Child Safeguarding Policy

Child-centred safety

Children's safety and wellbeing come before results, convenience or reputation. Children are encouraged to speak up, and we listen and act when they do. We take account of the needs of children with disability, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and children who may be more vulnerable.

Physical and emotional safety

• •Age-appropriate sessions, appropriate loads and safe equipment.
• •Safe, supervised venues with clear arrival and pick-up expectations.
• •Coaching that builds confidence rather than fear.
• •Children are never singled out for humiliation or punished physically.

Zero tolerance

We have zero tolerance for abuse of any kind, including physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse, neglect, grooming, bullying, harassment, discrimination, humiliation and retaliation against anyone who raises a concern.

Codes of behaviour

All adults involved with FC Gold Coast must follow our Code of Conduct. Breaches are treated seriously and handled through a fair process with proportionate consequences, up to and including removal from our programs.

Recruitment and screening

We check identity, references and relevant experience before approving anyone to work with children. Coaches and staff must satisfy applicable Blue Card or Working With Children requirements before undertaking relevant duties. We do not claim that every current or future person already holds a particular credential; approval is required first.

Supervision and adult-child boundaries

• •Adults maintain professional boundaries with children at all times.
• •Physical contact is limited to what is necessary for coaching, safety or first aid, and is done openly.
• •Adults do not give gifts, money or special favours to individual children.
• •Adults do not socialise privately with players outside FC Gold Coast activities.

One-to-one and private training

• •Private sessions take place in open, visible settings.
• •Parents and guardians are welcome to observe.
• •Sessions are scheduled through FC Gold Coast, not privately arranged between a coach and a family.
• •Where a session must occur out of sight of others, another adult should be present or nearby.

Change rooms, transport and electronic communication

• •Adults do not enter change rooms or toilets used by children alone with a child, except where necessary for safety or where a child needs assistance, and then openly.
• •Coaches and staff do not transport a child alone unless there is an emergency or written guardian consent.
• •Communication with players is through the FC Hub or a guardian, not private direct messages, personal social media or private phone numbers.

Photography and video

Photography and video are governed by our Media, Photography and Video Consent Policy. Consent is opt-in by category, personal devices are not used to photograph children for personal purposes, and we avoid pairing a child's name with location or schedule details.

Online safety in the FC Hub

The FC Hub is private. Family information is visible only to that family's linked guardians and to staff who need it for their role. Coaches see only the players relevant to their assigned sessions. Development notes are written constructively and are never published.

Responding to disclosures

• •Listen calmly and take the child seriously.
• •Do not investigate, interrogate or promise secrecy.
• •Ensure the child is safe and reassure them they were right to speak up.
• •Record what was said as soon as possible, in the child's words.
• •Report immediately to the FC Gold Coast safeguarding contact.

Reporting and escalation

• •If a child is in immediate danger, call 000.
• •Concerns about a child's safety: email safeguarding@fcgoldcoast.com.
• •Where a matter must be reported to police or a child protection authority under applicable laws, we report it and cooperate with that authority.
• •Reporting internally does not prevent anyone from contacting police or a child protection authority directly at any time.

Records and confidentiality

Safeguarding records are kept securely and shared only with those who need them, or where disclosure is required by law. Confidentiality is maintained as far as possible while keeping the child safe.

Complaints and no retaliation

Anyone can raise a concern without fear of retaliation. Retaliation against a person who raises a concern in good faith is itself a serious breach of this policy.

Policy review

We review this policy regularly and as guidance changes, including Queensland child safety guidance for sport and, for any future NSW activity, the NSW Child Safe Standards. We are not affiliated with any governing body.