Vicsport commence the Child Safe Online Education Program

Grassroots football clubs and associations have a new free and interactive platform to comply with the 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards, following Vicsport’s launch of the Child Safe Online Education Program.

Supported by Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV) and Lander & Rogers, the education program is powered by etrainu’s Learning Management System.

Users are able to delve into the content one module at a time while working through practical, sport-based strategies and scenarios to help with their understanding. Breakdowns of compliance indicators, policies and procedures are also included – the ability to save as you go means that you can work through the program at your own pace.

“In early 2022, ahead of the new 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards replacing the original seven Standards and three Principles, my predecessor Fiona Jones identified that the Victorian sports community would benefit from an alternate form of learning,” Vicsport Participation and Inclusion Manager Michaela Cook said via press release.

“We applied for funding through SRV and then commenced conversations with etrainu regarding the design of an online education program. We looked at the development of a module framework and discussed the key elements needed to assist the end user in understanding the compliance for each Standard, whether they be a sport administrator, volunteer, coach or official.”

Each module has users taken through a Standard to gain an understanding of its purpose and how to best comply. Interactive sport-based scenarios provide a chance for users to test their knowledge before they conclude with a quiz that earns them a Certificate of Completion.

While the Standards are numbered 1-11, modules do not have to be completed in order and is flexible to do them all when convenient.

“Throughout the design process, we ran draft versions past SRV, CCYP and Lander & Rogers to ensure the modules not only correctly reflected the Standards but legislation as well. We constantly referred to CCYP’s “A Guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation” document and for Module 1, which looks at establishing culturally safe environments for Aboriginal children and young people, we engaged Rob Hyatt at Koorie Heritage Trust,” Cook added via press release.

“By January 2023, we were in a position to soft-launch the program so we invited some key stakeholders to trial the program and provide their feedback before officially launching on 20 February.”

The program launch featured Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence as well as a panel discussion. Simon Merritt (Senior Associate, Lander & Rogers) and Emily Sanders (Director Regulation, Commission for Children and Young People) discussed their involvement in making the modules and how they see them assisting the sports industry. Jennifer McIntyre (CEO, Calisthenics Victoria) and Ginny Robinson (Affiliate Services Manager, Netball Victoria) were also in attendance to outline the modules from a sporting lens and share the work done by their organisations in embedding child safety.

“These modules are aimed at grassroot sporting clubs and we are keen for State Sporting Associations to pass the link down to as many clubs as possible,” Michaela added in a statement.

“However, it can also be utilised by sporting leagues, associations, state or regional sporting organisations and even national sporting organisations based in Victoria.

“They are an excellent resource and something we expect will help our industry for many years. But we will still continue to work in the child safe space, “sportifying” new resources from CCYP for our industry as well as running events such as the Child Safe Community of Practices which assist child safe leaders to support their clubs on their own child safe journey.”

Learn more about Vicsport’s Child Safe Online Education Program here and then get started with the modules by creating an account here.

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AFC aligns with AIAC for improved football dispute resolution

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), highlighting their dedication to fortifying football law and to providing multiple sports dispute resolution pathways in Asia.

The MoU, signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday, is a three-year agreement which aims to cultivate greater collaboration between the AFC and AIAC.

The agreement is the latest in a long running partnership for the AFC and AIAC. Since 2015, the organisations have cooperated to host seminars, conferences and training programs, focused on educating the public and officials about sports law and dispute resolution.

AFC General Counsel and Director of Legal Affairs, Andrew Mercer, expressed his excitement for the agreement via press release.

“We are delighted to formalise this important collaboration with the AIAC, who share common interests and values to promote academic and practical training in sports specific alternative dispute resolution in Asia,” he said.

AIAC Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Almalena Sharmila Johan, conveyed a similar sentiment.

“As we embark on this partnership, we celebrate the convergence of our expertise, values and dedication to raising the standards of ADR within the sporting community. The ASIAN Sports Arbitration Rules exemplified our commitment to advancing the spirit of justice in the sports industry as a whole, by providing a comprehensive framework for expedient dispute resolution that best preserves fairness and integrity within sports,” she said via press release.

This latest agreement will facilitate the AFC’s and AIAC’s desire to operate a yearly workshop or conference concentrating on sports law.

Both organisations wish to voice a plurality of opinions across Asia to explore conversations about recent sports law trends and developments across the continent and the world.

Additionally, this space would also provide an opportunity to discuss and review best law practices and alternative dispute resolution methods to find new solutions and remedies that will strengthen the future of Asian sports law.

FIFPRO Europe and UEFA sign MoU to enhance players’ influence

UEFA and FIFPRO Europe have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening players’ influence in European football governance.

As part of the agreement signed by both organisations’ leaders in Paris, a FIFPRO Europe representative will join UEFA’s executive committee starting May 2025.

UEFA has also pledged to consult FIFPRO Europe on decisions affecting players’ employment conditions and any competition reforms that could influence players’ workload.

Additionally, active players and player representatives will take part in a new UEFA Professional Players’ Advisory Forum, set to begin meeting next month to discuss solutions for collective challenges facing professional footballers in Europe.

This three-year MOU will grant footballers and their unions more influence over decisions impacting their work, including match calendar adjustments, playing conditions, and health and safety issues.

The agreement also establishes a framework for FIFPRO Europe and UEFA to work together on initiatives to advance women’s football, focusing on fair employment conditions and minimum standards.

The two organisations will also collaborate on medical research, player education, and awareness campaigns addressing doping and discrimination.

Additional collaboration areas include strengthening stakeholder dialogue at both national and European levels, exploring joint commercial opportunities involving player data and intellectual property rights, and offering support to players who are out of contract.

FIFPRO President, David Terrier, was full of positive thoughts regarding this agreement.

“This agreement is a hugely positive milestone for professional players across Europe. With player representation now anchored at UEFA’s highest level, we are securing a stronger voice for players where it matters most,” he said via press release.

“Our ongoing dialogue with UEFA is already yielding positive results, and this MoU will only strengthen our ability to shape a framework that will advance player welfare and ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for football, where the needs and rights of players shall always be at the forefront, both on and off the pitch.”

UEFA President, Aleksander Ceferin, is confident their relationship with FIFPRO will support the growth of football for all.

“This partnership represents a new era in our relationship with FIFPRO Europe. Players are at the heart of football, and their perspectives must shape the decisions taken,” he said via press release.

“By inviting them to join the UEFA Executive Committee, we are creating a more inclusive future for the game, one in which the topic of player welfare will be at the forefront. This is about making tangible strides to ensure football continues to grow for everyone.”

You can view the MOU here.

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