Safeguarding for Major Sporting Events Toolkit Launch a Milestone for the Pacific
A new toolkit translating regional experience into practical guidance for safer major sporting events
The recent launch of the Safeguarding at Major Sporting Events Toolkit represents a major milestone for safeguarding in Pacific sport. Developed by the Australian Government’s sport for development program, Team Up, the toolkit has been designed by the Pacific, for the Pacific.
The toolkit contains a practical framework for safeguarding in sport, drawing on years of learnings from major sporting events across the Pacific, including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup (Australia), the 2023 Pacific Games (Solomon Islands), and last year’s Pacific Mini Games in Palau.
While the Pacific’s flagship sporting events, the Pacific Games and Pacific Mini-Games occur every two years, the broader Oceania sporting calendar includes 15–30 significant sporting events annually, making the toolkit a significant resource for those delivering events.
During the launch, Team Up Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and Safeguarding Advisor, Roshika Deo, emphasised the importance of having a toolkit fit for the Pacific context and how it was shaped by practical experience of those working at major games, supporting athletes, and managing safeguarding challenges in real time.
“Once the draft was ready we pre-tested some of the templates at the Team Up Regional Safeguarding Workshop last year where we had over 80 safeguarding champions from 11 Pacific Island Countries, Team Up partners (FIBA Oceania and Oceania Rugby) and National Olympic Committees,” she said.
The Oceania Impact Network regional safeguarding community of practice also provided valuable feedback during the process, through a dedicated safeguarding webinar in December 2025.
The launch included a panel discussion featuring Pacific sports safeguarding practitioners Toluiva Keneti (National Development Manager, Lakapi Samoa); Siale Bain-Vete (Partnership Manager, FIBA Oceania); Lupeolo Fe’ao (Safeguarding Officer, NRL Tonga); and Sefanaia Takape (Nauru National Olympic Committee), who shared insights and experiences from across the region.
Supported by the Australian Government, the toolkit provides practical templates and tools to help organisations delivering sporting events strengthen safeguarding, prevent violence, and support effective reporting and response processes.
