How to Choose a Child-Safe Boardrider Club: 9 Must-Ask Questions  

Are you keen to get your little frother signed up to a local boardrider club? Participation can be an epic way for them to meet other groms, gain confidence in the sea and on the sand, and hone their surfing skills.  

There are many things to consider when selecting a club, such as cost, location, equipment, etc. But what about ensuring the club fosters a safe, fun, fair and inclusive environment for children and young people? 

Here are 9 questions you should be asking so you know if it’s the right fit for you:  

1: Does the club have a Safeguarding Children & Young People policy?  
Sporting clubs should have a Safeguarding Children and Young People policy accessible to all members that clearly outlines the standards of expected and unacceptable behaviours for everyone involved in the club. It should also outline the procedure for dealing with unacceptable behaviours, including the reporting of suspected child abuse to the appropriate authorities.  

Surfing Australia-affiliated clubs are signed up to Sport Integrity Australia’s National Integrity Framework. This is a suite of five policies that includes Safeguarding Children and Young People.  

2: Does the club have other policies and practices in place to protect children and young people? These should include, but are not limited to: 

• Complaints procedure 
• Photography & filming guidelines 
• Social media policy 
• Code of Conduct 

3: Does the club provide information to children and young people on their rights to be safe and feel safe? 
A club should provide child/young person-friendly information on how they should be treated and how to speak up if they feel unsafe.  
 
4: Does the club have a designated Child Safe Officer, Integrity Manager? 
Every club should have a designated person who’s available to listen to your concerns and to provide information on how the concern may be addressed. Each club may have a different name for this role, but it could be: Child Safe Officer, Integrity Manager, Welfare Officer, Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO).  
 

5: How does the club communicate with children and young people? 
If the club wishes to communicate with a child or young person electronically or online, the club’s procedure should ensure that at least one other adult is included in that communication, and a parent/carer must be included if it relates to the health or wellbeing or decision making of the child or young person. No adult at the club should be communicating one-on-one with a child or young person, including DMs or chats. 

6: How are volunteers (or staff) recruited? 
The club should conduct interviews and reference checks prior to appointing those to work with children and young people. Where required by relevant state or territory laws, staff/volunteers should have a valid Working With Children Check prior to being appointed to a child-related role.  
 

7: Who will be supervising the child or young person? 
If the club is responsible for supervision (think: away camps, training sessions, etc), it’s important to be informed about the number of people supervising. This should identify that no staff/volunteer are left alone with a child/young person without another adult present, and that children/young people can always be seen. 

 8: Does the club ask for signed parent/carer consent and emergency details? 
As part of registration, you should be asked to provide key emergency contact and any key medical information.  

9: What happens if there’s an injury?  
The club should have first-aid provisions in place to keep members safe in the event of an emergency, such as a person qualified to administer first-aid, a first-aid kit, a procedure for responding to and reporting injuries, and ideally insurance coverage for participants.  

Additional Resources 

Resources | Sport Integrity Australia  

National Principles for Child Safe Organisations: Guide for Parents and Carers (humanrights.gov.au) 

Links & Resources (humanrights.gov.au)