Do I need consent to photograph junior players?

Q: Do I need consent to photograph junior players?

It depends on who is taking the photo and why. Official club photos (the club or someone taking images for it): Sport Integrity Australia's Children and Young People Safe Practices require written consent from parents or carers before taking images of a child. If consent is collected at registration, the terms must clearly state: what images can be taken how they may be used who will have access to them how they will be stored how and when they will be disposed of that the athlete or parent can remove consent at any time. Consent for a specific event does not cover other events; further consent is needed from the parent or carer and the child. Coaches who film for skill development also need consent, and images consented to for skill development must not be used for marketing. If consent is not gained, the child should not be photographed. Members of the public at a public venue: there is no legal requirement for consent, as long as the images are not illegal, though a request not to be photographed should be respected. Private venues can set their own rules. Sources: Sport Integrity Australia, Photography and Filming of Children and Young People in Sport (February 2024); Play by the Rules, Taking and Sharing Images at Sport (June 2025).

Question

Accepted Answer

It depends on who is taking the photo and why.

Official club photos (the club or someone taking images for it): Sport Integrity Australia's Children and Young People Safe Practices require written consent from parents or carers before taking images of a child. If consent is collected at registration, the terms must clearly state:

what images can be taken
how they may be used
who will have access to them
how they will be stored
how and when they will be disposed of
that the athlete or parent can remove consent at any time.

Consent for a specific event does not cover other events; further consent is needed from the parent or carer and the child. Coaches who film for skill development also need consent, and images consented to for skill development must not be used for marketing. If consent is not gained, the child should not be photographed.

Members of the public at a public venue: there is no legal requirement for consent, as long as the images are not illegal, though a request not to be photographed should be respected. Private venues can set their own rules.

Sources: Sport Integrity Australia, Photography and Filming of Children and Young People in Sport (February 2024); Play by the Rules, Taking and Sharing Images at Sport (June 2025).