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SIA
SafeSport Program An Excellent Initiative As part of the implementation of risk management strategies, sports need to keep accurate and precise claims histories to provide evidence of the effectiveness and responsiveness of their risk management practices. SIA
believes there is a need for sport to adopt a more coordinated
approach to these issues and to proactively seek to put in place
measures that will allow sports to exert some influence over insurance
outcomes. It is of
concern to SIA that there has been little, if any, engagement of the
insurance companies in the process of implementing risk management
systems around the country. To
address all of the issues involved, and following extensive
discussions with the Standing Committee on Recreation and Sport, the
Australian Sports Commission, the State Federations for sport, a
number of sporting organisations, the Insurance Council of Australia
and insurance companies, SIA is in the final stages of the development
of an insurance accreditation standard for sporting organisations, to
be known as “SIA SafeSport”.
SIA
SafeSport is not simply a risk management program.
The scheme has been developed to complement the work being done
around the country on the development and implementation of risk
management programs, and to “take the next step” by giving
organisations both an incentive and a reward for implementing industry
standard risk management programs. Sporting organisations do stand to benefit, albeit to a limited extent, from changes to the legislative framework. SIA is pleased to see many of the initiatives being taken in the area of legislative and tort reform, particularly in the encouragement of people to take some responsibility for their own actions, and to accept the inherent risks of participation in sporting activities. It is, however, of concern that some of these initiatives may dissuade people from participating if there is no means by which they can assess the safety practices |
of any particular organisation, yet are required to assume responsibility for their participation. The
definition of inherent or obvious risks referred to by Justice Ipp in
the Review of the Law of Negligence Report is obviously also open to a
wide range of interpretations and without some industry standard there
are no guidelines for either organisations or While
the insurance crisis has motivated this attention to risk management
and safety systems, the benefits to sport should not be underestimated
and extend far beyond improved insurance premiums.
The implementation of best practice standards in all areas of
sport management, and the adherence to these practices will enhance
the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the administration of
sport at all levels. SIA
will be working with governments at all levels to encourage
recognition of SafeSport standards in the delivery of their programs. It is vital that the development and implementation of accreditation standards for sport be industry driven. While Governments can play an important role in facilitating the implementation of these standards, including through initial funding support, to be effective they must be seen as being introduced for, on behalf of, and by, the industry itself. SIA
SAFESPORT ACCREDITATION
OBJECTIVE
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