The Department of Sport and Recreation advocates for sport and recreation settings which are harassment-free and encourage greater participation by Western Australians.
Related topics: harassment
Download this document
Behaviours including discrimination, ribbing, exclusion based upon factors not related to the sporting activity and verbal abuse are considered inappropriate and constitute harassment by legal definition.
There are many legal and ethical reasons as to why providers of sport and recreation services and facilities need to ensure participants are not discriminated against. Often harassment and discrimination go unnoticed, or some groups have become conditioned to them so they become part of the social and cultural norms of the sport.
There are specific behaviours (e.g. unwelcome sexual propositions) which may be considered offensive by the recipient, hence constitute harassment or discrimination and in some instances these may be against the law.
The objective of a harassment-free sport policy is to provide a safer environment for all Western Australians to participate in sport and recreation. Effective mechanisms and procedures need to be developed by sport and recreation groups to prevent and/or manage incidents of harassment and discrimination.
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has developed a set of resources to support harassment free sport that has been endorsed by all state/territory governments.
Where would you like to go next?
The Department of Sport and Recreation seeks to promote, encourage and support strategies to minimise harm from alcohol and other drug use in the interests of the health and safety of those participating in sporting and recreational activities.
Every child has the right to participate in sport and recreation activities without risk to their physical and emotional well-being.
The Department of Sport and Recreation supports the active involvement of well-trained, skilled and informed people delivering coaching services at community level through to supporting elite athletes. Good quality coaching will ensure that participants' experience in sport and recreation is positive, safe and fun.
People with disabilities are entitled to access opportunities to benefit from the social, physical and
health benefits of participation in community sport and recreation.
The State Government condemns the use of banned performance-enhancing substances and other doping and drug-taking in sport and recreation.
To enable representative athletes to compete in national championships Western Australian parents and State sporting associations currently need to raise up to twice the amount of funds as their eastern states counterparts. This situation is contrary to Federation principles.
The State Government will be guided by a series of principles to ensure Western Australia's long-term interests are protected when considering its options for funding support to a National
Sport Organisation (NSO).
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) considers quality governance as vital to the future development of sport and recreation organisations. Good governance is a sound investment in quality sport and recreation service provision for the benefit of the Western Australian community.
If it is not appropriate for a national championship to be hosted in WA (e.g. due to lack of a suitable facility) then the NSO should ensure that a program variation format delivering similar benefits is in place.
DSR believes that all NSOs should adopt an approach to hosting national championships that enhance the nationwide development of their sport.
DSR is committed to inclusive practices that encourage participation in physical activity of all people, regardless of their age, gender, cultural background, sexual orientation, disability, income and geographical location.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) recognises the value of sport and recreation to the Indigenous community and is committed to increasing participation in physical activity and building community capacity.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) holds integrity in sport as the basis of sport's reputation for fair and ethical behaviour. DSR acknowledges that leadership from industry is critical to the maintenance of community confidence in the integrity in sport.
In the context of junior sport and to protect young people from harm, the Department of Sport and Recreation does not support alcohol sponsorship. DSR strongly urges sport and recreation clubs and associations to seek sponsorships from companies other than those producing and promoting alcoholic beverages.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) supports access and opportunities for mature-aged participation in sport and recreation and physical activity because of the physical, social and emotional benefits it offers.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) considers there should be no financial benefit to a sport from any form of structural separation, i.e. by age, by gender, by geography or by activity.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) supports the active involvement of qualified officials preferably with accreditation appropriate to their level of involvement in sport and recreation. Appropriate qualifications are those provided through the national accreditation schemes and supported by the relevant sporting organisations.
The Department of Sport and Recreation supports initiatives to make sport and recreation safer for children and acknowledges that there is legislation that supports children's rights.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) actively promotes sport and recreation initiatives to support increased physical activity levels of Western Australians.
DSR's contribution to physical activity is focussed on both organised sport and less competitive, unstructured activity such as social/recreational participation.
The department is committed to safe participation in physical activity and to the development and management of best practice in all areas of sport and recreation, including underwater recreational diving and snorkelling.
DSR actively supports the voluntary Diving and Snorkelling Codes of Practice developed by stakeholders and the industry forum set up to address ongoing issues. These two initiatives are seen as positive and appropriate risk management strategies by the industry.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) supports physical activity and sport in the school environment because active children are healthier, more attentive, more confident and less likely to be absent from class. Schools are acknowledged as excellent settings for the promotion and delivery of physical activity opportunities.
The State Government, through the Department of Sport and Recreation, has an expectation that sport and recreation service providers will familiarise themselves with the principles of the State Sustainability Strategy and factor in required responses in future strategic and business planning deliberations.
The State Government condemns any form of violent behaviour (physical and/or verbal) outside the rules of a sport and/or recreation activity.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) values, encourages and supports volunteering in order to secure the future delivery of sport and recreation opportunities for communities throughout Western Australia.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) supports the enjoyment of water-based sport and recreation activities in a safe manner. The department has committed to the WA Water Safety Framework 2004-2007 with its purpose to achieve coordination and collaboration among government and non-government agencies for the improved strategic management of water safety in Western Australia.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) seeks to promote, encourage and support strategies to create safe environments for children’s participation in sport and active recreation.
