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