Written by Amelia Barnes
Whitehorse Netball Association (WNA) in Melbourne’s east is host to over 250 teams across 17 netball clubs, all of which are legally responsible for complying with Victoria's Child Safe Standards.
Eleven Child Safety Standards came into effect in mid-2022, replacing the previous seven standards and principles with new requirements. To manage this transition, Whitehorse Netball Association saw an opportunity for its governance subcommittee (established in 2021) to collaborate with clubs to share ideas, templates, and resources.
“The clubs and WNA governance subcommittee all rely on time-poor volunteers, without whom it would be impossible to operate. There is too much involved to implement the standards for a small number of volunteers to be [solely] responsible,” said Chris Nicholls, deputy chair of the WNA board and chair of the governance subcommittee.
“It makes a lot of sense for WNA and its affiliates to work collaboratively, not only to avoid double up, but also to seek the contribution of many to deliver a better outcome for all.”
The WNA governance subcommittee is made up of four individuals, including two WNA representatives, and two representatives from Hi-Lites and Ignite netball clubs respectively. Official meetings are held monthly, with additional ongoing contact.
To implement the 11 Child Safe Standards in 2022, the governance subcommittee reviewed the changes between the new and old standards; adopted new policies and codes of conduct; implemented a new complaints process; updated risk management procedures; and undertook surveys.
This progress was shared with clubs to be leveraged and adapted as desired.
Nicholls explained, “The implementation of the Child Safe Standards needs to be tailored and aligned with the way each club operates. For example, a primary school-centred club will have different needs and therefore a different approach to aligning to the standards than another club formed by a social group of young adults.
“Clubs still need to be able to manage the Child Safe Standards in a way that makes sense to them.”
The strategy has been successful, with clubs able to draw on the governance subcommittee’s knowledge and reinterpret their approach to suit their own needs.
“I don't see WNA applying a standard way of managing the standards across all clubs ever being able to work in practice. What WNA can do, however, is share with clubs what we are doing to meet the standards for the clubs to adapt and implement in a way that makes sense to them,” said Nicholls.
“WNA can likewise facilitate collaborative conversations between the clubs to share advice and collateral.”
Nicholls recommends the subcommittee structure to other associations wishing to improve child safety and reduce workloads.
He says implementing the standards would not have been possible without tapping into the resources provided by Play by the Rules and Netball Victoria.
“That's why it’s so essential that the committee plays a stronger role in coordinating the combined efforts over a number of volunteers across WNA and clubs, rather than relying on one or two volunteers to be the single point of expertise for all child safety matters across the association,” Nicholls said.
A key 2023 objective for WNA is expanding the governance subcommittee to include more volunteer representatives across its clubs.
“Not only will this bring a diversity of views to the subcommittee, but it will help volunteers build up their own knowledge and capability to support the standards, which they can take back to their own clubs,” said Nicholls.
WNA will continue striving to be the leading community netball association in Victoria with a passion for leading, growing, and inspiring members.
Visit our Child Safeguarding Resource Hub
