Child Safe and Member Protection

CRICKet victoria’s new integrity policies

Cricket Victoria has recently made changes to improve its reporting and complaint procedures related to alleged non-match day misconduct between adults, as well as in relation to children and young people.

Key Points Summary for Clubs/Associations/Centres:

From 27 August 2024, key changes include:

1. Child safe and Serious Criminal Conduct matters will be referred to CV, who will determine which cricket organisation is best to deal with the matter;
2. Member Protection matters will be dealt with by the most appropriate organisation closest to the alleged breach; and
3. Additional resolution pathways are available for all matters, including warnings, breach notices and investigations, in addition to tribunals and mediation.

To ensure that you are covered by the policies and processes, all association, club and indoor cricket centre Presidents or Secretaries need to complete the declaration form linked HERE after endorsement by your committees of the following new Victorian cricket policies:

1. 2024 Member Protection Policy; and
2. 2024 Complaints and Resolution Policy, as well as

re-endorsing Australian Cricket’s Child Safeguarding Framework policies:

1. Commitment Statement;
2. Looking after our Kids Code of Behaviour; and
3. Policy for Safeguarding Children and Young People.

The declaration form asks you to provide details of your Child Safe Officer and a Complaints Manager (who may be the same person, but should not be the President or equivalent).

It also asks to you confirm where you have linked the new policies on your website and/or social media pages to promote them. To do so, please copy this link to the Cricket Victoria Child Safeguarding and Member Protection page. Copying this link will mean that you don’t need to take further action when the Australian Cricket Child Safe policies are updated over the coming months.

A more detailed explanation of the changes is provided in the CV Integrity Changes Explanatory Document.

CRICKET VICTORIA COMMITMENT STATEMENT

As part of our commitment to Children and Young People, Cricket Victoria seeks to:

a) provide a safe and supportive environment for Children and Young People;
b) ensure that the experiences of Children and Young People are free from any form of Prohibited Conduct including Child Abuse or Grooming;
c) empower Children and Young People to act and respond to behaviour that is not acceptable or inappropriate;
d) publicise and make available the Codes of Behaviour that underpin our sport;
e) make information available on who Children and Young People can approach if they feel unsafe or they become aware of or are concerned about any form of Prohibited Conduct including Child Abuse or Grooming;
f) establish a reporting framework that allows Children and Young People and others to report any incident affecting the safety and wellbeing of Children and Young People; and
g) provide support services to any Child or Young Person and their families who might be affected by any form of Prohibited Conduct including Child Abuse or Grooming.

Cricket Victoria, in addition to the above, will also take reasonable steps to promote the cultural safety of Aboriginal Children and Children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds as well as promoting the safety of Children with a disability.