Position impossible: child safeguarding volunteers in Australian community sport

Research question Despite volunteers being central to safeguarding over 3.5 million children in Australian community sport, no empirical research has examined how those in safeguarding roles enact their responsibilities within federated governance structures. This study addresses this gap by asking: How do volunteers in community sport enact child safeguarding roles and navigate associated governance challenges?Research methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve volunteers in child safeguarding positions across Australian community sport. Data were analysed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis to generate an understanding of how safeguarding is interpreted, enacted, and constrained within community sport organisations.Results and findings Five themes illustrated the challenges shaping volunteer safeguarding work: fragmented governance structures; role ambiguity; an (over)reliance on socio-educational influence; organisational protection hierarchies; and the absence of the child’s voice. Volunteers described their roles as invisible, isolated, and largely reactive, shaped by governance arrangements that deprioritise child safeguarding and diffuse responsibility, highlighting political dynamics that constrain safeguarding implementation in community sport.Implications Safeguarding roles constitute a ‘position impossible’, with volunteers working in fragmented governance structures with significant ambiguity and limited institutional support. The study contributes to sport management theory by showing how political and structural dynamics of sport governance shape the safeguarding practices of community sport volunteers. Practically, findings suggest the importance of redistributing responsibility, improving clarity of roles, and adopting collaborative governance approaches.