National Integrity Framework

The National Integrity Framework (NIF) policies have been adopted by Paddle Australia and Paddle Victoria and apply to all levels of the sport. These policies apply to the Whitehorse Canoe Club. See the attachment outlining the Whitehorse Canoe Club's commitment to the NIF and the responsibilities and rights of the club and its members to maintaining safety, both on and off the water.

The NIF has been adopted to safeguard Clubs by providing access to best practice integrity policies, education resources, and an independent, confidential, and fair complaints process. By setting clear expectations of acceptable behaviour and supporting people to speak up if they have concerns, the NIF gives everyone involved in our sport confidence that they are part of a safe, fair, and inclusive environment. The independent complaint handling process, managed externally by Sport Integrity Australia, also eases the burden on clubs, allowing them to focus on making the sport successful.

Further information with respect to the NIF, as outlined by Paddle Australia, can be found here: https://paddle.org.au/sport-integrity/

Whitehorse Canoe Club encourages all members to become familiar with the NIF policies and consider how it may apply to them and their paddling.

Alison Boyes is responsible for handling complaints at the club level.

Child Safety

Whitehorse Canoe Club aims to be a child safe club. Whitehorse Canoe Club considers a child to be a person under the age of 18. Whitehorse Canoe Club requires persons under the age of 18 who wish to join the club to join the club with a legal guardian who is above the age of 18. Whitehorse Canoe Club also requires that the legal guardian of the child accompanies the child on any Whitehorse Canoe Club paddling trips.

Whitehorse Canoe Club commits to have ‘child safety’ as a recurring item to be discussed at committee meetings.

Child Safety – Members of WHCC role

In accordance with Paddle Victoria's Child Safety Policy, Paddle Victoria is asking that all new and renewing members sign a Child Safety Code of Conduct. This code outlines appropriate standards of behaviour of adults towards children and aims to protect children and reduce any opportunities for abuse or harm to occur.

You can read the Paddle Victoria Child Safe Policy and Child Safety Code of Conduct.

You will only need to sign the Child Safety Code of Conduct once, and it can be completed online.

Please note the following when completing the online form:

  • Your Australian Canoeing membership number is contained in your renewal email.
  • Whitehorse Canoe Club is asking members to read and agree to abide by the 'Paddle Victoria Child Safety Code of Conduct'. By ticking the box, you agree to abide by it.
  • You do not need a Working with Children Check, and that space can be left blank. If you do hold one, you can enter your WWCC number and expiry date, if you wish.
  • While we encourage you to do so, you do not need to complete the 'Play by the Rules' online course, so you can select 'No'.
  • While we encourage you to do so, you do not need to read the full 'Child Safe Policy', so you can select 'No'.
  • Members under the age of 18 should be made aware of the Child Safety Code of Conduct so they know what acceptable standards are when working with adults, however you do not need to sign it.