Safe to Play
Creating DV-safe, trauma-informed sporting communities where children and families can participate confidently and without fear.
Safe to Play is a voluntary, supported accreditation program that helps sporting clubs become recognised as DV-Safe Clubs. It’s not about clubs managing domestic violence, it’s about creating safe sporting environments through knowledge, structure, and partnership.
Why Safe to Play?
Safe to Play supports sporting clubs to put clear, consistent safety structures in place so children and families can participate in sport with confidence.
It brings together:
- education and awareness
- practical policies and procedures
- culture and visibility
- clinical support and referral pathways
- legal guidance to help clubs act safely and within their obligations
Sporting Events as Community Hubs
Across Australia, around 63% of children aged 5 to 14 participate in organised sport outside of school hours through clubs and community organisations.
Domestic and family violence remains at alarmingly high levels, affecting many families across communities. Sporting events often serve as routine points where children are dropped off, picked up, or handed over between parents, which can place families in direct contact with challenging situations.
Wide bay Area: The Local Reality
- 8,218% increase in DFV-related police calls over 10 years
- 33,721 people in the Wide Bay region reported experiencing domestic or family violence (2019 social health survey)
- 140% rise in breaches of Domestic Violence Orders across the region (2010–2020)
- 2,933 breaches in Bundaberg alone in 2022 — exceeding the entire region’s breaches only three years earlier
Our Purpose and Vision
The Safe to Play initiative exists to create DV-safe, trauma-informed sporting communities where children and families impacted by domestic and family violence can participate confidently and without fear.
Safe to Play establishes a DV-Safe Sport model that combines:
• Clear safety expectations
• Legal and clinical guidance
• Education and cultural change
• Shared responsibility between clubs and community partners
The initiative provides clubs with the framework, support, and confidence to respond to DFV-related risks appropriately, without requiring families to disclose or justify their trauma in order to be believed.
Our vision is that:
• no child is excluded from sport due to domestic and family violence
• no club is left navigating complex safety situations alone
• DV-Safe Clubs become visible, trusted community spaces for families
What it means to be a DV-safe Club
A DV-Safe Club is a club that commits to practical, visible steps that improve safety and support.
Being DV-Safe means your club is working towards:
- clear standards of behaviour and respectful culture
- informed leadership (committee, coaches, volunteers) who know what to do if concerns arise
- safe, consistent ways for players and families to raise concerns
- connections to appropriate support services
- ongoing learning, not a one-off “tick the box”
Safe to Play is not asking clubs to become counsellors or investigators. It’s about being prepared, being consistent, and knowing the next right step.
Expression of Interest
If your club wants to be involved, the first step is submitting an Expression of Interest.
What the EOI will tell us:
- your club name and key contact
- your current priorities and challenges
- what support would be most useful
Information Sessions
We host monthly information sessions for clubs and families to learn what Safe to Play is, what participation involves, and how DV-Safe Clubs are supported.
In the session, we cover:
- what “DV-Safe Club” means in practice
- what clubs can expect (and what they won’t be expected to do)
- how the initiative supports players, families, and volunteers
- timelines, next steps, and how to get involved
Safe to Play is not asking clubs to become counsellors or investigators. It’s about being prepared, being consistent, and knowing the next right step.
The Three Pillars of Safe to Play Accreditation
Education & Awareness
- Committee completes DV-awareness training
- Coaches & volunteers complete basic training modules
- Club participates in HALT education (children, families, or members)
Policies and Procedures
- Adopt the Safe to Play DV-Safe Policy Pack
- Nominate a Club Safety Contact
- Follow agreed attendance boundaries where required
- Use clear escalation pathways for concerns
Culture and Visibility
- Display DV-Safe Club signage
- Make a public statement of commitment
- Participate in an annual DV-Safe awareness activity or round
- Model respectful behaviour across the club
Have Questions?
If you’re a club, parent, carer, player, or community member and you’d like to understand what Safe to Play involves, or you’re not sure which pathway is right, reach out directly.
Clubs: enquiries about becoming DV-Safe, participation, timelines, and support
Families: questions about what DV-Safe means, what to expect, and where to find help
Inaugural Sporting Club Announcement
We’re proud to announce Maryborough Brothers as our inaugural Safe to Play club.
Their leadership reflects what Safe to Play is about: strengthening community sport through clear standards, informed support, and a culture where people feel safe to speak up.
Partner Acknowledgements
Safe to Play is delivered with the support of: