Other Policies:

COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

This Policy seeks to provide guidance about communication, including use of email and social media. It applies to all those involved in the MSW Association activities.

 

MSW Communication and Use of Email

• The MSW Secretary will be the primary point of communication for the Association. The Secretary will issue information, correspondence and other important updates to the Club contacts and Delegates group, who are then able to issue to the club or school membership, as appropriate.
• Should anyone wish to contact the Association, the Secretary can be contacted at secretary@mswcricket.com
• The MSW Representative Cricket Coordinator also performs an important function, on behalf of the Association and Secretary, in providing communication to the MSW representative cricket group regarding trials, selection, logistics, clothing and equipment and matches.
• Correspondence including e-mail discussions between Management Committee members and others are to be copied to appropriate people, on a need to know basis, but not necessarily to all.
• Important inwards or outwards correspondence relating to the Association’s activities is also to be tabled at a Delegates meeting.
• When email is utilised, the style and language should be succinct, respectful and appropriate in nature. Emails which are aggressive, unfairly critical of others (without reasonable basis) or similar in nature are not acceptable and may be a breach of MSW’s Code of Conduct.

 

Club Contacts List

• MSW will occasionally publish a team contact list on its website, to facilitate communication, for example, during wet weather. Due to privacy legislation provisions, clubs are only to provide contact details of its coaches or managers, after first having checked that is acceptable with each.

 

Web and Social Media

• The Secretary will provide accountability and control over material published on the Association’s website. The Representative Cricket Coordinator will act as the Facebook Administrator for the Association’s Facebook page.
• MSW’S philosophy and Code of Conduct is consistent with that of Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket, in that all people involved in cricket should be able to be treated fairly and be able to freely enjoy their participation without being intimidated, harassed, bullied or unfairly criticised.
• In terms of social media posts, using any social networking site (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram etc.), the following is not considered acceptable, whether posted on the MSW Facebook site or posted elsewhere and commentating upon the activities of the Association or player, coach, manager, parent or administrator.

• Abusive, discriminatory, intimidating or offensive statements.
• Statements critical of a player, coach, manager, parent or administrator
• Statements critical of the activities of the Association (including selection related). If there is issue in this regard, MSW asks that the issue be directly raised to the Association.
• Statements questioning players’ abilities, coaches’ management styles of teams etc.

• If any offending posts are made on the MSW Facebook page, they will be removed and those responsible will be blocked from the site.
• A breach of the Code of Conduct in relation to the Web and Social Media policy is a serious matter and may lead to disciplinary action being considered by the Association.

COMPLAINT AND DISCIPLINARY POLICY

This Policy seeks to provide guidance about the processes that apply to making of a complaint, how MSW will respond and to the taking of disciplinary action by MSW. The Association is committed to maintaining the standard of behaviour of players, parents, visitors, coaches and managers.

The MSW Management Committee will take necessary steps to address any behaviour issues or incidents of misconduct as needed.

The MSW Code of Conduct and any other relevant policies of MSW govern player, players, parents, visitors, coaches and managers’ conduct. Where an individual or group of individuals fails to act in accordance with the Code of Conduct and/or other Policies, this may result in disciplinary action. Confidentiality according to the Privacy Act will apply to the process of disciplinary action.

 

Complaint Management Process

• Should someone wish to raise a complaint in relation to activities associated with the MSW association, they may do so verbally or in writing.
• Verbal complaints can be made to the MSW Secretary (who is also the Member Protection Information Officer) or MSW President.
• Written complaints can be made to the following email address: secretary@mswcricket.com
• When a complaint is received, the person receiving or addressing the complaint (e.g. if the complaint was received in writing) will:

• listen carefully and ask questions to understand the nature and extent of the concern
• ask the complainant how they would like their concern resolved and if they need 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.

• The Association will deal with complaints based on the principles of procedural fairness, as follows:

• all complaints will be taken seriously
• the person who is the subject of a complaint 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;
• any penalties imposed will be reasonable.

• Once the complainant decides on their preferred option for resolution, the Association will assist, where appropriate and necessary, with the resolution process.
• If the complaint relates to the MSW Association itself, then the Association will firstly investigate and provide a written response. If a meeting is deemed beneficial as part of the process, then two members of the Management Committee will meet with the complainant, who may bring a support person, as an observer. If the complaint relates to a specific Management Committee representative, then two other Management Committee representatives will undertake the investigation.
• If the complainant does not consider the written response to be satisfactory, then a suitable independent person will be identified, agreed by both parties. This independent person will investigate and make a determination, including any associated recommendations.
• If the complaint relates to suspected child abuse, sexual assault or other criminal activity, then the Association will need to report the behaviour to the police and/or relevant government authority.
• Complaints relating to the MSW representative selection process shall be dealt with under the Selection Policy, unless they are material in nature, because of a special circumstance.
• At any stage of the process, a person can seek advice from an external relevant agency and, if the matter is within their jurisdiction, may lodge a complaint with such external agency.
• The Management Committee may take into account action undertaken by an affiliated club or school in responding to any matter, in determining whether any further action is required, or alternatively may first request the club or school to investigate and provide a response and action to be taken.

 

Disciplinary Process

The Association may take disciplinary action against anyone found to have breached the MSW Code of Conduct or Association policy, including if they have made false and malicious allegations.

This action may generate from a complaint or alternatively from MSW becoming aware of an action of an individual or group of individuals. In this latter case, MSW will apply the same process as for dealing with a complaint, including providing the individual or individuals the opportunity to respond to the details of the potential breach. Any disciplinary measure imposed under this Policy will:

• be fair and reasonable;
• be based on the evidence and information presented;
• be consistent with the seriousness of the breach; and
• be communicated in writing by the Association.

The disciplinary action can involve suspending a player for a number of matches (representative and/or club). It can also involve suspending a representative or club coach/manager/parent from involvement for a certain number of matches.

MSW Volunteers

For volunteers of the Association (including coaches, managers), the action will be dependent upon the seriousness of the breach (in the view of the Management Committee) and will include:

• for serious breaches, removal from the role; and
• for other breaches, a member of the Management Committee will meet with the individual to discuss the issue/s, the expectations of the Association and suggestion/s for improvement. Should this result in no improvement, the person may be removed from the role.

The removal procedure must have a minimum of two personnel in attendance and maintain strict confidentiality according to the Privacy Act. Prior to commencement of such procedures, the Management Committee will determine the level of documentation required and confirm acceptance by the individual.

All removals from roles will be advised verbally and in writing and will involve the return to the Association of any equipment or items owned by the Association.

 

MSW Grants Policy

MSW can provide financial assistance up to $3000 to clubs in the zone to assist them to increase

participation, to maximise players safety, and to improve amenities and infrastructure.

The Management Committee will consider written applications that outline the purpose of the

proposed funding; benefits to players and or spectators; other funding sought or being leveraged;

potential risks; timeframes; and a key contact.

In considering an application the Management Committee will assess:

• the ability to fund based on the current MSW financial position
• whether the applicant club has received a grant previously
• any issues raised by delegates

The Management Committee will inform delegates of applications received at the regular delegate

meeting.

The decision of the Management Committee will be communicated to the applicant in writing.

The applicant is required to submit an invoice for the funding approved.

Evidence of the expenditure must be provided by the club, or sited by a Management Committee

member e.g. a photo of a relaid pitch or new machinery etc

A record of applications is to be retained by the Secretary.

The Management Committee will consider funding up to three grant applications per year.

Decisions of the Management Committee are final.