Recruitment, Screening and Supervision

  • Working with Children Check (WWCC): required for all coaches, team managers, chaperones, committee and regular volunteers (or VIT teacher registration). Verified before engagement; re‑verified annually; records kept.

  • Recruitment: role descriptions include child‑safety responsibilities; applications require referees; interviews test child‑safe attitudes.

  • Supervision: appropriate ratios; gender‑appropriate supervision for change rooms and travel; rotating duties to avoid one‑to‑one situations.

8. Training and Education

  • Mandatory onboarding: Safeguarding Children in Sport induction (SIA/Play by the Rules) before first activity.

  • Annual refreshers for all; role‑specific modules for selectors, photographers, team managers and social media admins.

  • Training register maintained by CSOs; Committee reviews completion rates.

9. Risk Management

  • Documented risk assessments for: change rooms; transport; away trips/billeting; open‑water sessions; road rides/runs; medical/physio treatments; photography/video; and the use of online tools.

  • Controls include: two‑adult rule; screened chaperones; room allocations; no adult/child shared accommodation; photo consent lists; approved apps; emergency and missing‑child procedures.

10. Online and Digital Safety

  • Approved channels only (e.g., Team App/club‑approved tools).

  • No one‑to‑one direct messaging with a child; add a parent/guardian or second adult (rule of two).

  • No private video calls or screen sharing with a child.

  • Image use follows signed consent; no tagging of children’s personal accounts without prior permission; promptly remove upon request.

  • Respond to cyberbullying or image‑based abuse using eSafety pathways and this policy’s reporting steps.

11. Reporting and Responding

  1. Immediate danger: call 000.

  2. Criminal conduct or suspected child sexual abuse: report to Victoria Police (legal duty ‘failure to disclose’ may apply).

  3. Substantial organisational risk: persons in authority must act (‘failure to protect’).

  4. Integrity matters under the National Integrity Framework (safeguarding or discrimination in triathlon): contact Sport Integrity Australia – Safe Sport Hotline 1800 161 361 or online reporting.

  5. Internal: notify a CSO as soon as practicable; complete an incident form within 24 hours; preserve evidence; do not promise confidentiality; support the child; keep records for 7 years; protect whistleblowers.

  6. Not sure? Seek advice from Police (if potentially criminal) or SIA; err on the side of child safety.

12. Privacy and Recordkeeping

  • Records are confidential, accurate, and stored securely; access is limited to those who need to know.

  • Retention: incident and reportable-conduct records kept for at least 7 years or longer if required by law or insurers.

13. Inclusion and Cultural Safety

We commit to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and young people and to equity and accessibility for children with disability, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQ+ young people, and girls/young women. We consult families and communities on culturally safe practice.

14. Communication and Accessibility

  • This policy, the Code of Conduct, CSO contacts and reporting options (Police/SIA/club) are published on the website and shared in onboarding packs.

  • Child‑friendly versions are provided for junior members (poster and plain‑language summary).

15. Review

The Committee reviews this policy at least annually and after any incident, legislative change or organisational change. Updates are recorded with version control and communicated to members.

Related Documents

  • MTA Code of Conduct (Adults interacting with Children)

  • Recruitment & WWCC Procedure

  • Incident/Concern Reporting Form

  • Risk Assessment Template

  • Travel and Team Management Procedure

  • Social Media and Online Safety Procedure

Contacts

  • Police (immediate risk): 000

  • Victoria Police assistance (non‑urgent): 131 444

  • Sport Integrity Australia Safe Sport Hotline: 1800 161 361

  • MTA Child Safety Officers: Samantha Janssen - 0447 711 055 - sam@momentumtriathlon.com , Chris White - 0499 447 333 - chris@momentumtriathlon.com 

Appendix A — Mapping to Victoria’s 11 Child Safe Standards

  • Standard 1 — Leadership, governance and culture: Sections 4, 5, 6, 15

  • Standard 2 — Involving children and young people: Sections 4, 14

  • Standard 3 — Involving families and communities: Sections 4, 14

  • Standard 4 — Equity and inclusion: Sections 4, 13

  • Standard 5 — Complaints and concerns: Sections 11, 14

  • Standard 6 — People are suitable: Sections 7, 8

  • Standard 7 — Ongoing education and training: Section 8

  • Standard 8 — Safe physical and online environments: Sections 9, 10

  • Standard 9 — Review and improvement: Section 15

  • Standard 10 — Policies and procedures: Sections 1–15 and Related Documents

  • Standard 11 — Aboriginal cultural safety: Section 13

This appendix maps MTA’s policies and procedures to Victoria’s 11 Child Safe Standards (see CCYP website for full details). Reviewed annually.