Rationale:

• The Drouin Junior Football Club has both a desire and a responsibility to ensure that high standards of conduct are maintained by administrators, coaches, officials, parents and children at all times, and that complaints are managed and resolved fairly, efficiently, promptly and in accordance with the Warragul & District Junior Football League Guidelines and Recommendations and in accordance with the AFL Code of Conduct (see appendix one).

Aims:

• To provide a harmonious, positive, productive and fun club environment.
• To resolve complaints fairly, efficiently, promptly and in accordance with relative legislation.

Implementation:

• Our club seeks to provide a positive, harmonious, and productive environment where children and their families learn to play and participate in football in a fun and friendly atmosphere.
• It is the Code of Conduct Co-ordinator with the support of the President and Executive Committee Member’s responsibility to provide a healthy and positive club environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. In doing so, the Code of Conduct Co-ordinator must ensure that all officials representing DJFC, its members and parents are aware of their rights and responsibilities.
• The Code of Conduct Co-ordinator is required to use local complaints resolution procedures, where appropriate, for resolving complaints in relation to issues that fall within the club’s area of responsibility.
• All cases of serious misconduct – sexual offences, criminal charges, or other serious incidents – must be referred to the W&DJFL and the VCFL
• It is incumbent upon the Code of Conduct Co-ordinator, with the support of club officials to act where unacceptable conduct is observed or brought to his or her attention.
• A complainant may at any stage choose to take their complaint directly to an external agency such as the Merit Protection Boards, Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission or the Ombudsman.
• It is important that all complaints, ensuing procedures, and outcomes are fully documented.
• The Code of Conduct Co-ordinator may choose to respond to a complaint through an informal process in cases where the complaint is minor or the complainant wishes the matter to be dealt with informally, or the complaint has arisen from lack of, or unclear communication.
• Formal processes will be used when informal processes have not been successful, a complainant seeks a formal process, or the Code of Conduct Co-ordinator believes the complaint warrants formal investigation.

The informal process: –

1. A complaint is received by the Code of Conduct Co-ordinator.
2. The Code of Conduct Co-ordinator initiates contact to clarify concerns and makes contact with both parties seeking resolution or taking action to resolve concern.
3. The expectations regarding the Mission of DJFC and the expected behaviour as contained within the spirit of the Code of Conduct are addressed.
4. The issue is monitored for appropriate changes in procedure or behaviour. Members of the Executive Committee are informed of the concerns and work with the Code of Conduct Co-ordinator to monitor, and action if required, the immediate intervention if concerns continue.
5. If issues are resolved no action is to be taken but concerns documented and monitored.
6. If concerns continue a formal process is instigated as per:-

The formal process: –

1. Provision of a reporting process where the Code of Conduct Co-ordinator believes that a breach of the Code warrants referral to the League Executive – refer Incident Report Form.
2. Provision within the League/Association Regulations or By-Laws for dealing with reports referred by a Code of Conduct Co-ordinator. This should include an obligation on clubs to require parents to attend a Meeting with League Executives if necessary.
3. Provision within the League/Association Regulations or By-Laws that its clubs are ultimately responsible for the actions of officials and parents.

Where a Code of Conduct Co-ordinator has lodged a report with the League/Association Executive notifying a breach of the Code, the following is recommended:-

• The League Executive should discuss with the Co-ordinator.
• The League Executive should notify the club and discuss with the club President or Senior Official.
• The club should discuss with the parent or supporter concerned, reminding them of their obligation to the Code of Conduct.
• If further action is considered necessary, the parent or supporter should be required to attend a Meeting of the League Executive or Tribunal and be subject to the disciplinary procedures of the League/Association concerned.

Sanctions may include:-

• A formal reprimand or warning.
• Suspension from attendance at matches.
• A suspended match suspension.
• Other as deemed appropriate.

It is essential at all times that natural justice and the privacy of the individual are respected and dealt with sensitively, irrespective of the alleged breach of the Code. All processes must be in accordance with the provisions of the League/Association Regulations or By-Laws.

• Parties dissatisfied with the process can appeal to the previously mentioned external agencies.
• The Club Council President will be kept informed of all complaints.

Conduct toward Junior Umpires – Greenshirts:-

• All players, officials and spectators acknowledge that Junior Umpires (“Greenshirts”) follow the “Greenshirt Program Training Guidelines”.
• Each Club is to nominate an official from each Stream to be the Junior Umpire Liaison Officer.
• The Junior Umpire Liaison Officer shall communicate the Junior Umpire’s (Greenshirt) decided course of action in response to issues of behaviour or conduct.
• All players, officials and spectators shall abide by the directed course of action.

This policy was last updated by DJFC Management Committee.