The Safe Sport Framework (SSF) was our guiding document to keep all members safe, particularly children and young people. On June 15th, 2022, the National Integrity Framework (NIF) was introduced. Any new complaints or issues will now be dealt with under the NIF. Any old or existing/ongoing complaints will still be dealt with under the SSF. Eventually we will phase out the SSF completely.
The safety of children and young people in our sport is paramount. We want swimming to be fun, enjoyable and safe for all. All of us in the Australian swimming community have a role to play in ensuring that we keep our proud sport as safe and enjoyable as possible. The Safe Sport Framework (SSF) confirms the shared responsibility we all have for keeping each other safe in swimming – children and adults alike.
In 2020, Swimming Australia’s SSF was updated and became effective from 3 August 2020. These documents replace all previous versions of the SSF, and child and member welfare policies and procedures, and are binding on all of Swimming Australia’s Member Organisations and their members.
The SSF consists of two documents:
- Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy (matters or complaints concerning the safety and wellbeing of children or young people in swimming must be considered under this policy) and
- Member Protection Policy (this concerns matters relating to such things as discrimination, harassment, bullying, victimisation and abuse).
The documents have also been updated to include clearer and more defined definitions and an updated complaint procedure at the end of each document for ease of reference.
All the resources referred to in the document are available on the Swimming Australia website and are highlighted in the document to allow people to easily click through to the relevant resource.
Swimming Australia and its Member Organisations remain fully committed to the protection of children, young people and our members in our sport and encourages all clubs and members throughout Australia to familiarise themselves with these documents, and to raise the issue of child safety to everyone involved in swimming clubs. Click here to read the Commitment Statement.
To learn more about the Safe Sport Framework, view the following presentation delivered by Lydia Dowse, Head of Integrity and Risk, Swimming Australia at the SNSW Clubs Forum 2020.
You can also view Lydia’s presentation slides.
We recommend all members undertake this free, 30min Safe Sport online course created by Swimming Australia with the University of Victoria. Enrol here.
Call Swimming Australia immediately (Head of Integrity & Risk, Lydia Dowse) if you have any child protection concerns.
Email: integrity@swimming.org.au or lydia.dowse@swimming.org.au
Phone: 03 9910 0723
Mobile: 0417 993 846
Other relevant contacts for making a complaint to an authority outside Swimming Australia are:
AIS: https://www.ais.gov.au/AISBe-Heard
Or Sport Integrity Australia: https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/contact-us
For more information on the Safe Sport Framework, please visit the Swimming Australia website.