Member Conduct & Protection Policies

Organisation: Sydney Shooters & Hunting Association (SSHA)
Contact: info@ssha.org.au | membership@ssha.org.au
Phone: 0404 081 818

Field	Value
Document status	Club approved
Version	1.0
Effective date	8 October 2026
Next review	8 October 2027
Governing document	SSHA Club Constitution (Part 2 Code of Conduct; Appendix 3; Appendix 4; clauses 10–12) — prevails on conflict

1. Purpose

This policy sets behavioural expectations for members, guests, juniors’ guardians, volunteers, and officers so that SSHA remains a safe, respectful, and lawful community club for target shooting, competitions, training, collecting, and ethical hunting pathways.

Constitutional mission (Appendix 3): to promote shooting and hunting as safe, ethical, and responsible; and to promote the sport as beneficial to the environment, conservation, and the economy. The purpose of these rules is to maintain responsible behaviour and informed decision-making by members.

2. Scope

Applies at all SSHA activities (including affiliated ranges and hunting-related club activities), in club communications (including portal, email, and social channels controlled by SSHA), and in any setting where a person is representing themselves as an SSHA member in a club context.

Consistent with Appendix 3 of the Constitution, this policy applies to all persons involved with SSHA activities in a paid or unpaid/voluntary capacity, including:

Members, including lifetime (Life) members
Persons appointed or elected to boards, committees, and sub-committees
Employees of SSHA
Visitors to SSHA club events

3. Core standards of conduct

All persons covered by this policy must:

Act safely, lawfully, and in good faith
Follow directions of range officers, club officers, MOs, and authorised officials
Treat others with respect — no harassment, bullying, discrimination, intimidation, or vilification
Be honest in membership, licence, attendance, scoring, and acquisition information
Care for club and venue property and the environment
Not bring the club into disrepute through unlawful or seriously improper conduct connected with club activities
Comply with SSHA firearms, WHS, privacy, and governance policies

3A. Constitutional Code of Conduct (Part 2 and Appendix 3)

SSHA Club members must adhere to the following basic ethical requirements. Any breach may result in suspension of membership or expulsion from the Association:

A. Obey the requirements of the NSW Firearms Registry and all legislation, laws, and regulations associated with firearm possession in NSW
B. Do all in their power to preserve (and improve) the good image of the sport and the Association
C. Encourage and assist new shooters to gain knowledge and ethical attitudes relating to game management, conservation, and safe firearms handling
D. Educate people in the art of shooting and safe handling of firearms, and oppose the use of firearms for illegal and unlawful purposes
E. Not engage in any act or activity considered outside the objects or the Code of Conduct
F. Follow guidelines and instructions from elected Office Bearers/Committee, and agree to report any behaviour that is against the Code of Conduct

4. Safety and firearms conduct

4.1 Firearms and ammunition must only be handled when authorised, in designated areas, and in accordance with range rules and officer directions.

4.2 Muzzle awareness, load/unload procedures, cease-fire obedience, and safe storage/transport obligations are mandatory.

4.3 Reckless behaviour, horseplay with firearms, or ignoring a cease-fire is grounds for immediate expulsion from the activity and further discipline.

4.4 Persons must not participate while impaired by alcohol, illicit drugs, or any substance that reasonably affects safe judgement. Officers may refuse participation where impairment is reasonably suspected.

4.5 Members must comply with the NSW Firearms Safety Awareness Handbook rules and the safe-handling guide listed in the Firearms Governance & Compliance Policies and Constitution Appendix 3 (treat every firearm as loaded; muzzle in a safe direction; finger off trigger until intending to shoot; PPE including enclosed shoes; know the target and beyond; unload when not in use; shoot only where legally allowed; no drugs/alcohol).

5. Respect, inclusion, and protection from harm

5.1 SSHA welcomes new and returning shooters across its disciplines, subject to eligibility and safety requirements.

5.2 Harassment, sexual harassment, stalking, threats, hate-based abuse, or violence are prohibited.

5.3 Discrimination unlawful under NSW/Commonwealth law (including on protected attributes) is prohibited in club activities and administration.

5.4 Members must not pressure others to break range rules, falsify records, or ignore safety directions.

6. Protection of children and young people

6.1 Minimum membership age is 12. A parent or guardian must be present whenever a member or participant under 18 attends a club activity (including range attendance, club days, competitions, training, and hunting-related club activities, unless a more specific statutory supervision rule applies — e.g. minor hunter rules in Constitution Appendix 4).

6.2 Working with Children Check (WWCC):

Required for all Committee members and club officers.
Required for some officials only — not all officials. Other officials (e.g. certain range/event roles) require a WWCC only where the Committee designates the role as involving child-related work, or where that official’s duties involve supervising or working with under-18s.
Clearances must be valid for paid or volunteer child-related work in NSW as applicable to the role.

6.3 Inappropriate contact, grooming behaviour, or exploitation of minors is strictly prohibited and will be reported to authorities.

6.4 Photography/video of juniors for club use requires appropriate consent arrangements [TO BE CONFIRMED — media consent process].

7. Guests, Try Shooting, and visitors

7.1 Members who invite guests are responsible for ensuring guests understand and follow safety and conduct rules.

7.2 Try Shooting participants must complete required declarations (including P650) and follow all instructions. Failure to complete required forms ends the session immediately.

7.3 Visitors must not handle firearms unless lawfully permitted and supervised as required.

8. Competitions, scoring, and fair play

8.1 Competitors must follow applicable competition and grading rules and accept authorised scoring outcomes subject to published protest processes (where any).

8.2 Cheating, score manipulation, or interference with scoring systems is serious misconduct.

8.3 Live scoring and leaderboards are operational tools; official results are those confirmed by authorised officials.

9. Hunting and field conduct

9.1 Hunting and pest control associated with club pathways must be humane, ethical, lawful, and limited to approved areas and species under proper authority.

9.2 Members must respect landowners, other land users, and animal welfare standards.

9.3 Sharing hunting content in club channels must not encourage unlawful activity or unsafe practice.

9.4 Members must comply with Constitution Appendix 4 (Hunting Rules), including:

Awareness of and compliance with hunting, animal welfare, firearms, and weapons legislation (see Firearms Governance policy for the listed NSW examples and national codes of practice)
No hunting on any land without the express authority of the occupier (written where required); SSHA membership or a game hunting licence does not itself authorise entry
No firing at a game animal unless clearly seen and identified, and the shot poses no discernible risk of injury to any person or significant property damage
Obligation to avoid unnecessary suffering (humane kill aim; accepted killing range; suitable firearm/ammunition or bow)
If a lactating female is killed, every reasonable effort to locate and humanely kill dependent young
If an animal is wounded, all reasonable steps to locate and humanely kill it
Carcass disposal per landholder request and law; no dumping on public roads/land or ordinary Council tips
Blaze orange upper-body clothing for all hunters and non-hunting companions
Minor hunter licensing and close adult supervision; Minors Firearms Training Permit where firearms are used
Responsibility for non-hunting companions’ lawful conduct

10. Digital conduct and club systems

10.1 Portal accounts are for the authorised member only (except authorised guardian assistance for juniors).

10.2 Members must not share login credentials, attempt to access others’ data, or misuse admin/officer functions if granted.

10.3 Uploaded content (attendance proof, stories, tips, images) must be lawful, non-abusive, and relevant. SSHA may remove content and restrict access.

10.4 Communications with club email addresses and mailouts must not be used for spam, threats, or harassment.

11. Privacy and confidentiality among members

11.1 Members must not disclose other members’ personal or licensing information obtained through club activities.

11.2 Officers and administrators have additional confidentiality duties under the Privacy Policy and governance policies.

12. Conflicts, complaints, and reporting

12.1 Safety incidents, near misses, bullying, discrimination, child-safety concerns, or suspected record falsification should be reported promptly to:

On the day: the RO / MO / activity controller
After the day: info@ssha.org.au (or compliance@ssha.org.au for compliance/record issues)

12.2 Emergency situations: call 000, then notify range control / club officers.

12.3 Complaints will be handled fairly, confidentially so far as practicable, and without victimisation of good-faith reporters.

12.4 Vexatious or knowingly false complaints may themselves constitute misconduct.

12.5 Under the Constitution, members must report behaviour that is against the Code of Conduct to elected Office Bearers/Committee.

12A. Resolution of disputes (Constitution clause 10)

A dispute between a member and another member (in their capacity as members), or between a member and the Association, is referred to the Committee.
If the dispute is not resolved by mediation within 3 months of referral to a community justice centre, it is referred to arbitration.
The Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 applies to any such arbitration.

The Constitution also defines a Resolution Committee of three individuals independent of SSHA, the Committee, and any sub-committee (and not required to contain SSHA members), which may be formed from Ordinary Members who do not hold committee, sub-committee, or office positions.

13. Disciplinary process

13.1 For minor issues, an officer may give a direction, warning, or remove a person from an activity for the day. Immediate safety removals may occur without waiting for the formal complaint process below.

13.2 For more serious matters under club policies, the Committee (or delegate) may notify the member, invite a response, consider evidence, and decide proportionate outcomes — including warning, conditions on participation, account revoke/anonymise, refusal of confirmations, and referral to Police / Registry where appropriate — in addition to the constitutional process below.

13.3 Disciplining of members (Constitution clause 11):

A complaint may be made to the Committee by any person who is a member (as defined in the Membership clauses and appendices) that a member has refused or neglected to comply with a provision of the Constitution, or has wilfully acted in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the Association.
The Committee may refuse to deal with a complaint if it considers it trivial or vexatious.
If the Committee deals with the complaint, it must:
- cause notice of the complaint to be served on the member concerned
- give the member at least 14 days from service to make submissions
- take into consideration any submissions made
The Committee may suspend or expel the member if satisfied the facts are proved and the action is warranted.
If the Committee expels or suspends a member, the Secretary must, within 7 days, give written notice (or a letter delivered by any means) of the action, the reasons, and the right of appeal under clause 12.
Expulsion or suspension does not take effect until the appeal period expires, or if an appeal is exercised, until the Association confirms the resolution under clause 12 — whichever is later.

13.4 Natural justice will be afforded to the extent reasonably practicable, balanced against immediate safety needs (which may require interim removal from an activity).

13.5 Appeal pathway (Constitution clause 12) — replaces any prior draft placeholder:

A member may appeal to the Association against a Committee resolution under clause 11 within 7 days after notice is served, by lodging a notice with the Secretary.
The notice may, but need not, be accompanied by a statement of grounds.
On receipt, the Secretary must notify the Committee, which is to convene a Special General Meeting (SGM) within 28 days.
At that SGM: no business other than the appeal; Committee and member may state their cases orally or in writing (or both); members present vote by secret ballot on whether the resolution should be confirmed or revoked.
The appeal is determined by a simple majority of votes cast.

14. Member protection commitments by SSHA

SSHA commits to:

Maintaining officer authority for immediate safety control
Providing clear reporting channels
Taking good-faith complaints seriously
Supporting juniors and vulnerable participants with appropriate safeguards
Aligning discipline with the Constitution and published policies once approved

15. Related documents

SSHA Club Constitution (including Appendices 3 and 4)
Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy
Firearms Governance & Compliance Policies
Environmental & WHS Policies
Administrative & Corporate Governance Policies

16. Policy ownership

Owner: The Club
Approver: The Club
Review cycle: At least annually