WHAT IS A CLUB MEMBER PROTECTION OFFICER?

Being a Club Member Protection Officer (MPO) should be a very rewarding role. You are a key driver in helping make your club a safe and welcoming environment for people of all ages and abilities. However, you don't have to do it alone. There are many resources available within your club, Maccabi, and the wider sporting community to support you.

Below is some more information on what is involved in being a club member protection officer, and what sort of person is right for the job.

THE COMPLIANCE OFFICE ROLE MIGHT INCLUDE…

…handling club-level complaints and grievances
…referring more serious matters to other parties (either within Maccabi or externally)
…ensuring that all necessary personnel within the club have completed the online MPP training
…maintaining a record of WWCC details for everyone in the club who requires a check
…answering questions and providing advice around Maccabi’s member protection policies
… keeping notes including dates, times, people involved, etc for any issue that may seem minor at the time (but could escalate) - see General Tips below

THEY NEED TO BE SOMEONE WHO IS…

…a good listener and communicator
…honest if there is any conflict of interest
…happy to ask for assistance if needed
…ideally familiar with your club and/or sport
…open-minded, fair and impartial
…mindful of the need for privacy and discretion

MAKE SURE THEY…

…know what the role entails
…are willing to take on this role
…have a valid WWCC
…complete the online MPP training
…are introduced to the state MPP rep

THE CLUB MEMBER PROTECTION OFFICER HAS MANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE INCLUDING…

The Club president and committee
The Maccabi state MPP board rep
The state and national integrity officers
The Member Protection Officer
External organisations

To enquire about MPO click here

MEMBER PROTECTION

Please note that the Club Member Protection officer for the club is vacant.

If you have any questions in relation to the MPP please email registrations@mfcc.com.au

MACCABI MEMBER PROTECTION VISION

Maccabi’s Member Protection Policy vision is:

To establish and maintain a transparent member protection system that is to apply at all levels of the Maccabi organisation (including MAI on a national level, State Representative Members on a State level and Affiliated Sports Clubs and members on a local level) (collectively called “Maccabi”).

To establish policies and procedures that:

work to protect the rights and interests of all those persons who participate or are otherwise involved in Maccabi activities;
explain the rights and obligations that each of them have under relevant legislation; and
enable Maccabi to take disciplinary action against Participants who do not act in accordance with its standards.

To provide capable and innovative leadership and arrangements that ensure that the above vision is successfully implemented and maintained in a transparent fashion and on an on-going basis in a manner that will, as far as possible, help to unite and protect Maccabi and its members.

The MPP Handbook is designed to enable Maccabi to realise its vision, by explaining our standards and enabling our Participants to take action when they need to.

A copy of the handbook is available here.

WHO DOES THIS HANDBOOK APPLY TO?

All Participants involved with Maccabi are expected and required to comply with the standards of behaviour set out in the MPP.

“Participants” means all paid or unpaid/voluntary:

office bearers;
individuals appointed or elected to boards, commissions, tribunals, committees and sub-committees, employees and volunteers;
players and athletes;
members including Life Members;
coaches and assistant coaches;
support personnel (e.g. managers, physiotherapists, psychologists, masseurs, sport trainers, etc);
disability support workers and carers;
officials and any other personnel participating in any teams, events and activities, including camps and training sessions, conducted or sanctioned by MAI, any State Body or any Club;
referees, judges and other officials; and
parents and guardians of Members to the full extent that is possible.

MPP HANDBOOK

The MPP Handbook sets out the Policies and Procedures relating to Member Protection. It also includes various internal and external resources that you may be interested in.

Subsequent additions to this Handbook are a Club Management Tool Kit, providing all levels of the organisation the tools for implementation, and the third document contains the guidelines by which the Maccabi Grievance and Appeals Tribunals will be conducted. These documents are available on request.

Click here to see all of Maccabi's policy and governance documents.

CHANGES IN LEGISLATION FROM JANUARY 2017

As from 1 January 2017 it will be legislated that all non-government funded child services agencies must now adopt new child safety standards. These new standards apply to the Maccabi organisation as a whole and to all of our clubs in particular. It is therefore essential that you as persons charged with the running of our clubs become familiar with these new standards and take steps to ensure that you and your clubs comply with them. Serious penalties apply if you do not.

While the new standards are compulsory for all child services organisations in Victoria, with the agreement of each of our affiliated States, they will as from 1 January 2017 apply to all Maccabi organisations and clubs nationally.

The following is a summary of the new child safety standards that will apply from 1 January 2017:

Standard 1: Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements
Standard 2: A child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety
Standard 3: A code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children
Standard 4: Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel
Standard 5: Processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse
Standard 6: Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse
Standard 7: Strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children.

Click here to view a summary of new standards

You also can find out further information on child safety generally in a document prepared by “Our Community” and Moores Legal called the “Child Protection Toolkit”

Download Child Safety Standards