At Spinal Life Australia and Sporting Wheelies, we are committed to providing a child safe environment where the safety, wellbeing and rights of children and young people are protected and promoted.
We have zero tolerance for child abuse and harm.
Children’s voices matter, and we take all concerns seriously.
Our approach aligns with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, Queensland’s Child Safe Organisations Act 2024, and Western Australia’s Children and Community Services Amendment Act 2021.
We believe every child who interacts with us has the right to feel safe.
Our Child Safe Promise
We are committed to:
- Creating a culture where children feel safe, respected and heard
- Acting on concerns promptly and appropriately
- Supporting parents and carers
- Meeting Child Safe Standards and continuously improving our practices
How We Keep Children Safe
We support child safety by:
- Embedding child safety in our leadership, culture and everyday practice
- Empowering children to speak up and be involved in decisions that affect them
- Providing clear, safe ways for children and families to raise concerns
- Maintaining strong recruitment, screening and training processes
- Completing risk assessments for activities involving children
- Promoting inclusive and culturally safe environments
- Regularly reviewing and improving our policies and practices
Supporting Children to Speak Up
We encourage children and young people to speak up if they feel unsafe, worried or concerned about themselves or others.
Children can:
- Talk to Dane Cross (Chief Operating Officer, Sporting Wheelies) or Kevin Prendergast (Chief Human Resource Officer, Spinal Life Australia)
- Use the suggestion box (located at Sporting Wheelies, where children’s programs are held)
- Talk to a grown-up they can trust
- Call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (free and confidential, available anytime)
Learn More
You can click here to read our full Child Safety Policy for more information.
You can click here to find out more about our Feedback and Complaints process.
More information about National Child Safety Principles, the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, Queensland’s Child Safe Organisations Act 2024, and WA’s Children and Community Services Amendment Act 2021 can also be found via:
- National Office for Child Safety
- Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety (QLD)
- Commissioner for Children and Young People (WA)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “child safe organisation” mean?
It means we actively work to protect children from harm, take concerns seriously, and create an environment where children feel safe, respected and heard.
What should I do if I have a concern?
Please speak with Dane Cross (Chief Operating Officer, Sporting Wheelies) or Kevin Prendergast (Chief Human Resource Officer, Spinal Life Australia) or another member of our team. You can also use our Feedback and Complaints process or support services like Kids Helpline.
How do you ensure your staff are safe to work with children?
We use appropriate screening, recruitment and ongoing training to ensure our team understands and meets child safety requirements.
Do you review your child safety practices?
We regularly review and improve our policies, procedures and training to meet national and state standards.