Safeguarding
A welcoming club is a safe club.
Hamilton-Wickham DCC is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for every player, parent, volunteer and visitor. These are the rules we play by and the people to call if something is not right.
- Cricket Australia codeLooking After Our Kids
- Cricket NSW policySafeguarding Children Policy
- Working With Children ChecksCoaches and volunteers with juniors
- Named contactPaul Rodgers, Club Secretary
Our commitment
Every child, every player, every week.
Hamwicks follows Cricket Australia's Looking After Our Kids Code of Behaviour and the Cricket NSW Safeguarding Children Policy. They apply to every coach, committee member, volunteer, player and parent at the club.
In practice that means adults in child-related roles hold a current Working With Children Check, junior training and games are run with the right supervision, and any concern goes to a named person who knows what to do with it. It also means the same respect for umpires, opponents and teammates that the club expects from every grade.
- Working With Children Checks for coaches, team managers and volunteers working with Colts and U16 players.
- Codes of behaviour accepted by every player and parent on registration through PlayHQ.
- A clear path for raising concerns, inside the club and beyond it.
Raising a concern
If something is not right, say so.
You do not need to be certain. If a child's safety or wellbeing worries you, talk to someone.
Talk to the club
For any concerns regarding child safety please contact our Secretary, Paul Rodgers, on 0432 059 939 or at mail.hwdcc@gmail.com. Concerns are handled confidentially.
Go to Cricket NSW
If you would rather not raise it with the club, or the matter involves club officials, Cricket NSW's safeguarding and integrity team handles complaints under its Safeguarding Children Policy.
If a child is in danger
Call 000. To report concerns about a child's welfare in NSW, the Child Protection Helpline is 132 111, 24 hours a day.
Club documents
The paperwork, in one place.
The documents every player and parent should read before the season. The club's current copies will be linked here.
Season Player Handbook
Training, selection, fees, kit and what the club expects of its players each season.
NDCA Code of Conduct
The Newcastle District Cricket Association's rules for players, officials and spectators at every game.
CA Looking After Our Kids
Cricket Australia's Code of Behaviour for the safety and wellbeing of children in cricket.
CNSW Safeguarding Children Policy
Cricket NSW's policy on child safety, including how concerns are reported and handled.
Need a copy now? Email mail.hwdcc@gmail.com and the secretary will send it through.
Who it covers
Not only the Colts.
Juniors play across the club, not only in Colts. The U16 SG Moore Cup side, the U21 T20 team and the Development League all include players under eighteen, and the women's side welcomes teenagers.
So the same standards apply on senior training nights and in senior sheds as they do on a Colts game day. Senior players are expected to know it, and the captains and coaches are responsible for it.
Coaches and captains
Hold the standard in training and on game day, and know who to call.
Parents and carers
Welcome at every session. Ask questions. You are part of how the club keeps kids safe.
Questions
Common questions from parents and volunteers.
Do coaches and volunteers need a Working With Children Check?
Yes. Anyone in a child-related role at the club, including Colts coaches, team managers and the SG Moore Cup coach, holds a current NSW Working With Children Check which is verified by the club.
Who is the club's child safety contact?
Paul Rodgers, Club Secretary, on 0432 059 939 or mail.hwdcc@gmail.com. If the concern involves the secretary, go to the president or directly to Cricket NSW.
What happens after I raise a concern?
It is taken seriously, kept confidential and handled under the Cricket NSW Safeguarding Children Policy. Depending on the matter that may mean the club dealing with it, referring it to Cricket NSW, or reporting it to the police or the Department of Communities and Justice.
Can I stay and watch my child train?
Yes, and the club encourages it. Parents are welcome at every Colts session and game. If you would like to help out, speak to the coach about volunteering.
I want to volunteer or coach. Where do I start?
Get in touch through the contact page. You will need a Working With Children Check, which is free for volunteers in NSW, and the club can point you to Cricket Australia's community coaching courses.
Does the club have a code of conduct for spectators?
Yes. The NDCA Code of Conduct covers players, officials and spectators at every match, and parents accept Cricket Australia's codes of behaviour when registering a child on PlayHQ.
Child safety concerns: Paul Rodgers, Club Secretary, 0432 059 939.
Call the secretary