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Child Safe Environments Policy

Club Name: Karate-Do Goju Kai, Salisbury Dojo

Effective Date: June 2026

Review Date: June 2031 (Or within 5 years)

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1. Statement of Commitment

Our club is dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where children and young people can train in Goju-Ryu Karate. The safety, well-being, and protection of child participants is our highest priority. We adhere to the South Australian Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 and the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016.

2. Code of Conduct & Boundaries

All instructors, assistant coaches, and volunteers must maintain clear, professional boundaries and adhere to the following behavioural standards:

  • Physical Contact: Physical contact must be appropriate to the instruction of martial arts technique, tailored to the age and skill level of the student, and executed with the student's understanding. Unnecessary or inappropriate physical contact is strictly prohibited.

  • Supervision: A minimum of two adults (or clear line-of-sight visibility from parents/guardians) should be present during training sessions. One-on-one private situations with a child out of sight are not permitted.

  • Communication: Instructors and volunteers must not develop personal or exclusionary relationships with child students, give personal gifts, or communicate privately via social media or personal messaging.

  • Fairness: Bullying, harassment, discrimination, and unsavoury conduct will not be tolerated from anyone within the dojo.

3. Screening & Recruitment Requirements

To ensure only safe individuals work with children in our club:

  • All instructors, assistant instructors, and regular volunteers working with children under 18 must hold a valid, current Working with Children Check (WWCC) issued by the DHS Screening Unit.

  • The club will verify and monitor the status of all WWCCs through the DHS Screening Unit portal.

  • WWCC renewals must occur every 5 years.

  • Head Instructor, Shihan Derek Martin — WWCC Reference No. 12612335 (issued 22/05/2026), current and verified.

4. Mandatory Notification & Reporting

Instructors and designated volunteers are mandated notifiers under South Australian law.

  • If an instructor or volunteer forms a reasonable suspicion that a child or young person is at risk of harm or experiencing abuse, they must report it immediately to the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) on 13 14 78.

  • If a child is in immediate physical danger, 000 must be called first.

  • The club will support the child and protect the confidentiality of the report as required by law.

5. Policy Review and Lodgement

This policy will be reviewed at least once every 5 years. A new Child Safe Environments Compliance Statement will be lodged with the Department of Human Services (DHS) following any major update or review.

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