SAERA

South Australian Endurance Riders Association

PROTECTION POLICY

 

South Australian Endurance Riders Association

Member Protection Policy

POLICY STATEMENT

The South Australian Endurance Riders Association (SAERA) is committed to providing an environment that is safe for all participants.

This policy conveys a message about minimising the risk of exposure to all members responsible for managing and participating in activities/events involving vulnerable persons, especially those under 18 years of age.  This also applies to all members, but in particular to children and other vulnerable persons.

SAERA will not tolerate a criminal act of child sexual mistreatment, which occurs when a child (defined as a person under the age of 18 years) has been exposed or subjected to sexual behaviours or acts which are exploitive and/or inappropriate to his or her developmental level.  Such behaviour involves a wide range of sexual activities which exploit children and includes forcing, tricking, bribing, threatening or pressuring a child into sexual activity. 

The abuse of children and other vulnerable persons, by other members or external sources, is not acceptable and SAERA encourages all incidents of such abuse as described above to be reported immediately to the appropriate authorities.

 This policy applies to:

  • Members of SAERA                                
  • Volunteers
  • Officials
  • Spectators
  • Parents
  • Young people
  • External persons

SAFEGUARDS

The safeguards below apply to those members or non members who undertake the delivery of activities or provide supervision of children/young people and other vulnerable persons.

 SAERA requires that persons must adopt the following risk minimisation measures to protect themselves from any misconceptions about their behaviour while engaged in their designated roles.

1. Do not engage, or allow others to engage, in any of the following:

  • abusive ceremonies
  • sleeping in closed quarters with children/young people without a second adult
  • sleeping opposite genders together
  • aggressive, physically distressing or sexually provocative activities
  • sexually suggestive comments about or to a child/young person
  • inappropriate or intrusive touching of a child/young person

2. be inclusive of others when carrying out any activities

3. invite other members or adults when transporting children/young people

Rights of the State Management Committee

  • expect persons to comply with its policies and AERA Code of Conduct
  • expect all members to maintain standards of reasonable behaviour

  • 4. encourage male and female adults or parents to accompany children/young people when undertaking activities away from home and especially overnight

     Rights of Members, Volunteers, Officials, Parents, Young people

    All those listed above have the right to:

    • be safe
    • be listened to
    • be respected
    • maintain their privacy;
    • be protected from abuse by other members or outside sources
    • support in the reporting of suspected abuse

    take appropriate action if there is a breach of the Code of Conduct or organisation’s policy

  • expect all persons not to abuse others physically, emotionally or sexually
  • take appropriate action in the event of accusations
  • acquire police checks relating to prior criminal convictions

 Role of the State Management Committee

The state management committee is responsible for:

  • ensuring policy is in place to protect members
  • providing a safe environment
  • providing training and information
  • facilitating open discussion on child protection issues
  • providing support to persons who report accusations of abuse
  • treating suspected abuse information confidentially
  • reporting any suspected abuse
  • taking appropriate action if persons breach standards of reasonable behaviour or policies .

 The role of members, volunteers, officials, spectators, parents and external persons

Members, volunteers, officials, spectators, parents, external persons are responsible for:

  • ensuring the safety of children/young people in their care
  • using appropriate behaviour
  • responding to children’s/young peoples statements and concerns about alleged abuse
  • reporting suspected abuse to the appropriate authority
  • not abusing children/young people physically, emotionally or sexually;
  • maintaining confidentiality about sensitive information as designated by the appropriate authority

 The role of children/young people:

Children/ young people are responsible for:

  • showing respect to both other children/young people and adults
  • following instructions
  • using appropriate behaviour
  • keeping themselves and others safe
  • reporting inappropriate behaviour or risky situations for youth members

Review every 2 years

Endorsed:- date                                 Draft March 2007

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