Building and establishing a child safeguarding culture is critical to providing safe, fair and inclusive environments and experiences. It is at the heart of protecting tamariki and rangatahi from harm.  

It means everyone — parents, whānau, coaches, instructors, clubs and organisations, and children and young people — can identify and respond early to potential abuse and harm.  

Having a safeguarding culture at your club or organisation also keeps you safe. You understand what abuse and harm looks like to avoid misunderstandings or causing unintentional harm. It allows you to have the tools and confidence to identify, speak up and report potential harm. 

• Child safeguarding means the actions we take to prevent harm to children and young people, and promotes their overall wellbeing.  

• Child protection is how we respond when children and young people are or may be being harmed or abused. 

A safeguarding culture is woven throughout everything an individual, group, community and organisation does.  

It is the actions, values and behaviour that prevents abuse and harm, and is fully integrated into the club or organisation’s culture. 

There are strong relationships and connections built from a shared commitment and understanding between clubs and organisations, parents and caregivers, friends and whānau, and tamariki and rangatahi themselves on what good looks like.  

It’s an environment that encourages everyone to speak up early on if there are concerns. Issues are dealt with quickly, professionally and privacy is fully respected. 

It creates a safe and positive experience for tamariki and rangatahi. It’s everyone’s responsibility.  

• Child-centred: Children and young people feel safe to speak up, and are confident they are listened to and taken seriously. 

• Commitment: Everyone is committed to ensuring the safety of children and young people. You support each other to behave in a way that prevents harm and encourages early intervention when it’s needed. 

• Leadership: Leadership is strong and leaders clearly demonstrate their ongoing commitment to a safeguarding culture.  

• Respect: Everyone, but especially children and young people, are respected for who they are no matter their age, gender, capability, what they look like, or where they come from. 

• Communication: There is consistent and open communication about child safeguarding and child protection. It’s ok to talk about it, and everyone feels supported if they raise an issue. 

• Knowledge: There is a clear understanding of child safeguarding and child protection practices and the responsibilities everyone has. Staff and volunteers are trained to identify and respond to abuse and harm.  

• Policies: Policies and procedures are understood, promoted, accessible, and everyone follows them.  

• Fit for purpose: Child safeguarding practices and policies are regularly reviewed and adapted to make sure they are relevant and fit for purpose including being culturally and age appropriate and inclusive. 

• Actionable: It’s easy to take action and you are encouraged to speak up early if you are worried about someone’s safety, particularly if it’s children or young people. 

Creating a safeguarding culture in sport and recreation is inclusive and involves everyone, including tamariki and rangatahi. The safety and wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi is at the centre.  

• Build safe and healthy relationships. Treat children and young people with respect. Being honest, inclusive and fair creates trust, which makes for a safer environment for you and them. 

• Lead by example. Call out negative or potentially harmful behaviour, including between children and young people. Hold people to account.  

• Communicate your safeguarding values, beliefs, policies and procedures and set expectations for everyone. Make it a normal part of conversation by communicating this consistently, clearly and often. Involve staff, volunteers, parents and caregivers, and children and young people.  

• Make it clear through your behaviour, and your club and organisation’s policies, guidance and reporting process what is expected from everyone. 

• Identify the safeguarding risks in your club or organisation and develop policies and guidance to manage them. Look at the risks on and off the field. For example, when you’re travelling or at an event, taking images, using social media or recruiting staff. 

• Look to other clubs or organisations to share and develop a common child safeguarding culture.  

• Ensure staff and volunteers are trained in the latest safeguarding practices, rules and procedures. 

• Make reporting easy and communicate that all concerns, no matter how minor, are taken seriously and will be followed up.

• Read more on child protection

• Find out how to create safer sport and recreation environments

• Browse all learning resources