The Association exists to provide opportunities for participation of children in our schools in a range of sports.
For organisational purposes, it is essential that teachers and parents involved with school sporting teams are aware of the following:- The Association will make every reasonable effort to provide appropriate and safe conditions for all of its carnivals, but ultimately the duty of care for each school’s students rests with the supervising staff representing the school. As a consequence, a school’s supervising staff member may prevent that school’s students from competing at any SACPSSA event, prior to the day or on the day itself, if the school’s supervising staff member is not satisfied with the safety or hygiene of the carnival conditions or venue. Exceptional circumstances, such as EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS, may cause an outdoor carnival to be cancelled if the safety and well being of the students, spectators or officials is potentially compromised (this does not apply to an indoor venue such as the SA Aquatic Centre). Every reasonable effort will be made to advise schools of any such decision before 8 am on the morning of the event. Carnival Co-ordinators will contact each school Organiser on their mobile phone in these instances. Costs incurred by the school in these situations eg nomination fees, buses, are not the responsibility of the SACPSSA. In the event that weather conditions cause play to be postponed after a carnival has begun, there will be a half hour delay before a final decision is made. If then cancelled, school staff supervisors are responsible for student safety and supervision. No TRT payment will be available should a carnival be cancelled or postponed.
There are certain carnival venues where school coordinators may wish to provide portable shelters for the purpose of weather protection for their school groups. These may include Swimming (Burnside Pool only), Cross Country, Netball, Touch Football, Tennis, Lacrosse and Cricket.
It is the responsibility of each school’s staff members to transport and assemble portable shelters safely, and in such a manner that they are appropriately secured to prevent them becoming a hazard to the safe conduct of the carnival and its participants.
A member of the SACPSSA carnival team will inspect all schools’ portable shelters prior to the start of each carnival day to ensure that this directive has been complied with.
Outdoor carnivals may be cancelled or postponed if the forecast temperature on the day before, as published in The Advertiser, is 34 degrees or above. In the case of a Monday carnival cancellation will occur according to the forecast temperature as published in the Advertiser on the preceding Friday. This temperature policy does not apply to indoor venues, such as the SA Aquatic Centre, where conditions are controlled for the safe conduct of participants and officials. Carnivals will be rescheduled if possible. When taking a school team to a sporting venue thought should be given to the protection of team members from inclement weather. (Not all venues afford shelter.) All care must be taken by school supervisors to ensure students are appropriately protected with regard to weather conditions. Each school should provide their own First Aid Kit for any school team and have a suitably trained person with that team to administer first aid, if required.
- SACPSSA believes that all children, including gender diverse and intersex children, should have the opportunity to participate fully in inter-school SACPSSA carnival competitions and other programs.
- All children will be supported by SACPSSA to participate in events and competitions that align with their gender identity.
- SACPSSA recognises that a person’s gender identity won’t necessarily align to the sex a person is assigned at birth, or to their physical sex characteristics.
- SACPSSA acknowledges and complies with the
- Commonwealth legislation, Sex Discrimination Act 1984, and the
- State legislation, Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA),
both of which prohibit discrimination by an educational authority on the basis of gender identity. SACPSSA is an educational authority within the meaning of these legislative documents.
Compliance with law will override any complaint received by SACPSSA about including a gender diverse child in any SACPSSA event, activity or competition.
