Choosing a Child-Safe Surf School or Surf Coach: 7 Questions Every Parent/Carer Should Ask

Australia’s surf school scene is thriving, helping people of all ages and backgrounds find their surf stoke for happier, healthier communities. From our iconic beaches to the wave pools popping up across the country, families have a sea of surf schools and coaches to select from.

Surf Schools and coaches who affiliate and gain accreditation through Surfing Australia are bound by our National Integrity Framework. This Framework is a suite of five policies that underpin our commitment to keeping surfing safe, fun, fair and inclusive. Our highest priority is safeguarding children and young people. This commitment is shared across our entire surfing community. When choosing a surf school or coach for your young frother, there are several important factors to consider. Here are seven key questions to help you select a child-safe surf school or coach.

Does the surf school or surf coach have:

• Surf schools, private performance coaches and coaches affiliated with or accredited through Surfing Australia must comply with our Safeguarding Children and Young People policy and are supported by a suite of child-safe best-practice resources.
• Surfing Australia’s coaching credentials require completion of Sport Integrity Australia’s Safeguarding Children and Young People course.
• Affiliated surf schools must ensure all coaches hold Surfing Australia accreditation and hold a valid Working With Children Check (or state equivalent).
• Surfing Australia and its State Bodies regularly audit affiliated surf schools to ensure child-safe practices are in place.

1: A SAFEGUARDING POLICY AND CHILD-SAFE PRACTICES?

2: CLEAR PROCESSES FOR TRANSPORTING U18 PARTICIPANTS?

• Except in an emergency, written approval from the child’s/young person’s parent or carer is required if a lesson includes travel. This should clearly outline:
  • The form of transport
  • Reason for the journey (for example, why a specific surf location is selected)
  • The exact route to be followed
  • Details of other adults present on the journey
• The surf school/coach should ensure that:
  • Wherever possible, a coach is not alone in a vehicle with a child/young person. If unavoidable, the child/young person sits in the back seat.
  • No unauthorised adults are present in the vehicle.
  • No unplanned stops are made.
• For one-on-one coaching sessions, parents or carers are encouraged to attend, or to drop off and collect their child/young person directly from the session location, to avoid unsupervised situations.

3: STRICT PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES?

• Surf coaches should NOT:
  • Change in the same changeroom or area as a child/young person.
  • Use coaching techniques involving unnecessary physical contact.
  • Leave a child/young person alone unsupervised during a coaching session.
  • Hug an under-18 participant. High-fives all round.
  • Communicate directly with the child/young person electronically without including the parent/carer.

4: SAFEGUARDING PRACTICES TO TAKE PHOTOS/VIDEO?

If photography or videography is used during lessons or training, the surf school or coach should:

• Obtain written or otherwise trackable consent from the child/young person’s parent/carer.
• Clearly explain where images or footage will be used, whether for coaching purposes or marketing, such as for social media, posters, SurfGroms promotion.
• Ensure children and young people are appropriately dressed and posed, including when others appear in the background. 
• Wherever possible, use an official surf school device or the parent/carer’s device.
• Maintain a secure storage system that prevents unauthorised access and ensures images are deleted when no longer required.

5: WELCOME PARENT/CARER INVOLVEMENT?

Coaches should welcome parents/carers of under-18 participants to observe surf lessons and training sessions, while clearly communicating appropriate expectations for ‘from-the-shoreline’ behaviour.

6: A ROBUST RECRUITMENT, SCREENING AND TRAINING PROCESS?

A valid Working Children Check is only one part of a comprehensive safeguarding approach. Appendix 2 of Surfing Australia’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy outlines recommended best-practice recruitment and vetting processes.

7: A CLEAR AND ACCESSIBLE COMPLAINTS PATHWAY?

Surfing Australia has a defined complaints, disputes and disciplinary process. Parents and carers can visit our Lodge a Complaint page for more information or contact our National Integrity Manager on: integrity@surfingaustralia.com. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and speak up.

Search for a Surfing Australia-affiliated surf school in your area.

Child safeguarding resources, fact sheets & webinars:

Surfing Australia and Sport Integrity Australia provide a wide range of resources to support a safe surfing environment for children and young people.

• Safeguarding Children and Young People policy fact sheet
• Surfing Australia’s Integrity page and Integrity blog hub
• Children and Young People Safe Practices Do’s & Don’ts booklet
• Sport Integrity Australia Webinar: Understanding Grooming in Sport
• Day Trips & Competitions Checklist
• How Your Sport Looks After You (for ages 7 to 12)
• How Your Sport Looks After Your (for ages 13 to 17)
• Sport is for EveryBODY: Factsheet for parents/carers
• Free online courses at Sport Integrity Australia: elearning, including Safeguarding Children & Young People in Sport.
• See Bravehearts for information on grooming, child sex abuse and more.

Surfing Australia National Integrity Manager: integrity@surfingaustralia.com.