Public update on SIA WAG Report recommendations

PROGRESS UPDATE: Implementation of the SIA WAG Report Recommendations

On 20 April 2022 Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) released its Report of the review of historic allegations of athlete abuse and mistreatment in the Western Australian Institute of Sport Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) Program which operated between 1988 and 2016.

Following the release of the Report, WAIS committed to undertaking actions under the recommendations, and provide publicly available six-monthly progress updates.

Information about WAIS’ actions in response to the SIA WAIS Women’s Gymnastics Program Report can be accessed on the WAIS website.

Overview

Over the last 6-months WAIS has undergone Governance changes, with the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister David Templeman MLA, appointing a new WAIS Board. Members of the Board are listed on the WAIS website.

In September 2023, the previous WAIS CEO departed the organisation and has been replaced by Acting CEO Matt Fulton. The Board will undertake a recruitment process to find a permanent CEO for the organisation moving forward.

Recommendation 1: WAIS adopt the National Integrity Framework including the independent complaint handling process.

Action: WAIS will continue to work with SIA and other stakeholders to achieve the required policy alignment for recognition as a SIA NIF compliant organisation (Complete)

Action: WAIS will adopt SIA as one of its independent complaint handling options once SIA has confirmed WAIS’ policy alignment with the NIF. (Complete)

WAIS is the first National Institute Network organisation to formally sign up to the Sport Integrity Australia National Integrity Framework. Effective from 1 January 2024, the WAIS National Integrity Framework policies will come into effect, and Sport Integrity Australia’s independent complaint handling channel will be available to WAIS stakeholders for SIA in-scope matters. Sport Integrity Australia and WAIS are currently recruiting for a WAIS Integrity and Safeguarding Manager to continue to develop, educate and embed integrity-related policies, procedures, and practices at WAIS.

Recommendation 2: WAIS must ensure that all sport programs involving children are child-focused and age appropriate.

Action: WAIS will seek an independent review of its current athlete management policies to identify any opportunities to further improve athlete empowerment – with a focus on empowering children and young people. (Complete)

Action: WAIS will undertake a review of parental engagement in its sport programs to identify any potential opportunities to further improve supporting policy and practice. (Complete)

WAIS engaged the Australian Childhood Foundation to conduct two concurrent reviews in response to the SIA WAG Report. In November 2023, the Australian Childhood Foundation presented WAIS with a final report which provided insights to WAIS on what WAIS is currently doing well and the opportunities to improve in the areas of athlete empowerment and parent engagement to support safeguarding outcomes. WAIS has identified and incorporated key areas of priority into 2024 action plans.

Action: WAIS will liaise with its various National and State Sport Organisation partners and the AIS Coach Development Team to develop and/or provide Inservice courses for coaches in the areas of child development

The Australian Sports Commission, Sport Integrity Australia and WAIS have established a joint Memorandum to develop a national course for coaching children in high-performance environments – with WAIS providing financial and in-kind support. An expert consultant has been appointed and the course modules are in development and well-progressed. The course is anticipated to be available in 2024.

Recommendation 3: WAIS should continue to embed athlete wellbeing into policies, procedures, and practices within all sport programs.

Action: All WAIS Performance Enhancement Division staff will be inducted and trained on the Disordered Eating Early Identification and Prevention Policy by 30 June 2022. (Complete)

WAIS is working closely with Sport Integrity Australia to develop learning and development plans and availability of content to support the implementation of the National Integrity Framework, as well as other key policy areas.

WAIS has procured an eLearning platform to enhance athlete education of WAIS policies focussed on providing a safe, inclusive, and rewarding high performance sport experience. The platform and initial modules have been built.

Recommendation 4: WAIS, in collaboration with the impacted Gymnasts, engage in a restorative and reconciliatory process.

Action: WAIS will liaise with impacted gymnasts to develop and engage in an agreed restorative and reconciliatory process.

The Department of Justice continues to support DLGSC, WAIS and Gymnastics Alliance Australia in the restorative and reconciliatory process. The DLGSC has engaged the Office of Victims of Crime (Dept. of Justice) to lead the process with WAIS and the GAA. The process is anticipated to begin in December 2023/ January 2024.

Additional areas of action supporting athlete care and wellbeing:

• WAIS has recently engaged additional resources to ensure all work currently being undertaken by the organisation with an integrity focus is connected in addition to the future planning of further actions to take place in 2024.
• WAIS has conducted an internal self-assessment on the 10 National Principles for Child Safe Organisations as part of our continuous improvement in creating child-safe environments, with key action areas captured in a 2024 work plan.
• WAIS staff continue to upskill across a range of sport integrity and athlete care matters. Most recently, staff were provided with a Concussion in sport policy and management education session.