Member Protection Policy

Introducing the Member Protection Policy

In previous articles, Transplant Australia has introduced the broader National Integrity Framework and the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy. In this article, we will introduce you to the Member Protection Policy, or MPP. The MPP aims to protect the health, wellbeing and welfare of all people involved in sport with Transplant Australia.

Transplant Australia’s Member Protection Policy can be read here: Member Protection Policy (transplant.org.au)

What are the aims of the MPP?

The MPP aims are to:

• Ensure everyone who participates in sport is provided with a safe environment;
• Protect the safety and wellbeing of participants involved in sports;
• Provide specific definitions of key terminology of inappropriate conduct, including what constitutes abuse, bullying, harassment discrimination, sexual misconduct, vilification and victimisation.

By having a clear and comprehensive policy on these issues, it enables participants in sport to regulate their own behaviour, as well as create processes for when problems arise.

What is Prohibited Conduct Under the MPP?

‘Prohibited Conduct’ is actions or behaviour which are unacceptable to us at Transplant Australia. Under the MPP, Prohibited Conduct is:

1. Abuse including physical, emotional, psychological or sexual abuse.
2. Bullying and the inappropriate use of power, where actions are repeated and deliberate.
3. Harassment including unwanted behaviours which are reasonably likely to cause harm.
4. Sexual harassment and sexual offences.
5. Discrimination either deliberate or inadvertent.
6. Victimisation of anyone who chooses to make a complaint, or plans to.
7. Vilification of anyone based on a particular characteristic, as covered by legislation.

If you believe that someone has engaged in any of these types of behaviour towards you or another person, it is important to bring the behaviour to the attention of appropriate people in our organisation. Reporting inappropriate conduct should not be tarred with the notion of it being “dobbing”, but rather, as an opportunity for the individuals and organisations to learn and change in a positive way.

I Think a Policy Has Been Breached – Who Do I Complain To? 

For serious types of misbehaviours, there is an independent complaint handling body, called Sport Integrity Australia (SIA). Complaints which should be made to SIA are complaints involving Discrimination. For complaints of these matters, you can follow this link. Only discrimination which have occurred after we signed the NIF on 30 June 2022 can be reported to SIA.

Matters which do not involve safeguarding concerns or discrimination, or occurred prior to us signing the NIF should be complained about to us at Transplant Australia. Our contact details are contactus@transplant.org.au

If you are still unsure whether to make a complaint to Sport Integrity Australia or us, you can call SIA on 1300 027 232 and they will be able to provide you further guidance of who is the most appropriate body to make your complaint to.

What are the sanctions which may be applied for a breach of the MPP?

Sanctions are the consequences someone faces if they have been found to have breached the MPP. The type of sanctions which may be given in such a circumstance will depend on a number of factors, including:

1. The type of sanction which the person who was the victim of the behaviour has requested;
2. The type of prohibited conduct found to have been engaged in;
3. The nature of the prohibited conduct;
4. Whether the conduct was a singular occurrence or ongoing behaviour;
5. Whether the conduct or behaviour was first time instance or whether the person found to have engaged in other forms of disciplinary problems;
6. Circumstances which may help reduce a sanction (known as mitigating factors) or circumstances which may justify a harsher penalty (known as aggravating factors)

Transplant Australia will adopt the case categorisation levels to determine the sanction. This is to ensure that similar types of breaches are dealt with consistently. A future article will be written on case categorisation, however if you are in a rush to find out more because you are involved in a complaint or dispute, we recommend typing in “Sport Integrity Australia Case Categorisation & Guidance for Sanctions” to your favourite search engine and download the guide written by Sport Integrity Australia.

Further Information

Throughout 2024, Transplant Australia will be providing information and education on a variety of the NIF policies and areas of concern through newsletters and our social media channels. We hope you will follow this campaign to help make our sporting organisation as safe as it can be.

In addition, SIA has created a raft of free e-learning short courses on each of the topics which can be completed in your own time and can be accessed by registering here. These courses are excellent professional development for athletes, coaches, volunteers and staff alike. Completing these courses is a good way to demonstrate your commitment to helping [NSOD] keep our community safe and is a way you can contribute to keeping the broader Australian sporting community safe. Knowledge is empowering.