Sports Club Accreditation program

Clubs that meet their regular reporting requirements under their lease or license agreement are eligible for bronze accreditation, which gives you:

• an official certificate and promotional collateral to use in your club promotions
• a sound base for applying for grants
• priority to take part in community participation initiatives
• acknowledgement on our Accredited sports clubs page.

When you apply for bronze accreditation, you'll be asked to:

• ensure all employees and volunteers hold a valid Working With Children check, as required under the Worker Screening Act 2020
• subscribe to our fortnightly Club Update newsletter and distribute it to your committee and club members. Email [email protected] to subscribe.

You'll also need to submit these supporting documents:

• valid public liability insurance certificate for $20 million coverage
• club participation data for the last financial year (or the previous season if you are a seasonal club)
• financial report for the past financial year
• liquor licence if applicable
• Certificate of Registration under the Food Act 1984, if you operate a canteen
• minutes from your club's most recent Annual General Meeting
• the welcoming or induction procedure for new members
• your Child Safe and/or Child Protection Policy (your State sport association may have one that you can use).

Useful resources to help you achieve bronze accreditation. 

• Victorian Government information on applying for a liquor license and conditions of a liquor license.
• Our Start a food business page.
• VicSport's guidance on how to create a child safe sport policy
• ClubHelp's templates, sample job descriptions, meeting tips and many more resources to help you run a club and attract members and funding.

Silver accreditation gives your club:

• all the bronze benefits, plus
• club name included in promotional content about the sports club accreditation program in our communication channels, including Boroondara Bulletin and social media.

When you apply for silver accreditation, you'll be asked to:

• survey your members once a year
• attend at least 2 forums or workshops each year
• register for the Good Sports Program on the Good Sports website and complete the questionnaire
• use 2 communication channels (like website, newsletters or social media) to stay in touch with members and the wider community
• have applied for a community grant and/or run ‘come and try activities’ in the last 2 years to support ongoing participation at your club.

You'll also need to submit these supporting documents:

• meeting ground rules
• Code of Conduct for players, coaches, volunteers and spectators
• inclusion assessment
• fair access policy
• social media policy
• sponsorship policy
• volunteer policy
• healthy eating and drinking policy, if your club runs a canteen
• any documents relating to community grants or 'come and try' activities your club hosted; for example, copies of grant applications, acknowledgement letters from funding bodies or marketing collateral.

Useful resources to help you achieve silver accreditation.

• ClubHelp's templates, sample policies and guides on marketing, attracting new members, dealing with conflicts of interest​ and much more.
• Our Annual Community Strengthening Grants page for tips on applying for community grants.
• Our Volunteer opportunities page for general volunteer information.
• Play by the Rules for policy and procedure templates, including a spectator behaviour policy and coach code of behaviour.
• Change our Game roadmap to improve access to community sport for women and girls.
• GoodSports on how to promote healthier food and drink choices.
• Sports focus on how to grow your club's appeal by creating a welcoming and inclusive culture.
• Vic Kids Eat Well for support to help your club meet the relevant food and drink policies and guidelines.

Gold accreditation gives your club:

• all the bronze and silver benefits, plus
• your club will be:
  • announced at the annual Boroondara Sports Club Awards
  • positioned as a leader of community sport within Boroondara
  • able to leverage your reputation as a welcoming, safe and inclusive club to attract new members, sponsors and volunteers.

When you apply for gold accreditation, you'll be asked to demonstrate that your club: 

• is implementing its Strategic Plan
• is implementing the recommendations of its Inclusion Action Plan
• understands community demographics and can identify barriers to participation in sport, volunteering, coaching and committee positions
• proactively supports diversity and inclusion
• promotes an inclusive culture by participating, for example, in events like the Pride Round, Indigenous Round or White Ribbon Round, or supporting a local charity or cause
• offers fair and equitable participation opportunities
• reflects our diverse community in your promotional images
• posts social media updates at least once a fortnight
• promotes club sponsors on social media or website
• partners with a school or local community group to run a program or activity promoting social inclusion
• formally acknowledges its volunteers
• implements member surveys each year and takes actions in response to these
• hosts at least 2 health-related workshops for members and the community each year.

You'll also need to submit these supporting documents:

• Strategic Plan
• Inclusion Action Plan
• material showing your club’s support for a local charity or cause (for example, marketing materials for a Pride Round)
• Team Selection Policy (if applicable)
• Volunteer Coordinator position description
• Volunteer roles and responsibilities
• Gold accreditation with the Good Sports Program
• a copy of the club’s food and drinks classification system, if your club runs a canteen.

Useful resources to help you achieve gold accreditation.

• ClubHelp's templates, sample policies and guides on gender equality, strategic business planning, financial management and much more
• Our pages on Boroondara demographics
• Play by the Rules for policy templates, including for selecting open grade and junior teams.
• Change our Game for their Fair Access Policy Roadmap and Fair Access Policy template.
• VicHealth for evidence-based advice on selecting mental health program providers.
• Belgravia Foundation's mental health online learning program.
• Sport and Life Training
• Use GoodSports simple online accreditation program.
• Healthy Eating Advisory Service on how to provide and promote healthier food and drinks.
• Vic Kids Eat Well for support to help your club meet the relevant food and drink policies and guidelines.