13:59 Sun 05 Aug 2007				REF:6123MCN4
						Y/R: Meeting T 2007/08/07
TO:	Cr Denise WILTON		cc	KSAS-Mosman
	MAYOR				F:	{61}(2) 9978-4132
	MOSMAN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Dear Madam Mayor and Councillors

		CHILD PROTECTION - IDENTIFIED GAPS IN SERVICE

Further to the recent seminars organised by concerned Mosman Parents for Child 
Protection in Mosman Junior Sport Clubs, this is to confirm a number of 
identified gaps in the current service.

In addition this letter is requesting Mosman Council's support, possibly by a 
Community Development & Support Expenditure [CDSE] grant, to implement "an 
inclusive, effective and local community based Network" to address the problems 
identified.

The identified Gaps include:

A	Clubs do not allocate funds for Child Protection

B	Volunteers not checked due to difficulty retaining Volunteers

C	Sponsorship payments not spent on Child Protection and Skill Development 

D	Concern by Sponsors for measurable return on Sponsorship

E	Lack of expertise on Information Technology costs

F	different interpretations who responsible for Child Protection

A	JUNIOR SPORTS CLUBS DO NOT ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR CHILD PROTECTION

Please find attached the membership fee structure for a Junior Sports 
Club that plays in the same Competition (Manly-Warringah) as 
Mosman - no membership fee allocated to conducting checks

Att A:	Pittwater membership fees 2005/2006

In addition the General Manager KSAS-Mosman also wrote to the Mosman Daily 
to point out that the fees appear to be "Elastic" between 2005 and 2006 !

Att B:	Concern over "elastic" membership fees

B	CHILD PROTECTION CHECKS NOT CONDUCTED

The Child Protection checks are not carried out because of the 
difficulty for Clubs to set up an effective Volunteer Management 
process to conduct the Checks.

The Club do not have the resources or know the process for 
conducting Volunteer checks

Att C:		Feedback from KSAS-Mosman Seminar 27 Jun 2007

C	SPONSORSHIP FUNDS TO APPROPRIATE FUNCTION

There are many concerns that the Sponsorship Funds are not
directed to the Child Protection issue or developing the Coaching 
for Junior Sports

The Kids Safe-at-Sport Network [KSAS-Au] have developed an 
electronic system whereby the fund allocation could be monitored 
by a third party independent body such as the Local RSL.

The Constitution of the Mosman Returned Servicemen's Club allows 
it to set up a sub-committee to monitor that each Club and team 
receive the appropriate sponsorship fees
 
KSAS-Mosman is an example of a "Youth Interagency" identified in 
the City of Sydney Youth Strategy

Att D: City of Sydney Youth Interagency

D	MEASURABLE RETURN FOR SPONSORS

A number of potential sponsors of KSAS-Mosman have said one of the 
problems of sponsoring local clubs and events is that it is very 
difficult to assess what tangible returns are provided by sponsorship.

The Junior Sports Information System [JSIS] is a unique Internet 
application that will provide each sponsor with a tangible record of 
what new business is provided over the Internet from sponsorship of 
Local Sports Clubs.

Hence the Club and Team Sponsorship can be linked to new business
received or the team completing their responsibilities for the
whole season  

E	LACK OF EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE WITH CIT COSTS

Many Local Sports Clubs are being encouraged to identity Web 
Co-ordinators to operate Sub-Junior (6-9 yrs), Junior (10-16) and 
Senior Web Sites 

This is the link to the new Volunteer Organisation Structure
prepared by the Manly-Warringah Football Association [MWFA].

Att E: Manly-Warringah Soccer new Volunteer Organisation Structure	

This competition between local Football Clubs is on playing fields 
managed by 4 different Local Council.

Att F: Football Clubs in MWFA Competition	

OIC Members have recorded a number of incidents of Unconscionable 
Conduct by Internet Service Providers [ISPs] over the past 5 years  

As the Council is aware Litigation is an expensive business, so 
Mosman Junior Sports Clubs will not have the resources or expertise 
to dispute costs and services

[***** On 04 Aug 2007 the Australian Financial Review published
a number of articles on how Australian Councils were investors
in the US Sub-Prime Housing shambles via Collateralised Debt
Obligations [DBO] Credit Products *****]

F	DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION OF CHILD PROTECTION

As we are very aware, each Local Government Agency has a different 
interpretation of who is responsible for Child Protection issues 
within the Council Area.

In Mosman the General Manager stated on 24 Jul 2007 that it is the 
NSW Department of Sport and Recreation working with the NSW 
Commission for Children and Young People that is responsible NOT 
the Council    

Att F: Letter 24 May 2007  and

confirmed in G: Letter 30 May 2007

At Willoughby Council, the Council website states that it is responsible 
for the Child Protection issue and will provide Community Development 
Grants

Att H:	 Council has a lead role in Youth Affairs

At Manly Council the Council Sports Safety Guidelines state:

"Please note:

A	failure to comply with the minimum requirements may result in the 
	suspension of the user's access to grounds and facilities

B	Manly Council will conduct occasional audits of user's compliance 
	with these requirements to monitor their implementation

"SPORTS SAFETY MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

All users of Manly Council sporting facilities must adhere to the 
following sports safety requirements. 

In addition, users MUST adhere to the Safety Policies and Guidelines 
(including Codes of Behaviour) recommended by the governing body 
for their specific sport. 

6	Child protection

a	Comply with all relevant Child Protection Legislation in NSW"

Att I: Manly Council Web Page on Sport Child Protection

G	NEXT STEPS

Madam Mayor, this is why Mosman Parents of Junior Sports Players have 
supported "Kids Safe-at-Sport-Mosman" from Feb 2007 and are confused 
by the letter from the General Manager on 24 Jul 2007.

As Mosman parents have invested considerable time and resources to 
identify the Gaps in the Child Protection issues in Local Sport, the
Parents would appreciate a response from Council on Tue 21 Aug 2007 
as to whether it will support a CDSE Application by KSAS-Mosman in 
this new Financial Year.

Thank you

Yours sincerely

Stephen GOULD
Hon Secretary				
KSAS-MOSMAN				

E:	stephen.gould@ksas-au.net
M:	0416-009-468