The Northern Territory Institute of Sport (NTIS) is committed to providing a sport and work environment free of discrimination and harassment (sexual or otherwise) where individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and where children are protected from abuse.

The NTIS Member Protection Policy (the Policy) aims to provide the best possible environment in which its employees, coaches, volunteers and athletes can excel and discharge their responsibilities to ensure the peak performance of all teams, competitions and programs. The NTIS will not tolerate behaviour which constitutes abuse, discrimination or harassment under any circumstances and will take disciplinary action against anyone who breaches this Policy.

From 1 March 2011 it will be mandatory for people who have contact or potential contact with children in certain specified areas of employment to hold a Working with Children Clearance Notice.

Clearance Notices are designed to keep children safe by preventing those who pose a risk to the safety of children from working with them, in either paid or volunteer work. Everyone who is issued with a Working with Children Clearance Notice will also receive an Ochre Card. The Ochre Card can be carried with you in a wallet or purse as easy proof that you hold a Working with Children Clearance Notice.

Athlete Responsibilities

All NTIS athletes holders shall at all times act in a sporting manner, having regard to principles of fairness and common courtesy. Athletes will:

• Cooperate with their team mates, coach, support staff and opponents
• Control their temper
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of their ability, gender or cultural background
• Refrain from making bullying, derogatory or demeaning remarks about other people
• Refrain from making racist or sexist jokes, or jokes about sexual preferences
• Refrain from using anti gay, anti women or racist slurs to taunt someone or to motivate better performance
• Not allow offensive pictures or graffiti to be visible
• Refrain from looking at or touching anyone in ways that make them feel uncomfortable
• Refrain from making uninvited sexual comments that offend, intimidate or humiliate
• Not discriminate against, abuse or harass anyone else
• Refrain from throwing tantrums on or off the field
• Avoid intimate relationships with their coach or support staff
• Respond to concerns or allegations of abuse, discrimination or harassment and
• Report suspected incidents of abuse, discrimination or harassment.

Coach and Support Staff Responsibilities

This group includes NTIS coaches, network coaches, team managers, trainers, masseurs, sports science/sports medicine personnel and gymnasium staff. Coaches and support staff will:

• Agree to abide by the Policy
• Always use their position of power and authority to benefit athletes and the NTIS
• Make it clear to squad or team members that any unlawful discrimination – including jokes, innuendo or sledging – based upon age, sex, race, impairment, sexuality, marital status or pregnancy (or any other ground of discrimination covered by the Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Act) will not be tolerated
• Be aware of athletes’ special requirements, with the intention of reasonably accommodating them
• Not look at, speak to or make contact with athletes in a manner which is unwelcome, intrusive, abusive, discriminatory or inappropriate in the circumstances
• Avoid intimate relations with athletes
• Not unreasonably exclude or treat less favourably any athlete from playing or coaching activities on the basis of his or her race, sex, age, marital status, sexuality, pregnancy or intellectual or physical impairment
• Respond to concerns or allegations of breaches of this Policy promptly and
• Report any suspected breaches of this Policy.

To view or print the full Policy please select Member Protection Policy (pdf 123Kb)

For further information please phone 08 8922 6811.