When to Touch Guideline

Managingphysicalcontactwithyouthmembers

“WHENTOTOUCHAND NOTTOUCH”

In2006the‘NewSouthWalesCommissionfor ChildrenandYoungPeople’issuedupdated guidelinesdealingwiththe‘WorkingWithChildrenChecks’.Inparticular,Section5.1dealt withthereportableand nonreportableoffences,providingguidelinesastowhatwasconsidered appropriateindealingwithchildrenandyoungpeople.

TheseguidelinestendtomirrortheattitudethatScoutingin NSWhaspromotedfor some years.Editedextractsofthe Commissionsguidelinesappearon the nextthree pages.

Therearefive mainpointsto understandin usingthisguide.

1. Theseguidelinesare notto bereadinisolationbutinconjunctionwithour existingpoliciesandtheLeaderSupportGuide‘AvoidingAbuseinScouting’ availableonourwebsite.

2. Thegreatestprotectionofferedisbyhavingtwodeepleadership.Thereare cases wherewellmeaningpeoplehavereportedleaders,directto thepolice,for whattheythinkisa reportableoffence.Wheretherehasbeentwodeep leadershipthecomplaintisusuallyquicklyresolved,wherethere hasbeenonly oneleaderthejourneytofindinga resolutionisoftenlongandprotracted.

Whereasecondleaderisunavailable aparentrosteralsoservesasadditional protection shouldayouthmemberhavetosuddenly betakentohospital.Life threateningasthmaattacksandthesucharebecomingmorefrequent.

3. OurCodeof Conduct,whichcanbefoundonthebackpageofthisGuide andonthebackofyour LeaderAppointment,providesclearrequirementsfor appropriateleadershipinScouting.

4. Ensureyouare neveralonewithayouthmember.Remember“alwaysin sightbutoutof hearing”.

5. ScoutsNSW workswithNSWPolice,NSWCommunityServices(formerly DoCS),theNSWCommissionfor ChildrenandYoungPeople,andother relevantauthoritiesto addressanychildprotectionconcerns.

All suspicions,concernsorallegationsaboutcriminalmattersorchild protectionmattersshouldbereporteddirectlyto theChiefCommissioner,the ChiefExecutiveortheChild ProtectionOfficeratStateOfficeon97359000. Oncewereceiveanotification,theAssociationwill makean immediatereport to therelevantauthorities.

Ifanindividualhasmadea reportto NSWPolice,NSWCommunityServices, oranotherrelevantauthority,theyshouldalsoreportthematterto the Chief Commissioner,theChiefExecutiveortheChildProtectionOffice.The Associationwillthen makedirectcontactwiththerelevantauthorityaboutthe matter.

Reportingto theAssociationenablestheAssociationtoworkdirectlywiththe authoritiesin managingthematter.ItenablestheAssociationto takeimmediate actionunderitsBehaviouralManagementPolicy,inconsultationwiththe authorities.

Ifayoungpersonisinimminentdanger,themattershouldbereporteddirectly andimmediatelyto NSWPoliceon131 444.

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THEQUESTION ON YOUR MIND SHOULD ALWAYSBE:

Would a reasonablepersonseethis as being reasonable inthe circumstances?

(e.g.Helpinga disabledorillchildwillrequiregreaterphysicalcontact thanforthe

averageyouthmember.Howeverit wouldbe seenasreasonableto provide

appropriatephysicalcontact/supportforthechild’swellbeing.In factpartof your‘dutyofcare’)

Condensed ExtractsFrom

TheNSWCommissionforChildrenYoungPeople

TheWorkingwithChildrenCheckGuidelines2004

5.1.1Whatisreportableconduct?

Reportableconductmeans:

(a)anysexualoffence,orsexualmisconduct,committedagainst,withorinthepresenceofachild(includinga childpornographyoffence);or

(b)anyassault,illtreatmentorneglectofachild;or

(c)anybehaviourthatcausespsychologicalharmtoachild;

whetherornot,inanycase,withtheconsentofthechild(Section33,Commissionfor ChildrenandYoungPeople

Act1998).

Reportableconductmayincludeanyofthe followingbehaviour:

►Physicalassault

Usingcommonlawprinciples,physicalassaultmustincludeallthreeofthefollowingelements:

•Itisanactcommittedonortowardsachild;

and

•Itinvolveseithertheapplicationofforcetoachildoranactthatcausesachildtothinkthat immediateforcewillbe usedonthem;

and

•Itiseitherhostileorreckless(arecklessactisonewherethepersonforeseesthelikelihoodofinflictinginjury orfearandignorestherisk).

Actualphysicalharmdoesnothavetooccurinorderforanassaulttohavetakenplace,i.e. thechilddoesnot havetobeinjured.

Physicalcontactwhichisan inevitablepartofeverydaylifedoesnotamounttoanassault.Seethelistat5.1.2 forsomeexamplesofsuchcontact.

►Sexualassault

Sexualassaultreferstoasexualoffenceagainst,withorinthepresenceofachild.Itincludestheinvolvement ofchildreninsexualactsoractsofindecencyandanysexualthreatimposedonachild.

►Neglect

Neglectoccurs when achild isharmedby thefailureofapersonwhosejobincludescareresponsibilities towardsachild,toprovidebasicphysicalandemotionalnecessitiesoflife,includingfailureofthepersonto provideorarrangefor theprovisionofadequateandproperfood,nursing,clothing, medicalattentionor lodgingforachildinthatperson'scare.

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►Behaviourthatcausespsychologicalharm

Psychologicallyharmfulbehaviourisbehaviourthatresultsinsignificantemotionalharmortraumatoachild.Thereis acausallinkbetweentheinappropriatebehaviourandthe harm.

REMEMBER…

TWODEEPLEADERSHIPATALLTIMES PROTECTSLEADERSANDYOUTHMEMBERS

5.1.2Whatkinds ofbehaviours fall outsidethedefinitionofreportableconduct?

TheCommissionfor ChildrenandYoungPeopleAct1998providesthatreportableconductdoesnotinclude:

conductthatisreasonableforthepurposesofthediscipline,managementorcareofchildren,havingregardto the age,maturity,healthorothercharacteristicsofthechildrenandtoanyrelevantprofessionalstandards.

TheActlistssomeexamplesofconductthatwouldnotconstitutereportableconduct,namely:

•touchinganon-intimatepartofachild'sbodyinordertoattractachild'sattention,to guideachildor to comfortadistressedchild,

•aschoolteacherraisinghisorhervoiceinordertoattractattentionortorestoreorderintheclassroom;

and

•conductthatisestablishedtobeaccidental.

Furtherexamplesofbehavioursthatare notreportableconductinclude:

(a)providingappropriatemedicalcaretoachild whoishurt;

(b)guidingachildbytheshoulders,armsorhands;

(c)notprovidingsupervisionwherethiswasforgoodreason,and forashortperiodoftimeandwherethe riskofharmwasreasonablyperceivedatthetimetobelow;

(d)actionsfoundto havebeenappropriatephysicalcontactinclassessuchassport,drama,danceetc.

5.1.4 Whatis’sexualmisconduct'?

Sexualmisconductisa termusedtodescribearangeofbehavioursorapatternofbehaviouraimedatthe involvementofchildreninsexualacts.

Someofthesebehavioursmayinclude:

•inappropriateconversationsofasexualnature;

•commentsthatexpressadesiretoactina sexualmanner;

•unwarrantedandinappropriatetouching;

•sexualexhibitionism;

•personalcorrespondence(includingelectroniccommunication)withachildoryoungpersonin respectoftheadult'ssexualfeelingsforachildoryoungperson;

•deliberateexposureofchildrenandyoungpeopletosexualbehaviourofothersincludingdisplayof pornography;and

•possessionofchildpornographyintheworkplace.

Sexualmisconductincludes'groomingbehaviour',orpatternsofbehaviouraimedatengagingor'grooming'achild asaprecursortosexualabuse.Thegroomingprocesscaninclude:

•Persuadingthechildthata"special"relationship exists -spendinginappropriatespecialtimewiththe child,inappropriatelygivinggifts, showingspecialfavourstothembut not other children,allowingthe childtooversteprulesetc.;

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•Testingofboundaries-undressinginfrontofthechild,allowingthechildtositonthelap,talkingabout sex,'accidental'touchingofgenitalsetc.

Thesebehaviours maynotindicateriskiftheyoccurinisolation,butifthereisapatternofbehaviouroccurring,it mayindicategrooming.

Forsexualmisconducttobereportable,theallegedconductmusthavebeencommittedagainst,withorinthe presenceofachild.

5.1.5Whatisan'actofviolence'?

Anactofviolenceisanactor seriesofrelatedactsthathasinvolvedviolentconduct.

Foranactofviolencetobereportable,theallegedconductmusthavebeencommittedinthecourseofemployment andinthepresenceofachild.

5.1.5Whatisan'actofviolence'?

Anactofviolenceisanactor seriesofrelatedactsthathasinvolvedviolentconduct.

Foranactofviolencetobereportable,theallegedconductmusthavebeencommittedinthecourseofemployment andinthepresenceofachild.

NSWCommissionChildrenandYoungPeoples

WorkingWithChildrenCheckGuidelines2004

CODEOFCONDUCT

ThisCodeofConductisexpectedofalladults,uniformedandnon-uniformed,who workwithintheMovement,recognisingthatat alltimestheyshouldactresponsiblyandexerciseadutyofcare.

1. AdultsinScoutingrespectthedignityofthemselvesandothers.

2. AdultsinScoutingdemonstrateahighdegreeofindividualresponsibility,recognisingthatatalltimestheirwordsand actionsareanexampletoothermembersoftheMovement.

3. AdultsinScoutingactatalltimesinaccordancewithScoutingPrinciples,therebysettingasuitableexampleforall.

4. AdultsinScoutingdonotusetheMovementtopromotetheirownbeliefs,behavioursorpracticeswherethesearenot compatiblewithScoutingPrinciples.

5. AdultsinScoutingactwithconsiderationandgoodjudgementinallinterpersonalrelationships bothinsideandoutside

Scouting.

6. AdultsinScoutingrespecteveryone'srighttopersonalprivacyatalltimes.Theytakespecialcarewheresleeping, changingofclothing,bathingandablutionsareassociatedwithanyScoutingactivity

7. AdultsinScoutingavoidunaccompaniedandunobservedactivitieswithyouthmemberswhereverpossible.

8. AdultsinScouting,fortheirownprotection,shouldavoidpotentially compromisingsituationsbyensuring,where reasonablypossible,thatatleasttwoadultsareinattendancewhilstsupervisingand/or

accompanyingyouthmembers.Itisrecognisedthat,incertaincircumstances,itmaybenecessaryfora

Leaderoradult,whilstactingresponsiblyandexercisingtheirdutyofcare,tobealonewithayouthmember.

9. AdultsinScoutingrealisethatbullying,physicalorverbalabuse,neglectoranyothertypeofabuse,isunacceptable conductbyanymemberoftheMovement.

10.AdultsinScoutingmustreportanyconductseenorheardthatdoesnotcomplywiththisCodeofConduct.

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ReportChildProtectionConcernsandAbuse!

ScoutsNSW workswithNSWPolice,NSWCommunityServices(formerlyDoCS),theNSWCommission forChildrenandYoung

People,andotherrelevantauthoritiestoaddressanychildprotectionconcerns.

Allsuspicions,concernsorallegationsaboutcriminalmattersorchildprotectionmattersshouldbereporteddirectlytotheChief Commissioner,theChiefExecutiveortheChildProtectionOfficeratStateOfficeon97359000.Oncewereceiveanotification,the Associationwillmakeanimmediatereporttotherelevantauthorities.

IfanindividualhasmadeareporttoNSWPolice,NSWCommunityServices,oranotherrelevantauthority,theyshouldalsoreport themattertotheChiefCommissioner,theChiefExecutiveortheChildProtectionOffice.TheAssociationwillthenmakedirect contactwiththerelevantauthorityaboutthematter.

ReportingtotheAssociationenablestheAssociationtoworkdirectlywiththeauthoritiesinmanagingthematter.Itenablesthe

AssociationtotakeimmediateactionunderitsBehaviouralManagementPolicy,inconsultationwiththeauthorities.

ImminentDanger

Ifayoungpersonisinimminentdanger,themattershouldbereporteddirectlyandimmediatelytoNSWPoliceon131444.

Scouts Australia NSW acknowledges the contribution of Dr Warwick Bateman AM in the development of this Leader Support Guide.

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