It was great meeting some of you at the under 12 information session on Wednesday. For those I have not met, my name is Lisa, and I am the inaugural Child Safety and Wellbeing Officer for Newport Baseball Club. This is a new position that all sporting clubs are required to have. You can contact me with any concerns or complaints relating to the safety or wellbeing of the children at the club – you can also speak to any of the coaching staff (including Michael Cassar) or committee members, including Sam Patrick (Junior Manager) – contact details are available on the Newport Rams website. A dedicated inbox for matters regarding child safety is childsafety@newportrams.com

Working with Children Check (WWCC)
Newport Baseball Club requires all affiliated club personnel including Committee Members, Volunteers (scorers, team managers, canteen staff), Coaches and Umpires and anyone else who has contact with children to possess a valid working with children check. It is free to apply for a volunteer card via the Service Victoria Website.

Volunteer Registration on GameDay
All volunteers must register themselves on the GameDay app (tick that you are registering as a coach or volunteer) and include your WWCC number and expiry date. Each adult volunteer (including coaches, umpires etc) must do this and it is free – click here.

Keeping children safe
Newport Baseball Club strives to create an ongoing culture and environment that is supportive and protective of children. The club is working on drafting practices and procedures that ensure the club complies with the Victorian Child Safe Standards. These will be shared once finalised (towards the end of the year).
Child protection is a shared responsibility between Newport Baseball Club, its employees, workers, parents/guardians, coaches, spectators, volunteers and members of the Newport Baseball Club community. Everyone that participates in Newport Baseball Club’s activities is responsible for the care and protection of children, and reporting information about child abuse. Child abuse is the mistreatment of a child or young person that has harmed, is harming or is likely to harm or endanger that child or young person’s physical or emotional health, development or wellbeing and the child has not, or is not likely to be protected by the parent(s) or guardian(s). For the avoidance of doubt, this includes but is not limited to emotional or psychological abuse, bullying, grooming, sexual exploitation, neglect and harassment.

Any concerns or complaints should be shared with any of members listed above.
A concern is any potential issue that could negatively impact on the safety or wellbeing of children.
A complaint can include expressions of dissatisfaction about a club, related to one or more of the following:
The club’s programs and offerings for individuals. Allegations of abuse or misconduct by a staff member, a volunteer or another adult or child involved with the club. Disclosures of abuse or harm made by a child. The conduct of a child at the club. The inadequate handling of a prior concern. General concerns about the safety of a child or group of children.

I will post any updated information throughout the season. In the meantime,
My contact details are:
Lisa Leniart –
Phone: 0401 033 015
Email – childsafety@newportrams.com

Good luck with your game coming up. Go Rams!!