Child Safety

EASC takes child safety seriously. We want swimming to be fun, enjoyable and safe for all our members This page provides members information about our club's commitment to Swimming Australia's Safe Sport Framework and how we comply with the NSW Working with Children Check legislation.

What is a Working with Children Check?

A Working With Children Check (WWCC) is a legal requirement for people who work or volunteer in child-related work in NSW. There are a number of important exemptions from the WWCC requirement, including for volunteer parents or other close relatives of a child participating in the activity.

A WWCC involves a national criminal history check and a review of findings of workplace misconduct. The result is either a clearance to work with children for five years or a bar against working with children.

Swimming NSW's Position

As part of their ongoing commitment to the safety, welfare and well-being of children, Swimming NSW:

  • Notes the requirement that all club employees must undertake the new WWCC process; and
  • Strongly recommends that all volunteers undertake the new WWCC process.

Enfield Amateur Swimming Club's Position

EASC does not currently employ any person(s) (nor does it intend to employ any person(s) in the near future) however we recognise our employer obligations in the event EASC does employ any person(s) in the future.

In relation to our volunteers, the EASC Committee is has formed the view that, we fall under the exempted category (i.e. all our volunteers have kids at club). The EASC Committee has nonetheless introduced a requirement for all volunteers who take on a formal role within the club (as an elected committee member or in any role appointed by the committee) to have a current Working with Children Check.

To this end as at the start of the 2016/2017 Season, all committee members and person(s) taking on committee appointed positions require current WWCC clearances.

Please note this requirement does NOT currently apply to volunteers who help out on pool deck from time to time on race nights to time-keep, cook a barbecue, set up or pack up etc ("casual volunteers").

Swimming Australia Safe Sport Framework

EASC acknowledges that WWCCs are only one of the ways in which our club can keep children safe. We appreciate that prevention in the form of supervision, education and training of our members and volunteers about appropriate and acceptable behaviours is important for managing risks to children. Our club is bound by and committed to Swimming Australia's Safe Sport Framework, which is an essential part of Swimming Australia's proactive and preventative approach to safeguarding children and young people in our sport and addressing inappropriate behaviour for all of us in swimming. .

Member Protection Information Officers

Two Member Protection Information Officers (MPIOs) one female and one male are appointed at our Annual General Meeting. The role of MPIOs is to provide impartial information to members about policy, process and procedures under the Safe Sport Framework. All MPIOs are required to have valid WWCCs.

How to apply for a WWCC

To apply for a Working With Children Check please access the following link: http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/working-with-children/working-with-children-check/about-the-check/volunteers-and-students