Member Protection Policy

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1. Statement of Commitment

Kick to Connect (KTC) exists to develop people through football — not the other way around. Person before performance, connection before football, belonging before ability sits at the centre of everything we do, and that starts with keeping every young person, coach — whether delivering a KTC program or undertaking one, such as Coaching Compass, Off Season Compass or 1-on-1 Compass — volunteer, parent and staff member safe, respected and free from discrimination or harassment of any kind.

KTC is committed to providing a program and working environment where every person is treated with dignity, and where discrimination, harassment (sexual or otherwise), bullying and abuse are never tolerated. Any breach of this policy will be taken seriously and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the program or termination of a coaching, employment or volunteer role.

The safety and wellbeing of every person in any of our programs is our highest priority — above program delivery, above reputation, above everything else. Every person involved in coaching, mentoring, supervising or otherwise working with KTC participants is required to undergo the screening set out in Section 6 before they have any unsupervised contact with young people.

KTC accepts people for who they are — not for their talent level. Every person in our programs is welcome regardless of ability, and no one will be excluded, sidelined or treated less favourably because they are not the most skilled player in the group. Anyone — coach, volunteer, or participant — who does not commit to this will first be supported to do so. Where that support does not lead to change, they may be asked to leave the program.

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2. Policy Application

This policy applies to everyone connected with Kick to Connect, including:

•     Todd Stewart (Founder) and any future staff or contractors

•     Coaches, mentors and facilitators, whether paid or volunteer

•     Coaches undertaking a KTC coaching development program — Coaching Compass, Off Season Compass or 1-on-1 Compass — as a participant

•     Volunteers supporting sessions, events or administration

•     Young people and adult participants across all KTC programs

•     Parents, guardians and family members while attending KTC activities

It applies to behaviour occurring during KTC sessions, clinics, camps and events, and to behaviour occurring outside those settings — including online — where it involves KTC members and affects relationships, safety or trust within the KTC community.

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3. Policy Coverage

This policy covers all Kick to Connect programs and activities, including but not limited to:

•     The 8-Week Youth Clinic (Connection Clinic)

•     Holiday Clinics

•     Your Crew Clinics (small group connection sessions)

•     Coaching Compass, Off Season Compass and 1-on-1 Compass

•     Any school-based, holiday, or one-off KTC program, wherever it is delivered

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4. Discrimination and Harassment

4.1 Discrimination

Discrimination and harassment are unlawful under Australian federal and Western Australian state law, and KTC has a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure neither occurs in the course of its activities. The law is always the minimum standard of behaviour expected within KTC — any criminal offence will be reported to the appropriate authority.

No person connected with KTC may treat another person less favourably on the basis of an attribute such as race, sex, age, marital status, sexuality, pregnancy, or intellectual or physical impairment or disability, than they would treat someone without that attribute in the same or similar circumstances. This includes indirect discrimination — applying a requirement, condition or practice that appears neutral but disproportionately disadvantages a particular group, even without any intention to discriminate.

 

4.2 Reasonable Adjustment

KTC will not always anticipate every barrier a program, schedule, venue or activity may create for a particular person or group — including barriers connected to religion, culture, disability, or another protected attribute. Where a genuine barrier is raised, whether or not KTC had previously considered it, KTC will take reasonable steps to understand the concern and consider what adjustment, if any, is reasonably practicable in the circumstances.

This is a commitment to genuinely consider and respond, not a guarantee that every request can be accommodated. Where an adjustment is not reasonably practicable, KTC will explain why, and will look for an alternative that still allows the person to participate wherever possible.

 

4.3 Harassment

Harassment is unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct directed at a person or group that a reasonable person would expect to be insulting, intimidating, humiliating, degrading or offensive. This includes but is not limited to:

•     Written, verbal or physical abuse or threats

•     Unwelcome physical contact

•     Sexual comments, jokes, propositions, or promises or threats made in return for sexual favours

•     Homophobic, transphobic or other discriminatory comments or behaviour

•     Jokes or comments directed at a person's body, appearance, age, race, disability, sexuality, marital status or pregnancy

Sexual harassment specifically refers to any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that could reasonably be expected to offend, humiliate or intimidate.

 

4.4 Victimisation

No person may subject, or threaten to subject, another person to any unfair treatment because that person has made, intends to make, or has supported someone else in making, a complaint under this policy.

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5. Coach and Participant Relationships

Coaches hold a position of trust and influence over the young people and families they work with. This power imbalance means personal or intimate relationships between coaches and participants are never appropriate, regardless of the participant's age, and are strictly prohibited.

Should any coach become aware of an inappropriate approach or attachment from a participant, they must not act on it and must inform Todd Stewart or the nominated Child Safety Officer immediately. Sexual contact with a minor is a criminal offence under Western Australian law and will be reported to WA Police and the relevant child protection authority without exception.

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6. Screening, Police, Working with Children and NDIS Checks

KTC will not engage any person — paid or volunteer — to coach, mentor or otherwise supervise young people or NDIS participants without the following being satisfied first:

•     A current Working with Children Check (WWCC), valid for the duration of their involvement with KTC

•     A current National Police Certificate (NPC), issued within the last 6 months and renewed at that interval for as long as the person remains engaged with KTC

•     A current NDIS Worker Screening Check (NDIS Check), for any role involving contact with NDIS participants

•     Disclosure of any prior conviction for a serious sex offence or other offence relevant to working with children or vulnerable people

•     Completion of KTC's induction process, including reading and signing the relevant KTC handbook (see Section 7)

Where a screening check raises a concern, KTC will not proceed with the engagement and, where required by law, will notify the relevant authority (such as the WA Department of Communities or the NDIS Commission).

A detailed Child Safety Policy sits alongside this Member Protection Policy and sets out further procedures specific to child safety, supervision ratios and reporting.

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6.1 Reporting Child Safety Concerns

Under Western Australian law, mandatory reporting duties for child sexual abuse apply to a specific, named list of professions — including doctors, nurses, teachers, psychologists, police officers, school counsellors, and youth justice workers, among others. A sports coach or program founder is not currently included in that list, and KTC does not hold itself out as a legally mandated reporter on that basis.

Regardless of this, KTC chooses to hold itself to the same standard as a mandated reporter. Any reasonable concern that a child has been, or is at risk of being, abused or neglected will be reported to WA Police or the Department of Communities Child Protection and Family Support, regardless of who is involved. Any person — mandated or not — is entitled to make this kind of report, and receives the same legal protections of confidentiality and immunity as someone under a legal duty to do so. This commitment sits above and outside the complaints process set out in Section 9, and applies whether or not the person affected or their family wishes to proceed.

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7. Handbooks and Acknowledgement

This policy is supported by role-specific handbooks — the Parent Handbook, Coaches Handbook, Employee Handbook and Volunteer Handbook — which translate these principles into practical guidance for each group.

Before beginning any role at KTC, coaches, staff and volunteers are required to read the relevant handbook and sign to confirm they have read, understood, and agree to comply with it and this Member Protection Policy. Signed acknowledgements will be kept on file for the duration of the person's involvement with KTC and for a reasonable period afterward, in line with KTC's Privacy Policy.

 

8. Roles and Responsibilities

8.1 Todd Stewart (Founder)

•     Produce, review and update this policy and the supporting handbooks

•     Ensure all coaches, staff and volunteers understand and comply with this policy

•     Ensure screening requirements (WWCC, NPC, NDIS Check) are met before any engagement begins

•     Handle or delegate the handling of complaints in line with the Complaints Handling Procedure

 

8.2 Coaches, Staff and Volunteers

•     Understand this policy and its relevance to their role at KTC

•     Comply with the applicable Code of Conduct and this policy at all times

•     Avoid any relationship or behaviour that could be seen as a breach of Section 5

•     Raise any concern or suspected breach in line with the Complaints Handling Procedure

•     Ensure young people are never excluded or treated less favourably on the basis of a personal attribute

 

8.3 All Members and Families

•     Treat others with the respect and dignity KTC's values call for

•     Raise concerns honestly and in good faith, without malicious or frivolous complaints

•     Conduct themselves in a way that does not bring KTC, or the people connected to it, into disrepute

 

9. Complaints, Confidentiality and Reporting

Any complaint or concern raised under this policy will be handled in line with KTC's Complaints Handling Procedure — promptly, seriously, sensitively and confidentially. KTC recognises natural justice as the minimum standard of fairness in investigating and responding to any complaint.

Disciplinary action may be taken against anyone found to be in breach of this policy, anyone who victimises or retaliates against a person who has made a complaint in good faith, or anyone found to have made a knowingly false or vexatious complaint. The response taken will depend on the nature and severity of the matter and may range from a conversation and guidance through to suspension, removal from the program, or termination of employment or engagement, and may involve referral to police or another authority.

Details of any complaint will be kept confidential and shared only with those who need to know in order to investigate and resolve it, or where KTC is required to disclose information by law.

 

10. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if there is a relevant change in law, KTC's programs, or following any incident that highlights a gap in current practice. Recommended changes can be raised with Todd Stewart at any time. Once updated, the revised policy will be dated and circulated to all coaches, staff and volunteers, with re-acknowledgement requested where changes are material.