Subject: AFL GOLDFIELDS SOCIAL MEDIA/CYBER POLICIES DURING FINALS
Importance: High

Hi Everyone,

Over the last week, throughout AFL Goldfields, we have been made aware of several breaches of the AFL Goldfields Cyber safety Policy, which quite frankly has disgusted and amazed me.

Please see the definition of Cyber bullying from the AFL Goldfields Cyber Policy below:

Cyber bullying is a way of delivering covert psychological bullying. It uses information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated and
hostile behaviour, by an individual or group that is intended to harm others.”
(Belsey 2007)
Cyber bullying includes, but is not limited to, the following misuses of technology: harassing, teasing, intimidating, racially vilifying or threatening another person by sending or posting inappropriate and hurtful e-mail messages, instant messages, text messages, phone messages, digital pictures or images, or Web site postings (including social network sites eg facebook or blogs) and the sending, receiving and/or possession of naked or sexually explicit images of a person. Club members must also be aware that postings from their individual accounts, whether done by themselves or another person will remain the responsibility of the account owner.

Let me be clear, just because your team is not competing in finals, does not mean that you automatically become immune to this policy. I would advise clubs to think wisely of what occurs at your Mad Monday or Silly Sunday days also. Alcohol is no excuse.

So before your members jump on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram etc. I would encourage them to have a serious think about what they will be posting. Also, please be aware, in particular of the last sentence of the definition: Club members must also be aware that postings from their individual accounts, whether done by themselves or another person will remain the responsibility of the account owner.

The penalties for breaches of the policy are listed below:

Penalties
Any proven charges will automatically lead to a minimum of a two (2) match suspension for a registered player. In deciding the final penalty, consideration will be given to the seriousness of the act, the impact on the victim, the impact on the club/league/AFL Victoria and the prior good history or otherwise of the player. Players charged with these types of offences for a second or subsequent time and where a suspension has been previously imposed will face deregistration. Any player presented before the tribunal for the first or subsequent time on a cyber bullying offence must be aware that the penalties available to the tribunal members will cover the complete range including deregistration. In the case of a non-playing club member being proved to have engaged in harassment or bullying, the club employing, engaging or otherwise associated with the person at the time of the conduct shall be deemed to be vicariously liable for the conduct of the person and shall pay to the League a penalty to be
determined by the league.

AFL Goldfields are in the process of addressing these breaches, but I want to make sure that this week’s Preliminary and Grand Finals across our three leagues are not blemished by any further indiscretions, and the policy is adhered to.

I ask you to please remind your members of the policy.

Regards,

Kim Bailey
Netball Manager
AFL Goldfields
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