VERSION 1.0 June 2023   1. Introduction Our mission is to develop honest, active, and confident athletes. 2. Purpose of Our Policy The main objective of 28 Degrees Aquatic (“our”, “us” or “we”) Club Code of Conduct (“policy”) is to maintain responsible behaviour and the making of informed decisions by members and other participants in this club. It outlines our commitment to a person’s right to be treated with respect and dignity, and to be safe and protected from discrimination, harassment, and abuse. Our policy informs everyone involved in our club of his or her legal and ethical rights and responsibilities and the standards of behaviour that are expected of them. It also covers the care and protection of children participating in our club’s activities. 3. Who Our Policy Applies To This policy applies to everyone involved in the activities of our club whether they are in a paid or unpaid/voluntary capacity and including: • directors, club committee members, administrators, managers, and other club officials; • coaches and assistant coaches and other personnel participating in events and activities, including camps and training sessions; • support personnel, including physiotherapists, psychologists, masseurs, sport trainers, logistics executives and others; • referees, umpires and other officials; • athletes; • members, including any life members; • parents; • spectators; and • any other person to whom the policy may apply. 4. Extent of Our Policy Our policy covers all matters directly and indirectly related to the 28 Degrees Aquatic and its activities. In particular, the policy governs unfair selection decisions and actions, breaches of our code of behaviour and behaviour that occurs at training sessions, in the club rooms, at social events organised or sanctioned by the club (or our sport), and on away and overnight trips. It also covers private behaviour where that behaviour brings our club or sport into disrepute or there is suspicion of harm towards a child or young person. 5. Club Responsibilities We will: • adopt, implement, and comply with this policy; • ensure that this policy is enforceable; • publish, distribute, and promote this policy and the consequences of any breaches of this policy; • promote and model appropriate standards of behaviour at all times; • deal with any complaints made under this policy in an appropriate manner; • deal with any breaches of this policy in an appropriate manner; • recognise and enforce any penalty imposed under this policy; • ensure that a copy of this policy is available or accessible to all people and organisations to whom this policy applies; • review this policy every 12-18 months; and • seek advice from and refer serious issues to the national body governing water polo, i.e., Singapore Aquatics. Serious issues include unlawful behaviour that involves or could lead to significant harm and includes criminal behaviour (e.g., physical assault, sexual assault, child abuse) and any other issues that our national body requests to be referred to her. 6. Individual Responsibilities Everyone associated with our club must: • make themselves aware of the contents of this policy; • comply with all relevant provisions of this policy, including the standards of behaviour outlined in this policy; • consent to the screening requirements set out in this policy; • treat other people with respect; • always place the safety and welfare of children above other considerations; • be responsible and accountable for their behaviour; and • follow the guidelines outlined in this policy if they wish to make a complaint or report a concern about possible child abuse, discrimination, harassment, bullying or other inappropriate behaviour; and • comply with any decisions and/or disciplinary measures imposed under this policy. 7. Protection of Children 7.1 Child Protection 28 Degrees Aquatic is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people who participate in our club’s activities or use our services. We support the rights of the child and will always act to ensure that a child safe environment is maintained. We also support the rights and wellbeing of our staff and volunteers and encourage their active participation in building and maintaining a secure and safe environment for all participants. 28 Degrees Aquatic acknowledges the valuable contribution made by our staff, members and volunteers and we encourage their active participation in providing a safe, fair, and inclusive environment for all participants. 7.1.1: Identifying and Analyzing Risks of Harm 28 Degrees Aquatic will develop and implement a risk management strategy, which includes a review of our existing child protection practices, to determine how child-safe our organization is and to identify any additional steps we can take to minimize and prevent the risk of harm to children because of the action of an employee, volunteer, or another person. 7.1.2: Choosing Suitable Employees and Volunteers 28 Degrees Aquatic will ensure that the organisation takes all reasonable steps to ensure that it engages the most suitable and appropriate people to work with children, especially those in positions that involve regular unsupervised contact with children. This may be achieved using a range of screening measures. Such measures will aim to minimize the likelihood of engaging (or retaining) people who are unsuitable to work with children. 28 Degrees Aquatic will ensure that assessments are conducted for employees and volunteers working with children, where an assessment is required by law. If a criminal history report is obtained as part of the screening process, 28 Degrees Aquatic will ensure that the criminal history information is dealt with confidentially and in accordance with relevant legal requirements. 7.1.3: Support, Train, Supervise and Enhance Performance 28 Degrees Aquatic will ensure that all our employees and volunteers who work with children have ongoing supervision and support. Our goal is to develop their skills and capacity and to enhance their performance so we can maintain a child-safe environment in our club. 7.1.4: Empower and Promote the Participation of Children in Decision-Making And Service Development 28 Degrees Aquatic will promote the involvement and participation of children and young people in developing and maintaining a child-safe environment in our club. 7.1.5: Report and Respond Appropriately to Suspected Abuse and Neglect 28 Degrees Aquatic will ensure that employees and volunteers are able to identify and respond appropriately to children at risk of harm and that they are aware of their responsibilities under Singapore laws to make a report if they suspect on reasonable ground that a child has be, or is being, abused or neglected. In addition to any legal obligations, if any person believes that another person or organisation bound by this policy is acting inappropriately towards a child or is in breach of this policy, they may make an internal complaint. Any person who believes a child is in immediate danger or in a life-threatening situation, should contact the police immediately. 7.2 Supervision Children under the age of 18 must be always supervised by a responsible adult. We endeavour to always provide an appropriate level of supervision. If a member finds a child under the age of 18 is unsupervised, they should assume responsibility for the child’s safety until the child’s parent/guardian or supervisor is located. For reasons of courtesy and safety, parents must collect their children on time. If it appears a member will be left alone with just one child at the end of any club activity, they will ask another member to stay until the child is collected. 7.3 Transportation Parents and or guardians are responsible for organising the transportation of their children to and from club activities (e.g. training and games).Where we make arrangements for the transportation of children (e.g. for away matches or overnight trips), we will conduct a risk assessment that includes ensuring vehicles are adequately insured, the driver has a current and appropriate licence for the vehicle being used and the appropriate safety measures are in place (e.g. fitted working seatbelts). 7.4 Taking Images of Children Images of children can be used inappropriately or illegally. We require that members, wherever possible, obtain permission from a child’s parent or guardian before taking an image of a child that is not their own. We will also make sure that the parent or guardian understands how the image will be used. When using a photo of a child, we will not name or identify the child or publish personal information, such as residential address, email address or telephone number, without the consent of the child’s parent or guardian. We will not provide information about a child’s hobbies, interests, school or the like, as this can be used by pedophiles or other persons to “groom” a child. 8. Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying 28 Degrees Aquatic is committed to providing an environment in which people are treated fairly and equitably and that is, as far as practicable, free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and bullying. We recognize that people may not be able to enjoy themselves or perform at their best if they are treated unfairly, discriminated against, harassed, or bullied. 8.1 Discrimination Unlawful discrimination involves the less favorable treatment of a person based on one or more of the personal characteristics protected by anti-discrimination laws. Discrimination includes both direct and indirect discrimination: • Direct discrimination occurs if a person treats, or proposes to treat, a person with a protected personal characteristic unfavorably because of that personal characteristic. • Indirect discrimination occurs if a person imposes, or proposes to impose, a requirement, condition or practice that will disadvantage a person with a protected personal characteristic and that requirement, condition or practice is not reasonable. For determining discrimination, the offender’s awareness and motive are irrelevant. 8.2 Harassment Harassment is any unwelcome conduct, verbal or physical, that intimidates, offends, or humiliates another person and which happens because a person has a certain personal characteristic protected by anti-discrimination legislation. The offensive behaviour does not have to take place several times, a single incident can constitute harassment. Sexual harassment is one type of harassment. Sexual harassment involves unwelcome conduct, remarks, or innuendo of a sexual nature. It covers a wide range of behaviours and can be verbal, written, visual or physical. Sexual harassment is not limited to members of the opposite sex. The following is a list of all the personal characteristics that should apply: • gender; • race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin, nationality, ethno-religious origin, immigration; • national extraction or social origin; • marital status, relationship status, identity of spouse or domestic partner; • pregnancy, potential pregnancy, breastfeeding; • family or caregiver responsibilities, status as a parent or caregiver; • age; • religion, religious beliefs or activities; • political beliefs or activities; • lawful sexual activity; • sexual orientation and gender identity; • profession, trade, occupation or calling; • irrelevant criminal record, spent convictions; • irrelevant medical record; • member of association or organisation of employees or employers, industrial activity, trade union activity; • physical features; • disability, mental or physical impairment; • defense service; and • personal association with someone who has, or is assumed to have, any of these personal characteristics. Singapore law prohibits: • racial, religious, homosexual, transgender and HIV/AIDS vilification; and • victimization resulting from a complaint. 8.3 Bullying 28 Degrees Aquatic is committed to providing an environment that is free from bullying. We understand that bullying has the potential to result in significant negative consequences for an individual’s health and wellbeing, and we regard bullying in all forms as unacceptable at our club. Bullying is characterised by repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed at a person, or group of persons, that creates a risk to health and safety. Bullying behaviour is that which a reasonable person in the circumstances would expect to victimise, humiliate, undermine, threaten, degrade, offend, or intimidate a person. Bullying behaviour can include actions of an individual or group. Whilst generally characterised by repeated behaviours, one off instances can amount to bullying. The following types of behaviour, where repeated or occurring as part of a pattern of behaviour, would be considered bullying: • verbal abuse including shouting, swearing, teasing, making belittling remarks or persistent unjustified criticism; • excluding or isolating a group or person; • spreading malicious rumors; or • psychological harassment such as intimidation. Bullying includes cyber-bulling which occurs using technology. New technologies and communication tools, such as smart phones and social networking websites, have greatly increased the potential for people to be bullied though unwanted and inappropriate comments. 28 Degrees Aquatic will not tolerate abusive, discriminatory, intimidating, or offensive statements being made online. If any person believes they are being, or have been, bullied by another person or organisation bound by this policy, he or she may make a complaint. 9. Inclusive practices Our club is welcoming, and we will seek to include members from all areas of our community. The following are examples of some of our inclusive practices. 9.1 People from diverse cultures We will support, respect, and encourage people from diverse cultures and religions to participate in our club and where possible we will accommodate requests for flexibility (e.g., modifications to attire). 9.2 Sexual & Gender Identity All people, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity, are welcome at our club. We strive to provide a safe environment for participation and will not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment because of a person’s sexuality or gender identity. 9.3 Girls playing in boys teams If there is not a separate sex competition 28 Degrees Aquatic will support girls playing in boys teams up until the age of 12 years. If a child is over the age of 12 years 28 Degrees Aquatic will consider each request on an individual basis by considering the nature of our sport and other available opportunities to compete.   10. Responding to Complaints 10.1 Complaints Our club takes all complaints about on and off-field behaviour seriously. Our club will handle complaints based on the principles of procedural fairness, and ensure: • all complaints will be taken seriously; • the person making the complaint (complainant) will be given full details of what is being alleged against them and have the opportunity to respond to those allegations; • irrelevant matters will not be taken into account; • decisions will be unbiased; and • any penalties imposed will be reasonable. If the complaint relates to suspected child abuse, sexual assault, or other criminal activity, then our club may need to report the behaviour to the police and/or relevant government authority. 10.2 Complaint Handling Process When a complaint is received by our club, the person receiving the complaint (e.g., Club Manager, Legal Director) will: • listen carefully and ask questions to understand the nature and extent of the concern; • ask what the complainant how they would like their concern to be resolved and if they need any support; • explain the different options available to help resolve the complainant’s concern; • inform the relevant government authorities and/or police, if required by law to do so; and • where possible and appropriate, maintain confidentiality but not necessarily anonymity. Once the complainant decides on their preferred option for resolution, the club will assist, where appropriate and necessary, with the resolution process. This may involve: • supporting the person complaining to talk to the person being complained about; • bringing all the people involved in the complaint together to talk objectively through the problem (this could include external mediation); • gathering more information (e.g., from other people that may have seen the behaviour); • referring the complainant to an external agency such as a community mediation centre, police, or anti-discrimination agency. In situations where a complaint is referred to the national association and an investigation is conducted, the club will: • co-operate fully with the investigation; • where applicable, ensure the complainant is not placed in an unsupervised situation with the respondent(s); and • act on our national association’s recommendations. 10.3 Disciplinary Sanctions Our club may take disciplinary action against anyone found to have breached our policy or made false and malicious allegations. Any disciplinary measure imposed under our policy must: • be applied consistent with any contractual and employment rules and requirements; • be fair and reasonable; • be based on the evidence and information presented and the seriousness of the breach; and • be determined by our constituent documents, by laws and the rules of the game. Possible sanctions that may be taken include: • a direction that the individual make verbal and/or written apology; • counselling of the individual to address behaviour; • withdrawal of any awards, placings, records, achievements bestowed in any tournaments, activities or events held or sanctioned by our club; • suspension or termination of membership, participation, or engagement in a role or activity. • de-registration of accreditation for a period of time or permanently; • a fine; or • any other form of discipline that our club considers reasonable and appropriate. 10.4 Appeals The complainant or respondent may be entitled to lodge an appeal against a decision made in relation to a complaint (including a decision where disciplinary sanctions are imposed by our club) to our national association. Appeals must be based on any right of appeal provided for in the relevant constituent documents, rules, regulations or by laws.