Illegal Drug Policy

 
Introduction
Wendouree Archery Club does not allow the use, distribution or selling of illegal drugs by any club committee member, club member, or club visitors within our club’s jurisdiction. This policy reflects our club’s commitment to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of all persons associated with the club and all persons in attendance at club activities.
 
Purpose of this policy
The purpose of this policy is to ensure the club committee, club members and visitors understand the club’s position regarding illegal drugs and how it will respond to a drug-related incident within its jurisdiction.
 
Extent of this policy
What is an illegal drug?
A substance that is not permitted to be taken or used according to state and national laws.
 
When does this policy apply?
This policy applies in all areas under our club’s jurisdiction. This includes our club’s facilities, including our club rooms and grounds; games, matches and activities organised or sanctioned by our club; and private behaviour that brings our club or sport into disrepute.
 
Who does this policy apply to?
  • Our club committee:  Our club officer bearers.
  • Our club members:  Our club’s coaches, team managers, support people, and players.
  • Visitors to our club:  People who are within our club jurisdiction but are not club committee members or players. This may include club supporters and spectators; officials such as umpires, judges and referees; visiting teams and their supporters; and people visiting our club’s facilities such as grounds people.
 
Responsibilities
Our club will:
  • Activate and comply with the policy.
  • Promote the policy to everyone within our club’s jurisdiction.
  • Promote and role model expected standards of behaviours at all times.
  • Appoint, and provide training and support for, an appropriate person/people to act as the club confidant and be responsible for the management of all illegal drug-related incidents. This may, but does not have to, be the Member Protection Information Officer, Club President or another office bearer.
  • Respond to violations of this policy discretely and in a timely manner.
  • Investigate all apparent, or alleged, breaches of this policy and determine a course of action after all relevant facts and circumstances are known.
  • Ensure all responses and actions will reflect the club’s duty of care to members, visitors and all other people governed by this policy.
  • Review this policy every year in consultation with club members and relevant local services and leagues/associations (as outlined in the ‘policy review’ section).
Individuals will:
  • Comply with the policy.
  • Promote and role model expected standards of behaviours at all times.
  • Be responsible and accountable for their behaviour.
  • Discuss their concerns about their own, or another club member’s/visitors, illegal drug use with the club confidant.
  • Honour our commitment to the health, safety and welfare of all its members.
 
Responding to illegal drugs
Initial response
When responding to an illegal drug-related concern or incident, the initial actions and responses by our club will focus on the safety and welfare of those directly and indirectly involved. All responses and actions will reflect the club’s duty of care to members, players, patrons, visitors and all other people.
 
All illegal drug-related concerns or incidents should be discussed with a club confidant as soon as possible. The confidant will document the issues using the agreed template/issues register (see Attachment 1.) and investigate the concern/incident further in line with this policy.
 
If a club confidant is unavailable, the concern or incident should be discussed with a club committee member who will document the issues using the agreed template and pass the details onto the club confidant as soon as possible.
 
Investigating the concern or incident
The club confidant will investigate all illegal drug-related concerns or incidents in a timely and discrete manner.
 
Once all relevant facts and circumstances are known and documented using the agreed template the confidant will make recommendations about appropriate approaches and/or disciplinary measures to the club committee based on the guiding principles outlined in this policy.
 
Privacy
Where possible, the investigation of illegal drug-related concerns or incidents will maintain confidentiality in line with our club’s privacy policy:
WAC ‘s Privacy Policy is located on the website.
 
Illegal drug use by people under 18 years
The club will make a discretionary decision if it is advisable to notify their parents/guardians.
  • It is necessary to inform the person that you will be contacting their parents/guardians before doing it.
  • An exception to this may occur if the club believes that to inform the parents/guardians would place the person at risk of greater harm.
 
A club member or visitor appears to be affected by an illegal drug
If a club member or visitor within your club’s jurisdiction appears to be affected by an illegal drug your club’s initial response and processes should focus on the safety and welfare of those directly and indirectly involved (see the section on ‘Initial response’). This may include:
  • Documenting the person’s name and contact details.
  • Keeping the person in a safe place and under supervision so you can call for medical assistance if required.
  • Sending them home in a taxi or other safe transport.
  • Calling the police if the person threatens themselves or others.
 
See Appendix B for information on how you can tell if someone is using drugs.
 
Once the risk of immediate harm to anyone in our club has been reduced the club confidant will investigate the incident and make recommendations to the club committee about disciplinary measures based on the guidelines in this policy.
 
The club’s specific response and disciplinary measures as a result of this policy being violated may depend on the specific circumstances surrounding each individual incident.
It is important that the club responds to all violations of this policy or to people who have made false and malicious allegations. Any disciplinary measures imposed by the club under the policy must:

  • Be fair and reasonable.
  • Focus on the safety and welfare of those directly and indirectly involved.
  • Be based on the evidence and information gathered and the impact on the club, other members, players, patrons, visitors and the community.
  • Take into account the age of the people involved.
  • Take into account whether the incident involved personal use of an illegal drug or the supply of an illegal drug to other people.
  • Take into account whether this is a person’s first violation of this policy or if there have been multiple incidents.
 
Measures that the club may consider taking in response to their illegal drug policy being violated may include:

  • Reminding the person of the club policy and providing a warning that further violation of this policy may result in disciplinary actions.
  • Referring the person to a health or alcohol and other drug service for support and counselling.
  • Notifying the person’s club if they were part of a visiting team and not a member of your club.
  • Suspending or terminating club membership, a player’s contract, and/or banning them from club sanctioned activities and facilities.
  • Referring the matter to the police.
 
 
If illegal drugs are being distributed or sold on our club’s premises
If someone is distributing or selling illegal drugs in our club’s jurisdiction our club’s initial response and processes will focus on the safety and welfare of those directly and indirectly involved. This may include:
  • Documenting the person’s name and contact details.
  • Asking the person to give you the drugs (see the section on ‘Handling illegal drugs found in your club’s jurisdiction’ for details on how to secure illegal drugs)
  • Asking the person to leave the premises immediately.
  • Calling the police if the person threatens themselves or others.
 
 
Handling illegal drugs that are found within our club’s jurisdiction
If illegal drugs are found in our club’s facilities or in the possession of a club member, visitor or person within our club’s jurisdiction, the club’s initial response to finding an illegal drug should focus on the safety and welfare of those directly and indirectly involved (see the section on ‘Initial response’). This may include contacting as soon as possible the club confidant and President or Vice-President who will secure the drugs in a protected location.
 
Once the drugs are secure you should follow the process agreed with your local police for handling and securing illegal drugs until they can collect them. This may include:
  • Placing the drug in a clean (preferably ‘snap lock’) plastic bag and sealing the plastic bag with masking tape to ensure it remains closed.
  • The finder and/or club confidant/President signing and dating the tape/bag.
  • Documenting the details in an incident register.
  • Contacting police requesting their attendance at the club to collect the drugs.
  • Storing the plastic bag in a secure place until collected by police.
  • Attending police sign the incident register to show the drugs have been taken into their possession.
 
Disciplinary measures
Our club will respond to all violations of this policy or to people who have made false and malicious allegations. Any disciplinary measures imposed under our policy must:
  • Be fair and reasonable.
  • Focus on the safety and welfare of those directly and indirectly involved.
  • Be based on the evidence and information gathered and the impact on the club, other members, players, patrons, visitors and the community.
  • Take into account the age of the people involved.
  • Take into account whether the incident involved personal use of an illegal drug or the supply of an illegal drug to other people.
  • Take into account whether this is a person’s first violation of this policy or if there have been multiple incidents.
 
Possible measures that may be taken include:
  • Being reminded of the club policy and receive a warning that further violation of this policy may result in disciplinary actions.
  • A referral to a health or alcohol and other drug service for support and counselling.
  • Suspension or termination of club membership, player contract, and/or being banned from club sanctioned activities and facilities.
  • The matter being referred to the police.
 
Managing media
Illegal drugs are a very popular media issue. Incidents involving illegal drugs are often presented in a sensationalist manner and this could have significant negative repercussions on a club.
All contact with the media related to a drug-related allegation or incident within its jurisdiction, will be directed by the President.
“No Comment” will be made by any other member of the club.
 
Promoting this policy
Wendouree Archery Club will tell club members and visitors about this policy at least once a year. This will include using a range of different communication channels.
Notification of this Policy will be on New Membership forms and new members will be acknowledging that they will abide by this policy when signing the form.
Current members will be reminded with their renewal notice and payment of fees will be acknowledgment of abiding by the policy.
 
Other form may include:
  • Posting statements about the policy and where it can be found, or copies of the policy, on noticeboards in and around the change rooms.
  • Including a copy of the policy in your newsletter.
  • Linking to the policy from your club's social media pages (e.g. Website, Facebook).
  • Emailing a copy of the policy to all members.
  • Sending a statement about the policy via SMS to all members.
  • Sending a letter and copy of the policy to visiting clubs.
  • Getting coaches, team managers, and others to talk about the policy and expected behaviours at the start of training and games.
  • Referring to the policy when promoting functions or events.
  • Promoting the policy at league or association meetings.
  • Listing adherence to the illegal drug policy in the contracts of players who are receiving contracted payments.
  • Including the policy in your club’s Code of Conduct.
 
Referral and support services
Health and alcohol and other drug services that people may be referred to in the event of an illegal drug-related concern or incident. Refer to Attachment C for listing.
 
Policy review
This policy will be reviewed every year in consultation with club members and relevant local services and leagues/associations to ensure it remains relevant to our club operations and reflects both community expectations and legal requirements.
 
This regular review of our policy will form the basis of our club’s recommitment to:
  • The policy
  • Identification, training and support of a club confidant
  • Informing club members and visitors about the policy.

Date Approved: 6 November 2019                                                    Review Date: 6 November 2021
Attachment A
Attachment B
Attachment C