Invert Sports Centre (ISC)
1A Gulson Street, Goulburn NSW 2580
Document Type: Policy
Last Updated: October 2026
Review Date: October 2027
1. Our commitment
Invert Sports Centre (ISC) works with children every day. Keeping them safe comes before results, timetables and convenience. This is our first value, Child First, Always.
ISC has zero tolerance for abuse, neglect, grooming, bullying, harassment or discrimination against any child or young person. We take every concern seriously, act on it quickly, and protect anyone who raises one in good faith.
This policy sets out how ISC keeps children safe, what every Worker must do, and what to do if something is wrong.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all Workers: staff, coaches, coaches-in-training, volunteers, contractors and anyone else working with or around children for ISC. It applies:
at ISC's premises;
at competitions, displays, trips and any other off-site ISC activity; and
in every form of communication, including online.
3. Child Safe Officers
ISC's Child Safe Officers are:
Vaughn Edmonds, CEO
Rachelle Bristow, Administration Manager
Contact: admin@invertgymnastics.com.au or 02 5117 3983.
Any Worker, child or parent can raise a concern with either Child Safe Officer. If a concern is about one of them, take it to the other, or straight to an external agency in section 10.
4. NSW Child Safe Standards
ISC is a child-related organisation under the Children's Guardian Act 2019 (NSW) and follows the 10 NSW Child Safe Standards. In practice:
Leadership and culture. Management puts child safety first and models it.
Children have a say. Coaches listen to children, take their views seriously, and make sure they know who they can talk to.
Families are involved. Families can read this policy and know how to raise a concern.
Equity and diversity. Every child's needs are respected, as set out in the Inclusion Policy.
Suitable people. Everyone in child-related work is screened and supervised (section 5).
Child-focused complaints. Concerns are easy to raise and handled in the child's interest (section 10).
Training. Workers are trained to recognise and respond to harm (section 6).
Safe places. Physical spaces and online contact are set up to reduce risk (sections 7–9).
Review. ISC reviews this policy at least once a year, and after any serious concern.
Written policies. This policy and the related policies in section 13 are kept current.
5. Working With Children Checks
No one starts child-related work at ISC until their Working With Children Check (WWCC) has been verified with the Office of the Children's Guardian. The full process is in the WWCC Compliance Policy. Anyone whose status becomes barred, interim barred or lapsed is removed from child-related work immediately.
6. Training
Every Worker:
completes the Child Safeguarding in Sport induction (Sport Integrity Australia), part of RGA coach accreditation, before working with children unsupervised;
is taken through this policy at induction; and
refreshes it each year, and whenever the policy changes.
7. Physical contact
Physical contact is sometimes needed for safe coaching, such as spotting. A Worker may initiate contact only:
in clear sight of a parent, guardian, another Worker or other people, in an open space;
in a way that helps the child perform the activity safely, within the skill boundaries in the ISC Coaching Responsibility Matrix; or
to give first aid or respond to an emergency.
Workers explain contact before it happens where they can ("I'm going to support your hips"), and respect a child who says no.
A Worker must never initiate contact in a private space, except for first aid or an emergency. Workers follow the Play by the Rules guidelines for working with children.
8. Supervision and spaces
Workers are never alone with a child out of sight of others. If a one-to-one conversation is needed, it happens in an open, visible area.
Children manage their own toileting and changing. Workers do not do things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves.
At pick-up, children wait inside the building until they are collected.
9. Communication, online contact and photos
Workers contact children and families only through ISC's official channels: the club's messaging system, ISC email and the ISC phone.
Workers must not contact a child through social media, personal phones, personal email or private messaging, and must not accept or send "friend" or follow requests to children.
Workers must not take, keep or share photos or videos of children on personal devices or personal accounts. Images are taken and used only as allowed by the Image Release and the Privacy Policy.
10. Recognising and reporting concerns
If a child is in immediate danger
Call 000 first. Then tell a Child Safe Officer.
If a child tells you something (a disclosure)
Stay calm, listen, and believe them.
Don't question them in detail, ask leading questions or investigate yourself.
Don't promise to keep it secret. Tell them you will get help from someone who can keep them safe.
Write down what was said, in the child's own words, with the date and time, as soon as you can.
Tell a Child Safe Officer the same day.
If you are worried about a child, or about a Worker's behaviour
Tell a Child Safe Officer the same day, even if you aren't sure. You don't need proof.
What the Child Safe Officer does
The Child Safe Officer:
makes sure the child is safe;
decides within 24 hours whether to report externally; and
reports to the right agency when required:
NSW Police: 000 (emergency) or 131 444 (Police Assistance Line), for any suspected crime against a child;
NSW Child Protection Helpline: 132 111, for a child at risk of significant harm.
Any person can also report directly to these agencies. You don't need ISC's permission.
Under section 316A of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), an adult who knows or believes a child abuse offence has been committed must report it to Police. Telling a Child Safe Officer doesn't remove that duty.
Confidentiality and protection
Concerns are handled promptly, seriously, sensitively and confidentially. Records are stored securely and seen only by the Child Safe Officers and the agencies involved. No one will be victimised for raising a concern in good faith.
11. Responsibilities
Management (the Child Safe Officers) will:
make sure every Worker is screened, inducted and trained;
keep the WWCC register current;
respond to every concern as this policy sets out;
give families clear information about child safety and how to raise a concern; and
review this policy annually.
All Workers will:
follow this policy and the Staff Code of Conduct;
be a positive role model, and treat children with respect;
keep professional boundaries with children, families and other Workers;
respect the privacy of children and families; and
report every concern the same day.
12. Breaches
Examples of breaches include:
intimidating, threatening, humiliating or acting aggressively towards a child, including hazing and exclusion;
forming a "special" relationship with a child, such as favouritism, gifts or secrets;
doing things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves;
contacting a child privately outside ISC's official channels;
taking or keeping images of children on personal devices;
discriminating against a child on any basis, including age, gender, race, culture, disability or sexuality; and
failing to report a concern, or another Worker's breach of this policy.
A breach is handled under the Staff Code of Conduct and may lead to dismissal. A serious breach means immediate removal from child-related work and a report to the relevant authorities.
13. Related policies
WWCC Compliance Policy
ISC Staff Code of Conduct
Volunteer Management Policy
Complaints Handling Policy
Inclusion Policy
Image Release
Privacy Policy
First Aid and Incident Reporting Procedure
14. Legal references
Children's Guardian Act 2019 (NSW), including the NSW Child Safe Standards
Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 (NSW)
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW)
Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), section 316A
Play by the Rules guidelines for working with children