SHO

As Kiama Hockey Club's Safe Hockey Officer (SHO), Marc leads all safe hockey initiatives across the club community and, along with our MPIO, acts as a safe and approachable first point of contact for all members to raise concerns about children’s and young people’s safety.

What does the SHO do?

The SHO will:

• Make time to call or meet with you and listen to what you have to say.
• Take you seriously and let you know what the next steps are.
• Keep what you say confidential and only share necessary information.
• Provide you with helpful information, including how to report a concern and options for professional support.        

What are the Responsibilities of the SHO?

PROMOTE:

• awareness of and access to the Safe Hockey Hub and relevant resources.
• access to Hockey Australia Grassroots education initiatives to strengthen all members' understanding of safeguarding and their associated rights and responsibilities.

DRIVE:

• Lead and support the club to roll out Safe Hockey using the Safe Hockey Grassroots implementation guide and accompanying resources.
• Work with the committee to assess risks to children and young people within the club and develop strategies and action plans to minimise the risks, using the tools and guidance provided by Hockey Australia.

RESPOND:

• Be the first point of contact for all club safeguarding matters relating to children and young people under the age of 18.
• Follow the Six Rs when responding to child safety and safeguarding matters, including complaints, concerns and incidents. (The Six Rs are: Receive, Recognise, Record, Report, Respond, Review)
• Report child safety/ safeguarding matters externally to HNSW, Sport Integrity Australia, Child Protection and the Police, as required.

UPDATE:

• Ensure the committee has Safe Hockey as a standing agenda item and update them on safeguarding matters and metrics regularly, using the tools and guidance provided.
• Any other duties required to promote the safety of children and young people.

How can You Get in Touch with our SHO?

• You can chat to our SHO at any time you see him around the hockey fields.
• Speak to any of our committee, our MPIO or one of our coaches so that they can pass on a message.
• Send an e-mail to kiamahockeyclub@gmail.com and include ‘SHO’ in the subject line.  

Where Can I Find More Information? 

Should you be interested in finding out more about safe hockey initiatives or issues relating to safeguarding in sport more broadly, the following websites contain some useful resources and links.

• Hockey Australia Safe Hockey Hub - https://www.hockey.org.au/info-hub/safehockey/

• NSW Office of Sport - https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/running-your-club/safe-andfair-clubs/child-safe-sport

• NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/

• Sport Integrity Australia - https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/

• eSafety Commissioner Sports Hub - https://www.esafety.gov.au/communities/sport

You can also find further information, including our club policies, via the Safe Hockey page on our website.