Risk Warning Under Section 5M of the Civil Liability Act 2002 on Behalf of AHIGS and AHIGS Sporting Activities
The Association of Heads of Independent Girls’ Schools NSW (AHIGS) administers and convenes IGSSA inter-school sporting activities in which many students from its members’ schools participate. Students participating in these sporting events take part in practice, trials and competitions.
AHIGS and its members’ schools expect students to take responsibility for their own safety during sporting activities by wearing compulsory safety equipment, by thinking carefully about the use of safety equipment that is highly recommended and by behaving in a safe and responsible manner towards team members, opponents, spectators, officials, property and grounds. AHIGS and its members’ schools also expect parents, spectators and other participants to behave in a safe and responsible manner, to comply with the IGSSA Code of Conduct and to set a good example for the girls.
While AHIGS and its members’ schools take measures to make the sporting activities as safe as possible for participants, there is a risk that students can be injured and suffer loss (including financial loss) and damage as a result of their participation in these sporting activities, whether at training or in actual events. Parents, spectators and officials could also be injured or suffer loss.
Injury can occur while the student, parent, spectator or official is engaging in or watching a sporting activity, or travelling to and from the event. The injury may result from a student’s actions, the actions of others, the state of the premises or from equipment failure.
On some occasions, an injury can be serious (such as torn ligaments, dislocations, back injuries, concussion or broken bones). In very rare cases an injury can be life threatening or result in permanent disability. If a student, parent, spectator or official has a pre-existing injury, participating in a sporting activity could result in an exacerbation of that injury.
Students, parents, spectators and officials could also suffer loss as a result of their personal property being lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.