Annual Child Safe and Member Protection Declaration

On 13th July 2022 the Committee of the Pakenham Cricket Club endorsed:

• the Cricket Victoria 2022 Member Protection Policy (MPP); and
• Australian Cricket's Policy for Safeguarding Children and Young People and the Looking After Our Kids Code of Behaviour (Child Safe Policies)

Minutes are attached confirming this endorsement and we hereby declare that our organisation will meet the expectations outlined in the above policies.

This includes the legislated Victorian 11 Child Safe Standards (from 1 July 2022):

1. Establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experience of Aboriginal Children and Young People are respected and valued
2. Embed Child Safety and Wellbeing in organisational leadership, governance and culture
3. Empower Children and Young People so that they know their rights, participate in decision affecting them and are taken seriously
4. Inform and engage families in respect to child safety and wellbeing
5. Ensure that equity and diversity is upheld through our policies and practices
6. Engage volunteers and officials to ensure that they are suitable to work with Children and Young People
7. Handle complaints and concerns promptly, thoroughly and with a child focused approach
8. Educate volunteers, staff (if applicable) and officials - in consultation with Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia - to provide them with the knowledge and skills to keep Children and Young People safe
9. Promote the safety and wellbeing of Children and Young People through physical and online environments
10. Review and Improve our child safe policies, procedures and practices regularly
11. Role model behaviour and actions documented in policies, procedures and practices guiding how our organisation is safe for Children and Young People

To meet the above MPP and Child Safe expectations, the Club will:

1.)  Commit:

• Discuss and sign this declaration as a committee to formally endorse our Child Safe and Member Protection commitments. See minutes attached.
• Promote this declaration widely through the club network eg. adding this signed declaration to our website/social media, sending to our email database, displaying in clubrooms etc.
• Appoint a Child Safety Officer and MPIO (which can, but don't have to be the same person) and promote their details to families/members.

2.)  Implement - Regular discussion occurs and actions are taken to meet the above 11 Child Safe Standards, which may include the suggestions provided in each of the 11 above standards and standalone resources available on Cricket Victoria's website.

3.)  Learn and Embed - Continuously learn to build a welcoming, safe and inclusive culture in our organisation through:

• discussions with Children and Young People, families and adults involved in our organisation;
• education through awareness workshops and resources provided; and
• regular committee and broader reviews or our policies, procedures and practices.