Position statement on photographing children

The Department of Sport and Recreation supports initiatives to make sport and recreation safer for children and acknowledges that there is legislation that supports children's rights.

Related topics: child protection,photography

Children should be free to participate in sport and recreation without undue exposure to the risk of abuse. Photographing children involved in sport and recreation activities can put children at risk, particularly if the images are being posted on websites or distributed in publications.

Mobile phone cameras have added a new dimension to covert behaviour and perceptions of privacy. Technology is well-ahead of legislation and a national approach to unauthorised photography has been advocated. Photographing people in public places is not illegal as long as the subject is not compromised – e.g. undressed. Where photographs are “published” is of increasing community concern. 

More information is available on the Australian Sports Commission website.

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