As a club administrator, cyber security probably isn't at the top of your list. Between registrations, finances, team communications and safeguarding, there's only so much room. But your club holds the kind of information cyber criminals are increasingly interested in: member details, kids' records, bank accounts, social media logins and committee email accounts. The good news is there's a free online course built specifically for people in your position, and it only takes about 45 minutes.
The course is called Cyber Safety and Security in Sport, and it's run by Sport Integrity Australia. It was developed in partnership with the Australian Signals Directorate's Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and the eSafety Commissioner - the two agencies most Australians would turn to first for online security and online safety advice.
It's free, available online any time, and takes around 45 minutes from start to finish.
The course is structured around four practical outcomes for someone running a club:
- Identifying the cyber risks your club actually faces - what data you hold, why it's attractive to criminals, and what the consequences look like when things go wrong
- Knowing what to do if you're hacked - first-response steps for the common scenarios, including compromised email accounts, fraudulent invoices and ransomware
- Protecting your accounts and devices - the everyday habits that prevent most incidents in the first place
- Responding to online abuse in sport - how to support a player, coach or official who is being abused online, and how to use eSafety's reporting pathways
The eSafety Commissioner's input on online abuse is particularly useful for anyone managing junior or women's teams, where online abuse of participants is a real and growing issue.
Anyone with a committee role or a club login. The course is designed for everyone from grassroots volunteers through to professional staff, and assumes no technical background. The most useful people to prioritise:
- Treasurer and registrar
- Club secretary or general manager
- Social media and communications volunteers
- Team managers, particularly for junior and women's teams
- Member protection or welfare officers
A reasonable goal for any club is to have at least one or two people complete the course each season.
- Visit the SIA eLearning portal: elearning.sportintegrity.gov.au/view_course/20
- Create an account if you don't already have one
- Work through the course at your own pace
You'll receive a certificate of completion at the end, which is worth keeping as a record for club governance purposes.
Sport Integrity Australia published a full overview of the course when it launched in 2023, including comments from the ACSC and the eSafety Commissioner on why it was built and what problems it addresses. It's worth a quick read if you'd like the context before committing your time: sportintegrity.gov.au.
Cyber security doesn't need to be complicated, and you don't need to work it out on your own. A free, government-backed, 45-minute course built specifically for sport is about as low-friction a starting point as you'll find. If your club hasn't done any cyber training yet, this is a sensible place to begin.
