Trailhead Coaching prioritises the active participation of all children, young people, and their families in our programs. The focus is on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
Trailhead Coaching is committed to facilitating mountain bike coaching programs that are safe for all children and will not tolerate any kind of abuse or harm, Trailhead Coaching builds safety and risk management planning into all programs.
Trailhead Coaching acknowledges that we ride and work on Dja Dja Wurrung country and pay our respects to all First Nations children and their families and communities who attend our programs and who are part of our local areas.
This Child/Youth Safety and Wellbeing Policy outlines Trailhead Coaching’s commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and youth who participate in our programs, as well as youth staff members.
This policy applies to all people who conduct work for Trailhead Coaching related to children and young people, or who are connected to Trail Coaching in a paid or unpaid capacity. This includes:
Email : [email protected]
Mobile : 0416 225 456
Email : [email protected]
Mobile :0400 871 803
Child/youth means a person involved in the activities of Trailhead Coaching under the age of 18 years unless otherwise stated under the law applicable to the child.
Child Abuse is the mistreatment of a child or young person that has harmed, is harming or is likely to harm or endanger that child or young person’s physical or emotional health, development or wellbeing and the child has not, or is not likely to be protected by the parent(s) or guardian(s). For the avoidance of doubt, this includes but is not limited to : –
Harm is damage to the health, safety or wellbeing of a child or young person, including as a result of child abuse by adults or the conduct of other children. It includes physical, emotional, sexual, and psychological harm. Harm can arise from a single act or event and can also be cumulative, that is, arising as a result of a series of acts or events over a period of time. It is irrelevant how the harm is caused. It can include but is not limited to :
Discrimination happens when a person, or a group of people, is treated less favourably than another person or group because of their background or certain personal characteristics. This can include but is not limited to:
Child protection means any responsibility, measure or activity undertaken to safeguard children from harm.
Cultural Safety is being welcoming and respectful of another person’s culture, including First Nations children and families. This includes:
Mountain bike specific associations:
Trailhead Coaching views children and youth as active participants and valuable contributors providing them with opportunities to have their voices included. This is done through:
Trailhead Coaching understand the importance of community and social building through sport and actively promote this through:
Trailhead Coaching welcomes people regardless of age, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, language, religion, political or other opinion, nationality, cultural background, financial situation, ability, disability, or other characteristics. This is done by:
Safe riding practices and mountain bike skills development are paramount to every program. All coaches are first aid certified with our senior coaches having remote and wilderness qualifications.
Staff adhere to Trailhead Coaching’s current risk management policy relevant to mountain biking guiding and safety. As well as being governed by Australian Adventure Activities Standards, PMBIA Code of Conduct and IMBA Rules of the Trail.
We maintain a coaching ratio of one instructor to six participants which allows us to safely manage our riders, maximize learning time and be able to provide specific individual feedback.
One-to-one sessions fall into the category of a situation that needs to be ‘safely managed’ as they are outside the boundaries of our Code of Conduct. This could include; driving a child to an event, competition, or to a mountain biking location or undertaking a one-on-one training session. For one-to-one coaching, additional information will be collected when a registration for a child/youth is made. Senior coaches can conduct one-to-one sessions with children/youth upon the discretion of the business CEO Joanna Wall.
Trailhead Coaching has a Code of Conduct, which includes expectations about working with children and youth. Staff and volunteers must always comply with the Code of Conduct. Breaches of the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action including termination of a person’s involvement with the organisation.
All third-party contractors are also expected to abide by the Code of Conduct, and where they are engaging with children will have to sign an agreement to comply with the code, prior to delivering any services.
Recruiting staff and volunteers
Trailhead Coaching puts child/youth safety and wellbeing at the centre of recruiting and screening staff and volunteers. Predominantly staff are part of a mentorship program as well as from the local mountain bicycle community. All staff are employed based on their ability to obtain the required certification to conduct mountain bike skills sessions (PMBIA) as well as what they have demonstrated from being a part of the local mountain bike community (social rides; rider development programs). All recruits are given a position description which outlines role requirements and expectations.
Staff and volunteers are provided child/youth safety and wellbeing focused support through :
All reports of child abuse and child safety concerns will be treated seriously, whether they are made by an adult or a child and whether they are about the conduct of an adult or a child. All complaints and child safety concerns will be responded to promptly and thoroughly.
Trailhead Coaching has a complaint handling policy that includes information for staff and volunteers about how a complaint or child safety concern will be responded to. An easy-to-understand complaints information sheet will be provided for children, families, and the community to know about the complaint process and the support available to those making a complaint and those involved in the complaint process.
If a complaint includes an allegation or incident of child abuse or harm, then staff and volunteers at Trailhead Coaching must report it in accordance with the complaint handling policy. Trailhead Coaching staff and volunteers are required to prioritise children’s safety in any response and to report all potentially criminal conduct to Victoria Police. Under the complaint handling and disciplinary policies, staff and volunteers may be subject to actions to support child safety including:
Complaints can be emailed to [email protected] or you can speak with a Child Safety Person.
If there is concern for the immediate safety of a child, immediately call 000.
Record keeping
Trailhead Coaching is committed to making and keeping full and accurate records about all child-related complaints or safety concerns.
All child safety complaints, concerns, incidents and near misses will be recorded in the incident reporting system.
Records which may assist with the investigation of a complaint or safety concern will be identified and kept as part of the record of an investigation. Records will be kept even if an investigation does not substantiate a complaint.
We will record and keep the outcome of any investigations, and the resolution of any complaints. This includes findings made, reasons for decisions and actions taken.
Records will be stored securely and kept by Trailhead Coaching for at least 45 years.
Trailhead Coaching may share relevant information to promote the safety and wellbeing of children, where it is appropriate and in their best interests. Trailhead Coaching will keep information about complaints confidential, except where it is necessary to share information to respond properly to a complaint or to prioritise child safety. We may also need to share information about incidents or complaints with external authorities to comply with the law or to prioritise safety. More information is available in our complaint handling policy.
Relevant legislation and standards :
This policy was created by Natalya Garden and approved by Joanna Wall, Trailhead Coaching CEO.
In the event that Trailhead Coaching’s Code of Conduct is breached (any person outlined in the scope and responsibilities part of this policy), the Trailhead Coaching CEO Joanna Wall will conduct a review of the incident/behaviour and follow the process for reporting or managing outlined in Trailhead Coaching’s Code of Conduct.
Please direct all enquiries related to information and assistance of this policy and in the event of identifying breaches to the policy to:
Email : [email protected]
Mobile :0400 871 803
This policy came into effect on 23rd June 2023 and is due to be reviewed on 23rd June 2025 led by Joanna Wall.
