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We would like to introduce to you our new Child Safeguarding Officer (CSO), Marney Whitlock. Child safety and wellbeing is a key priority of the Chelsea Junior Football Club, and we are committed to creating an environment that is safe and welcoming for all children and young people. Our Club has zero tolerance to any form of child abuse or harm and will act quickly and in the best interests of the child or young person should an allegation of harm or abuse occur. The Child Safeguarding Officer serves as a dedicated point of contact for any concerns related to child safety or wellbeing that you or your child may have.

As our Child Safeguarding Officer, Marney will be responsible for implementing and overseeing our safeguarding policies, providing guidance and support to coaches, volunteers, and parents, and ensuring that all necessary measures are in place to safeguard the welfare of our children and young people. There is unfortunately a history of abuse within all sporting organisations, and our Club has committed to take all necessary measures to reduce the risk of this happening in the future.

As a club, we say that playing footy should be fun. Our children should be able to make friends, learn and grow, and enjoy everything that a team sport has to offer. Our children also have a right to be treated properly so that going to training, games and other activities with our club are happy experiences. That means that if someone is doing something that stops our children from enjoying being at footy, they have the right to speak up and tell someone. This message will be shared with our players during training and club events, and will embedded in our club culture. We all have a responsibility to ensure that our children and young people are protected from physical, sexual and emotional harm, and to speak up if we have any concerns.

We encourage you to contact the CSO if you or your child have concerns about:

Being picked on or bullied;
* Being treated differently because of your race, skin colour, gender, sexuality, disability, religion or anything else;
* Someone at the club making you feel uncomfortable, scared or unwelcome in any way;
* Spectators saying hurtful things;
* Anything else that makes you feel unsafe.

The AFL has more information for families about what abuse in sport can look like and how to spot it, which you can find here: https://play.afl/sites/default/files/2023-10/fam-abuse-in-footy.pdf

Marney can be contacted at childsafety@chelseajfc.com.au or on 0419 542 056 if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions about child safety.