What does the Participant Protection Policy (formerly Member Protection) ban?
Rule- Australia
- Sport Integrity Australia
- National Integrity Framework
- All ages
- 2026
- Club committees
- Safeguarding
- Complaints
- Community sport
- Participant Protection
The Participant Protection Policy was called the Member Protection Policy and has been renamed and expanded to cover all participants. It applies to behaviour directed towards adults. Behaviour directed towards under 18s is managed under the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy. It aligns with the Play Well Way values: respect, belonging, wellbeing, enjoyment and growth.
Banned behaviours (in person and online) include:
- abuse (physical, sexual, emotional or psychological, or using a position of authority to control others)
- abusive behaviour on the basis of disability
- bullying (it does not include legitimate and reasonable management action, disciplinary action or allocation of activities in compliance with agreed systems)
- harassment, including insulting jokes or derogatory comments about race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, weight or appearance, intrusive personal questions, doxxing, and creating or sharing AI-generated content to cause distress
- sexual misconduct, such as unwelcome touching, suggestive comments, unwanted invitations to go on dates
- discrimination (direct or indirect) on a protected characteristic
- victimisation of someone who made, or supported, a complaint
- vilification.
You must report any suspicions or allegations of Prohibited Conduct. The 2026 update adds a general exemption confirming that reasonable management, coaching, safeguarding and duty-of-care actions are not Prohibited Conduct where applicable.
Sources: https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/what-we-do/national-integrity-framework/participant-protection-policy-overview and https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/sites/default/files/SIA744-0726-NIF-KEY-CHANGES-WEB-ACC_0.pdf
Added 24 Oct 2026