Australian Kendo Renmei is committed to safety and wellbeing of all AKR members and those that come into contact with the AKR through Kendo, Iaido and Jodo. The AKR expects everyone to be treated with respect and dignity, and our members and those involved in our activities must follow the highest standards of ethical behaviour when dealing with each other and those outside the Australian Kendo Renmei.

AKR as an organisation conducts its business and activities with integrity, honesty and fairness, and complies with all relevant laws, regulations, codes and corporate standards and is committed to promoting and strengthening the positive image of Kendo, Iaido and Jodo and its participants in Australia.

Behaviour that compromises safety and wellbeing of others, and that does not align with AKR’s expectations and standards will be actively managed through AKR’s disciplinary processes.

AKR has a suite of policies that sets clear expectations of our members and participants to protect and maintain the integrity of Kendo, Iaido and Jodo, and the health and wellbeing of our members and participants. These policies can be broken up into 2 sets of Policies:

  1. National Integrity Framework (NIF) Policies
  2. Non-NIF Conduct Management Policies.

 

National Integrity Framework

The AKR takes integrity seriously and have the following policies in place:

  • AKR Complaints, Disputes & Discipline Policy. Click herefor a fact sheet.
  • AKR Member Protection Policy. Click here for a fact sheet.
  • AKR Child Safeguarding Policy. Click here for a fact sheet.
  • AKR Improper Use of Drugs & Medicines Policy Click here for a fact sheet.
  • AKR Competition Manipulation and Sports Wagering Policy. Click here for a fact sheet.
  • AKR Complaints, Disputes & Discipline Policy. Click here for a fact sheet.
  • Australian National Anti-doping Policy. Click here for more information.

These policies can be found here.

For more information on sport integrity please visit our Sport Integrity page.

Australian Kendo Renmei has opted-in to the  complaints handling process for integrity-related issues run by Sport Integrity Australia.

From 30 June 2022 concerns or complaints about alleged breaches of our National Integrity Framework relating to Child Safeguarding and Discrimination, can be done directly through the Sport Integrity Australia website or phoning 13 000 27232.

 

Non-NIF Conduct Management Policies

The National Integrity Framework covers off on child safety, member protection (abuse, bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, discrimination, victimisation and vilification), improper use of drugs and medicine, and competition manipulation and sport wagering. Expected behaviours beyond ‘Integrity’ matters are outlined in the following policies:

The AKR’s process for managing conduct, disputes and appeals that fall outside the NIF are covered by:

Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct aims to ensure that everyone involved in Kendo, Iaido and Jodo are bound by and is aware of the standards of behaviour expected of them. It aims to deliver best practice by ensuring those standards are clear and guided by sound ethics. By consistently applying these standards, we enhance public trust and confidence in the Australian Kendo Renmei. Behaviours prohibited by the Code of Conduct includes:

  • acting outside the rules of the AKR and spirit of Kendo, Iaido and Jodo;
  • acting outside the law;
  • unethical, dishonest, inconsiderate, and unfair dealings with other people;
  • unprofessional behaviours;
  • being disrespectful towards an official on or off the field of play;
  • unreasonable disruption of AKR representatives performing their duties;
  • unsafe actions and behaviours that endanger the health, safety and wellbeing of others,
  • abuse of power or position, manipulation of information and processes for personal gain;
  • misuse of private or confidential information;
  • inappropriate intimate relationship with a person that he or she supervises, or has influence, authority, or power over;
  • smoking whilst engaged in AKR Activities;
  • inappropriate use of alcohol, drunk and disorderly behaviour;
  • public nuisance;
  • breach of venue rules; and
  • bringing the AKR, or Kendo, Iaido and Jodo into disrepute or censure.

Conduct and Disciplinary Policy applies to any alleged prohibited conduct under the Code of Conduct.

AKR Privacy Policy

The Privacy Policy sets out how the AKR manages and protects personal information it collects. Breach of the Privacy Policy is a breach of the Code of Conduct and will be managed as a prohibited conduct according to the Conduct and Disciplinary Policy.

 

Dispute Resolution

AKR Personal Grievances Policy

The Personal Grievances Policy outlines the formal process for members, participants and organisations engaging with the AKR to resolve interpersonal conflicts and disputes that arise in the context of their involvement in Kendo, Iaido or Jodo, but do not involve a breach of an NIF policies, Code of Conduct, or AKR MOD or AKR Privacy Policy.

AKR Review and Appeals Policy

The Review and Appeals Policy is a dispute resolution mechanism for non-disciplinary disputes. Some examples of matters that would be managed under this policy are:

  • Disputes relating to team selection
  • Disputes relating to eligibility e.g., grading or competition
  • Disputes relating to elections and voting
  • Disputes relating to processes, procedures and guidelines

Conduct and Disciplinary Policy

The Conduct and Disciplinary Policy is a dispute resolution policy to cater for disciplinary disputes arising from Code of Conduct, AKR Manual of Documents, and other non-NIF policies.

The disciplinary process may be initiated through:

  1. a complaint; or
  2. disciplinary action (action brought against or proposed to be brought against a Respondent by a Sport Organisation, alleging a breach of one or more of its Eligible Policies).

This policy outlines how complaints or disciplinary actions must be handled and resolved, and how appeals to decisions are to be handled. Typically, a matter will be managed at the relevant level of the organisation (i.e. Club, State or Territory, AKR), but the policy also allows for referral to the National Sports Tribunal for independent management of complaints and disputes.

 

Complaints / Dispute Handling Process

National Integrity Framework (NIF) eligible matters relating to Child Safeguarding and Discrimination must be reported directly to Sport Integrity Australia through the following methods:

See Complaints Handling Flowchart for more information on how complaints are managed under the National Integrity Framework.

Complaints Disputes and Disciplines Policy (Updated 30/04/2023).

Non-NIF matters (i.e. Code of Conduct, Privacy Policy) must be reported to the AKR Complaints Manager (Claire Rippon) by completing the AKR Complaints Form and submitting it via email to complaintsmanager@kendoaustralia.asn.au

See Complaints Handling Flowchart for more information on how ‘Non-NIF eligible matters’ are managed by the AKR.

If you have any questions about AKR’s integrity and conduct policies or would like to seek advice about a concern you have or a potential breach of these policies, please speak with your Club or State/Territory’s Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO). If you are unsure who that is, please speak with your club or State/Territory President. If you would like to seek advice from outside your immediate club or State/Territory, you have an option of contacting a MPIO from another Club or State/Territory.

Disciplinary Measures

Any disciplinary measure imposed will be:

  • fair and reasonable;
  • be based on the evidence and information presented and the seriousness of the breach;
  • if there have been relevant prior warnings or disciplinary action against the individual; and
  • be determined in accordance with our constituent documents, by-laws/policies and/or the rules of the AKR.

In the case of a breach of a National Integrity Framework policy, Australian Kendo Renmei will refer to the Case categorisation & Guidance for Sanctions Booklet for any Sanctions imposed.

Individual

If a finding is made that an individual has breached a relevant policy, one or more of the following forms of discipline may be imposed:

  • a direction that the individual make a verbal and/or written apology;
  • a written warning;
  • a direction that the individual attend counselling to address their behaviour;
  • a direction that the individual attend training courses to assist their understanding of relevant issues;
  • a withdrawal of any awards, scholarships, placings, records, achievements bestowed in any tournaments, activities or events held or sanctioned by the AKR;
  • a demotion or transfer of the individual to another location, role or activity;
  • a suspension of the individual’s membership or participation or engagement in a role or activity;
  • termination of the individual’s membership, appointment or engagement;
  • a recommendation that an affiliated association terminate the individual’s membership, appointment or engagement;
  • in the case of a coach or official, a direction that the relevant organisation de- register the accreditation of the coach or official for a period of time or permanently;
  • a fine;
  • any other form of discipline that the investigating committee or Tribunal considers appropriate.

Organisation

If a finding is made that an affiliated association of the AKR has breached its own or an AKR policy, one or more of the following forms of discipline may be imposed:

  • a written warning;
  • a fine;
  • a direction that any rights, privileges and benefits provided to that organisation by the national body or other peak association be suspended for a specified period;
  • a direction that any funding granted or given to it by the AKR cease from a specified date;
  • a direction that the AKR cease to sanction events held by or under the auspices of that organisation;
  • a recommendation to the AKR that its membership of the AKR be suspended or terminated in accordance with the relevant constitution or rules;
  • any other form of discipline that the national body or peak organisation considers reasonable and

 

Safety 

Please use this report form to report accidents, injuries or other incidents. (Updated 02/12/2021)

 

Player Injury Insurance

To make a player injury insurance claim, please follow the guidelines on the Insurance page.