Reviewing your club’s constitution and policies to make it inclusive is a practical and important step toward fostering a welcoming environment for all regardless of background or ability. This involves examining membership criteria, committee representation, and accessibility of club initiatives.
This is a practical guide to support clubs in reviewing their constitution and policies to ensure it is inclusive and legally compliant.
Understand the Legal and Regulatory Framework
Please note that this process should align with both legal obligations (e.g. anti-discrimination laws) and best practices. Before making any changes, ensure you are aware of your legal and legislative obligations to ensure compliance with *relevant legislation *such as:
- Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
- Age Discrimination Act 2004
- Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
- Disability Discrimination Act 1992
- Sex Discrimination Act 1984
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975
Additional Resource: A quick guide to Australian discrimination laws | Australian Human Rights Commission
Form a Review Working Group
- Include diverse voices and people with lived experience: people of different genders, cultures, abilities, and age groups.
- Ensure representation from both long-standing and newer members.
- Optionally, consult with Surf Life Saving Queensland. Please contact us via email on compliance@lifesaving.com.au
Review Recommendations
Membership Criteria: Remove exclusionary language; allow for diverse identities, backgrounds, and abilities.
Inclusive Language:
- Use gender neutral language
- Use non gendered terms like Chairperson
- Avoid gendered pronouns like ‘he’, ‘she’ and keep it neutral referring to ‘they’ ‘their’ etc.
- Please note we recommend using the principle of person-first language in any of your resources where relevant: refer to “people with disability” rather than “disabled people” throughout your interactions
Anti-Discrimination Clause: Include explicit commitment to diversity and non-discrimination.
Code of Conduct: Align with the SLSA/ SLSQ Code of Conduct.
Meetings:
- Review the membership categories and the structure of general meetings to ensure members have equitable, non-discriminatory rights to attend and vote.
- ‘Voting Members’ to include ‘Award Members’ who contribute to Active Patrolling.
- Consider accessibility and flexibility when scheduling meetings at family friendly times or online options to accommodate for parents by offering a flexible option.
Disciplinary Procedures: Review to ensure that they safeguard against discrimination and allow for a fair process
Engage your community
Consult your members and ask for feedback through surveys, focus groups, or meetings.
Ask: Does anyone feel excluded by the current rules or practices? What would make them feel more welcome?
Draft and Approve Changes
- Redraft the constitution with inclusive language and updated clauses.
- Get legal review if needed.
- Follow your association’s process for amending the constitution.
Register the Changes
Lodge the amended constitution as per the process in Changing your Constitution – SLSQ Governance Manual – 1
Implement and Educate
- Update internal policies and procedures to reflect constitutional changes and ensure they align with your risk management framework.
- Develop or implement a policy on discrimination and harassment and establish a procedure for responding to any complaints about discrimination and harassment that may arise.
- Please ensure you have a contact point/s for members to discuss any issues relating to discrimination and harassment.
- Ensure your policies are reviewed with an inclusive lens, example; consider access for members who may have mobility issues but are able to assist in regular Patrol work. (Access to gyms, bathrooms, locker areas, wheelchair parking, etc for people with disability)
- Ensure the policies stated purpose welcomes all community members
- Run training sessions for members and committee on inclusion best practices like adjustments, rights and responsibilities under the new constitution/ policies and procedures. Align with SLSQ inclusive training resources and workshops.
- For more information on providing reasonable accommodation for your members refer to SLSA POLICY: 6.03 Inclusion and Safe Participation
Audit your physical and procedural accessibility
To support inclusive policies clubs are encouraged to support accessibility across training, facilities, and communications. We recognise accessibility is a long-term commitment and, in many cases, challenging due to existing physical infrastructure. We appreciate all Clubs’ continued efforts to improve access and inclusion.
In the meantime, clubs should ensure that clear and accurate information about current accessibility features is readily available to members and the public. Consider having your clubs’ information easily available on accessibility for people with disability. You can do this by undertaking a disability audit
Examples of accessibility audit:
- Accessibility — Nobby’s Beach Surf Life Saving Club
- Accessibility – Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club
You can also share your accurate information on SLSQ’s website: Accessible Surf Clubs | Surf Life Saving Queensland
This information is based on responses from 54 clubs to the SLSQ Accessible Organisation Survey in 2024. If you would like this amended at any time, please contact marketing@lifesaving.com.au
Ongoing Review
Through effective processes and continual review, the board/ committee can demonstrate accountability and transparency to its members and stakeholders.
- Commit to a regular review cycle (e.g., every 3 years).
- Monitor how inclusive the club feels in practice — not just on paper.
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