MORE than 1200 young basketball players across the Redlands will benefit from a major child safeguarding initiative strengthening safety, culture and accountability across eight local clubs with young people helping lead the change.
The program, led by RedCity Roar Basketball Association in partnership with children’s charity Life Ed Queensland, equips clubs with practical tools to meet Queensland’s new child safeguarding law while ensuring young players have a direct voice in designing safer sporting environments.
In one of the first grassroots community sport responses to the reforms introduced last October, RedCity Roar has placed young people at the centre co-designing resources, messaging and practical guidance that reflect what safety looks and feels like from their perspective.
The initiative translates legal requirements into practical action at club level, with a clear roadmap to meet policy, procedure and Blue Card obligations.
It includes online training for coaches and volunteers as well as booklets and posters co-designed with young people. Trauma-informed approaches are embedded throughout to better support players across all levels of the game.
The program responds to strengthened child safety requirements introduced in Queensland following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which called for systemic improvements in prevention, reporting and organisational culture.
Life Ed Queensland CEO Taryn Black said the partnership reflects a shift toward embedding child safety in every environment where children learn and play.
“Sport plays a vital role in children’s lives, and it should always be a place where they feel safe, respected and heard,” Ms Black said.
“At Life Ed, we’ve spent decades supporting children to develop protective behaviours including respectful relationships, consent, help-seeking and making safe, healthy choices.
“This partnership extends that work beyond the classroom into community sport, giving coaches, volunteers and families the confidence to recognise concerns, respond appropriately and lead by example.
“Just as importantly, we are listening to young people.
“When children feel safe to speak up – and know they will be heard – it helps create environments where harm is far less likely.”
RedCity Roar General Manager Chris Angus said the program was about building a strong, values-driven club culture and not just meeting compliance requirements.
“Safeguarding isn’t a box to tick – it’s how we operate every day,” Mr Angus said.
“This partnership is giving our coaches, volunteers and administrators the practical guidance and confidence to create environments where children feel safe and supported, both at training and in competition.”
The new child safeguarding laws include 10 Child Safe Standards and The Universal Principle, which promotes and upholds cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
