Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy

1. Statement of commitment

FastBowlersU is committed to the safety, wellbeing and protection of every child and young person who participates in our coaching, events, assessments and pathway programs. We are a child-safe business. We treat children with respect, listen to their voices, and create environments where they can learn, develop and thrive.

In order to ensure children and young people are kept safe from harm, FastBowlersU and every person delivering its services will conduct activities in accordance with the risk-management strategy set out below. Specifically, we will:

• Be unaffected by alcohol, drugs or any substance that may compromise the appropriate supervision of children at all times during the delivery of FBU activities.
• Obtain explicit, recorded consent from a parent or guardian before photographing, filming or sharing any image of a child.
• Obtain consent from a parent or guardian before communicating directly with any child by phone, text, email, WhatsApp or any other channel.
• Not tolerate bullying or harassment by anyone, including children, parents, sponsors, or coaching staff.
• Ensure that no visitors or outsiders have unsupervised contact with children during FBU activities.
• Notify parents and guardians promptly if FBU is unable to provide a scheduled service.
• Maintain current and valid blue cards for every adult who interacts with children at FBU events.
• Operate within a written child-safety risk register, reviewed annually.

2. Code of conduct

FastBowlersU coaches and contractors will

• Foster mutual respect with every child regardless of cultural identity, gender, ability or background.
• Understand the developmental stage, special circumstances and special needs of each child.
• Use language which is age-appropriate, clear, non-threatening and never sexual or shaming.
• Use physical contact (e.g. demonstrating a grip, an action correction, applying first-aid) only where it is necessary for safe and effective coaching, and only with explicit permission from the child and prior consent from the parent or guardian. Physical contact is brief, in the open, and never private.
• Listen to the child or young person's concerns and questions and respond honestly.
• Use a variety of methods to motivate children, focused on effort and growth rather than fear or shame.
• Listen to parent/guardian suggestions, feedback and complaints.
• Use corrective practices which are constructive — never punitive, humiliating or aggressive.
• Avoid one-on-one situations with a child where another adult cannot reasonably observe.
• Refrain from giving gifts, money or special favours to individual children outside the structure of an FBU program.

Children attending FastBowlersU programs are expected to demonstrate

• A willingness to learn and develop.
• A willingness to listen to coaches and follow safety instructions.
• Respect for other children, parents, coaches and host venue staff.
• Safe and responsible behaviour at all times — particularly around equipment.
• Responsibility in reporting inappropriate behaviour, unsafe situations or any concern about another person to a coach or trusted adult.

Parents and caregivers

Parents and caregivers should feel welcome to stay and observe, raise issues or concerns directly with the coach, drop off and pick up children punctually, provide the necessary equipment for sessions, alert FBU early to anything that may affect their child's participation, give constructive feedback, and be aware that personal information shared with FBU is handled in line with the FBU Privacy Policy.

Parents and caregivers have the right to receive regular feedback on their child's progress, ask questions or raise concerns, make complaints in line with the procedures in Section 5 below, and stay and observe FBU activities involving their child.

Children's rights

Every child and young person at an FBU activity has the right to feel safe; be listened to; be involved in decisions that affect them; have their cultural values respected; have their best interests considered; be respected and understood; be free from harassment, bullying or abuse of any kind; and ask if they don't understand.

FastBowlersU reserves the right to

• Cease activities with any child who is consistently noncompliant or unsafe, with immediate notification to the parent or guardian.
• Raise concerns with the child and parent/guardian when needed.
• Expect concerns to be raised promptly so they can be addressed early.
• Allow only a parent, guardian or nominated person to collect a child at the end of an FBU activity.
• Report disclosures and suspicions of harm in line with Section 4 below.

3. Recruitment, training and management of FBU coaches

Multi-coach business model

FastBowlersU is led by Joe Dawes (head coach and owner). The coaching team includes Nathan Reardon (head batting coach) and a roster of supporting coaches engaged for Roadshow stops, Super Clinics and Academy delivery. FBU is responsible for the conduct of every coach and contractor delivering an FBU activity.

Pre-engagement screening

• Every coach or contractor working with children at an FBU activity must hold a current Queensland Blue Card. Coaches must not commence work with children until their card has been sighted and recorded.
• Blue card numbers and expiry dates are recorded in the FBU portal coach profile and reviewed in line with the Privacy Policy and Data Retention Schedule.
• FBU sights and records each coach's first-aid + CPR certification, driver's licence, and Cricket Australia accreditation.
• Each coach signs the FBU coach code of conduct (this document plus the FBU Coach Playbook) before delivering any activity to children.
• Where a school, club or host requires additional onboarding (site induction, child-safety briefing, sign-in protocol), that step is captured on the event's running sheet and must be completed before the day.

Training & ongoing development

• Coaches regularly review material on the Queensland Blue Card Services website (qld.gov.au/bluecard).
• FBU coaches review material from the Queensland Family and Child Commission, Office for the Safe Care of Children, and the Queensland Police Service on child protection.
• Joe Dawes maintains a child-protection training record for himself and the FBU team. New coaches complete a short FBU child-safety briefing before their first event.
• FBU revisits child-safety topics at least annually at coach development sessions and after any significant incident.

Volunteers, parent helpers and observers

FBU events sometimes involve parent helpers, school staff, sponsor representatives or visiting professionals. The following rules apply:

• Volunteers and helpers who will be in contact with children must hold a current blue card (or qualify for an exemption).
• Visiting sponsors, journalists and observers must be supervised by an FBU coach at all times and may not be alone with a child.
• Where parents or volunteers attend an event, they are briefed on FBU's expectations (no unsupervised contact, no photography without consent, no recording of children other than their own).

Behaviour expectations on travel and away events

• Coaches travelling with a Roadshow squad or away program follow the same rules: no one-on-one travel with a single child; transport arranged with parent consent.
• Hotel/accommodation rooms are not shared between coaches and children. Coach and athlete rooms are on separate floors or wings where possible.
• Itineraries are shared with parents in advance via the FBU portal or email.

4. Reporting disclosures and suspicions of harm

If a child discloses harm

• Remain calm. Find a private place to talk where you and the child are visible to a third adult.
• Tell the child you cannot keep this a secret — you must report it so that you can keep them safe.
• Only ask enough questions to confirm the need to report. Do not conduct your own investigation.
• Reassure the child that they are not in trouble and that the disclosure was the right thing to do.

Document

• As soon as practicable, complete an Incident Report (Appendix B of the Word version) noting time, date, place, what was said, what you said, any actions taken, the names of any other people present.
• Sign and date the record. Store securely in the FBU compliance file. Mark it confidential.

Report

• Harm in the home: Queensland Child Safety After Hours, 1800 177 135. You are not required to inform the parent or guardian you have done so.
• Harm outside the home (including by another child): Queensland Police Service, 131 444 — or 000 if the child is in immediate danger.
• Self-harm: Queensland Child Safety or Queensland Police Service, depending on circumstance.
• Unsure: Blue Card Services, 1800 113 611, for guidance.
• All reports and supporting documentation are kept confidential and stored securely in the FBU compliance file.

Following a report

• Notify Joe Dawes (head coach) at the earliest opportunity so FBU can support the child and the coach through the process.
• Cooperate fully with any subsequent investigation by Queensland Child Safety, Queensland Police, or Blue Card Services.
• Do not discuss the matter with parties outside the investigation.
• Provide pastoral and operational support to the child as appropriate.

5. Managing complaints

FastBowlersU is committed to conducting its activities in an open and accountable way. We encourage parents, guardians and children to raise any concern early so it can be resolved professionally and sensitively.

• Initial concerns should be raised with the coach delivering the activity.
• If the matter is not resolved, parents or guardians can contact Joe Dawes directly at coaching@fastbowlersu.au or +61 403 368 575.
• If the matter is still not resolved, FBU will acknowledge the complaint in writing within five business days and provide a written response within twenty business days.
• Confidentiality is maintained throughout, save where reporting obligations apply (Section 4).

If FBU's response is unsatisfactory

• Blue card or child-safety matters: Blue Card Services, 1800 113 611.
• Alleged criminal behaviour by an FBU coach or contractor: Queensland Police Service, 131 444 (or 000 in an emergency).
• Professional standards concerns: Cricket Australia / Queensland Cricket coach welfare team.
• Privacy and data-handling concerns: Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, oaic.gov.au, 1300 363 992.

Breaches of the code of conduct by children

All parties are expected to abide by the code of conduct. Breaches will be addressed promptly. Where a child is misbehaving in a session, the coach will speak with the child. If the matter is not resolved, the coach will speak with the parent or guardian. Continued breaches could result in adjustments to future session arrangements, termination of further coaching with a pro-rata refund, or notification to Queensland Police or Child Safety if a breach is considered criminal or involves harm to another participant.

6. Blue card compliance

Currency

• Every coach delivering FBU activities holds and maintains a current Queensland Blue Card. Renewal applications are submitted at least thirty days before expiry.
• FBU monitors expiry dates through the coach profile blue-card register in the FBU portal. Any card within sixty days of expiry triggers an automatic reminder.

Reporting requirements

• FBU coaches advise Blue Card Services if there has been a change in police or disciplinary information, and will not continue to conduct child-related work until a 'Change in police information' form has been submitted.
• FBU notifies Blue Card Services if its trading address changes.
• FBU notifies Blue Card Services if the business ceases operating regulated child-related activities.

Volunteers and staff

• Any volunteer or contractor engaged for an FBU event undergoes the blue-card screening process before commencing work with children, in accordance with the Blue Card Services guidance at qld.gov.au/bluecard.

7. Annual review (and review after any incident)

This strategy is reviewed at least annually by Joe Dawes, and additionally after any significant incident involving a child; any material change to Queensland Working with Children legislation; or any expansion of FBU services (new program type, venue or region).

Each review considers whether the policies and procedures were followed, whether any child-safety incidents occurred and how they were handled, the content and frequency of coach training, the effectiveness of the strategy in preventing or minimising harm, and any changes needed to wording, training or operational practice.

Reviews are documented in writing and shared with the FBU coaching team. The version and effective date at the top of this page is updated on every revision.

8. High-risk activities and special events

FastBowlersU regularly runs activities that require additional planning and supervision — Roadshow stops at school venues, multi-day Super Clinics, regional pathway tours, video assessment sessions, and Bulls Masters program activities. The following applies to every high-risk activity:

Pre-event

• Parents and guardians receive written information about the event: purpose, venue, schedule, supervision arrangements, transport, and contact details for the responsible coach.
• Any potential risks unique to the event are identified and the mitigation noted.
• Where the event is held at a third-party venue, FBU obtains a copy of the host's child-safety arrangements or signs a host-onboarding pack confirming the joint responsibilities.
• Bathroom locations, first-aid arrangements, emergency exits and supervision ratios are confirmed before any child arrives.
• Coach roster is finalised at least 48 hours in advance. Every rostered coach has a current blue card.

During the event

• Two-coach rule for any one-on-one activity: a second adult is in view at all times during an assessment, video review or capture station.
• Sign-in and sign-out logs are kept for athletes under 18.
• Photography and video capture are conducted only where parental consent has been logged via the registration form. Where consent is unclear, no recording is made of that athlete.
• Coaches monitor for fatigue, dehydration, injury and emotional distress. A first-aider is on site or readily available.

Post-event

• Any incident — injury, near-miss, distress, disclosure — is recorded in the FBU incident register.
• Follow-up communications with athletes and parents are reviewed for consent and appropriateness before sending.

9. Communication and support

Communication

• A copy of this strategy is displayed on this page and is available as a downloadable Word document on request.
• Schools, clubs and hosts are sent a copy alongside the standard hosting agreement before any FBU event.
• Material changes are notified to parents and guardians on the portal and by email.
• Parents and guardians are kept informed of changes to risk-management or blue-card legislation as they occur.

Support

If a child or young person appears to be having difficulty, the responsible FBU coach will discuss their observations with the parent or guardian with the aim of supporting the child to participate in a safe and supportive way. Where appropriate, FBU will refer to external support services (school counsellor, GP, headspace.org.au, Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800).

Online communications

• FBU uses email, the athlete portal, WhatsApp (Bulls Masters program only) and SMS for operational communications. Communication with athletes under 18 always copies the registered parent address.
• WhatsApp group chats include parents of under-18 athletes. Adult athletes consent in writing before being added to any chat.
• Coaches do not send direct messages to a child outside the registered channels.

Appendix A — Reporting disclosures and suspicions of harm

Appendix B — Risk matrix and risk register

Risk analysis matrix

Use the matrix to translate a likelihood and a consequence into an overall level of risk.

Likelihood	Insignificant	Minor	Moderate	Major	Extreme
Very likely — expected to occur most of the time	Medium	Medium	High	Critical	Critical
Likely — will probably occur in most circumstances	Low	Medium	High	High	Critical
Possible — might occur at some time	Low	Medium	Medium	High	High
Unlikely — not expected to occur	Low	Low	Medium	Medium	High
Rare — occurs in exceptional circumstances only	Low	Low	Low	Medium	Medium

Risk register — FastBowlersU

The register below covers the recurring risks identified at FBU. It is not exhaustive — each high-risk event also produces an event-specific register attached to its running sheet.

Risk	Likelihood	Consequence	Level	Treatment
Parent does not arrive to pick up child after an FBU session	Possible	Major	High	Sign-in/out logs kept. Drop-off and pick-up procedure shared with parents at registration. Two emergency contacts captured for each athlete under 18. Child remains in sight of an FBU coach in a public area until collected; coach contacts parent + emergency contacts, then Child Safety if no contact within 60 minutes.
Child indicates they don't want to go home with parent or carer	Unlikely	Major	Medium	Ask child for the reason. If answer suggests harm at home, follow Section 4 reporting flow. If not, discuss with parent in a private but visible setting.
Photography / video taken without consent	Likely	Moderate	High	Photography and video are captured only where consent is logged on the registration form. Coaches check the registrations CSV before any capture session. No photos are taken on personal devices.
Coach is alone with a child during a one-on-one assessment	Possible	Major	High	Two-coach rule for any one-on-one activity. Assessments take place in open view of other coaches or at least one other adult. Recording (video) provides an additional safeguard and accountability.
Visitors (sponsors, journalists, parents of others) approach a child	Likely	Minor	Medium	Visitors briefed on arrival. Visitor lanyards used at multi-day events. No unsupervised access. Coach intervenes if a visitor approaches a child alone.
Coach unable to deliver scheduled session (illness, emergency)	Possible	Moderate	Medium	Parents notified by SMS or email within two hours of the cancellation. Make-up session or pro-rata refund offered.
Injury during physical activity (impact, heat, dehydration)	Possible	Major	High	First-aider present or on-call at every event. Hydration and break protocols enforced. Medical information from intake form reviewed before session. Parent contacted immediately for any injury beyond a minor scrape; child accompanied to medical care if required.
Online direct messaging between coach and child	Possible	Major	High	All communications go via portal, parent-cc'd email, or a WhatsApp group that includes the parent. No coach-to-child DMs. WhatsApp group setup logged in the FBU portal.
Athlete travels to away event without parent	Possible	Major	High	Written parental consent for travel obtained before booking. Two coaches travel where practical. Hotel rooming separates coaches and athletes by floor or wing. Daily check-in with parents during away tours.
Disclosure of personal data to unauthorised party	Unlikely	Major	Medium	Privacy Policy enforced. RLS in portal. Sub-processor register maintained. Refer to the FBU Privacy & Data Protection Audit for full controls.
Cleaner or external contractor present at NCC Albion during a session	Likely	Moderate	High	FBU coach confirms with NCC operations before each session that children will not be in spaces shared with external contractors. If unavoidable, contractor supervised at all times and given visitor briefing.

10. Sign-off

This Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy is the policy of Joseph Dawes Pty Ltd trading as FastBowlersU. It is approved by Joe Dawes, Head Coach and Owner. Material developed with reference to the Queensland Family and Child Commission Child and Youth Risk Management Toolkit, the Blue Card Services website, and the Queensland Office for the Safe Care of Children. Reviewed against the FBU Privacy Policy and Data Protection Audit (June 2026).