Safe sport

Safeguarding

Most of our members are children. Keeping them safe is the club’s first responsibility, ahead of any result — and it is everyone’s job, not just the committee’s.

Raise a concern Guidance for volunteers

Our commitment

How we approach safeguarding

NCAN operates under Athletics New Zealand’s Safe Sport framework. We are a small volunteer club, so the practical work of safeguarding falls to the people at the track each week — which is why we ask everyone helping out to read the guidelines below.

Meet the committee
Committee and coach training
Our committee members and coaches have undertaken safeguarding training and completed the World Athletics Safeguarding course, available through the Athletics NZ e-learning portal.
The framework we use
Athletics New Zealand’s Safe Sport policies and regulations, including the Code of Conduct and the Member Protection & Anti-Harassment Regulation.
Helpers at training
Parents helping at a station are always working alongside a coach, never alone with a child.
Photographs
Photos from club events appear in our gallery. If you would prefer a photo of your child not be shown, tell us and we will remove it.

If something is not right

Raising a concern

Things sometimes happen in sport that don’t feel right. Often they turn out to be minor and easily sorted; occasionally they are not. Either way we would rather hear about it early.

  • A child is in immediate danger

    Call 111. Do not wait for the club or for Athletics NZ.

  • Something at the club

    Speak to a coach or any committee member at training, or contact the club. You can raise something without making a formal complaint.

  • Our regional body

    Athletics Canterbury has its own Safeguarding Officer, Chris Hurring, listed on their Our People page and reachable through info@athleticscanterbury.org.nz.

  • Going to Athletics NZ directly

    You do not have to come to us first. The Athletics NZ Safeguarding Officer can be reached at safeguarding@athletics.org.nz.

  • The Raise a Concern form

    Athletics NZ’s online form goes straight to their Safeguarding Officer. Anonymous reports are accepted.

Athletics NZ’s full complaints process — what counts as a concern, what counts as a complaint, and what happens next — is set out on their Safe Sport pages.

For coaches and volunteers

Practical guidance

Short, readable guides from Athletics New Zealand. If you help at training or travel with a team, the first two are the ones to read.

Help at training

The framework

Policies, regulations and training

The rules NCAN operates under, and where the training sits.

  • Athletics NZ Safe Sport

    The parent hub for all of the above: safeguarding, integrity, member protection, athlete wellbeing, and the complaints process in full.

    Hub

  • Athletics NZ Code of Conduct

    The standard of behaviour expected of everyone in the sport — athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators alike.

    PDF

  • Member Protection & Anti-Harassment Regulation

    The formal regulation covering harassment, discrimination and member protection.

    PDF

  • Athletics Canterbury Media Policy

    Our regional body’s policy on photography and media at athletics events — relevant to anyone taking photos at a meet, including for our own gallery.

    PDF

  • Sport Integrity Commission

    The independent national body for integrity in New Zealand sport. Concerns can be raised with them directly.

    External

  • Athletics NZ e-learning portal

    Where the World Athletics Safeguarding course sits, alongside the club, officials and coaching libraries. Sign in with a World Athletics account the first time.

    Portal

Documents hosted by Athletics New Zealand and Athletics Canterbury are maintained by them and may be updated without notice. If a link here has gone stale, please let us know.