Dear Members, as foreshadowed in the recent VGC Newsletter, we write to advise that following the proclamation of the Queensland Child Safe Organisations Act in September 25, the act requires sporting clubs which provide services to Children (as VGC does) to be compliant with the Act with the notional date to achieve compliance of 1st April 2026.
The legislation includes 10 safeguarding standards to be established by VGC to safeguard children who are junior or sub junior members of the Club and to ensure that Club appropriately safeguards children whilst at VGC. Over the past 6 months, Club Directors and Management staff have put in place a range of measures to achieve compliance with the Act, which are included in the Club’s Child Safeguarding policy, a copy of which can be viewed by clicking HERE.
Other key aspects supporting the Club’s policy include the appointment of an existing Club Director as sponsor of the Club’s Children Safeguarding activities. VGC Director Helen Masterson has been appointed as the Club’s child safeguarding sponsor to ensure that child safeguarding activities are regularly reviewed by the Club’s Board. In addition, the Club has appointed Sammy Lethborg from our Administration function and Corey Jeucken from the Golf shop as VGC Child Safeguarding Officers, who are available as a first point of contact for junior & sub junior members, parents or other members to report any issues or concerns in relation to Child safeguarding at VGC, (any such matters will be managed in a confidential manner to the full extent possible). Other measures undertaken include ensuring that all Directors and Staff at VGC who are in any way connected to Junior golf at VGC to hold valid Queensland ‘working with children – Blue Cards’ ensuring that any person employed at VGC or as a volunteer is accredited to work with children at the Club.
As the Club has a long term and proud history of supporting junior golf and young members, we would simply ask all (adult) members when playing with Junior members to ensure we exercise appropriate behaviours to avoid any negative impact on junior players, for example ensuring appropriate language when interacting with young players at the club or on course, avoiding inappropriate or offensive language, exercise appropriate etiquette on course as an example to junior players, and of course, reporting to Club Safeguarding Officers Sammy or Corey of any issues or concerns observed at VGC.
The club will continue actively working on these initial Child Safety Standards and practical steps to ensure compliance with the Act over time and will periodically update members of any developments or further child safeguarding activities which might be necessary in the future.
Noel McLean
President VGC
On Behalf of the Board of Directors.
