Progress Update: Implementation of the SIA WAG Report Recommendations

Published On: 9 December 2022

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.

WAIS’ full response to the SIA WAIS Women’s Gymnastics Program Report Recommendations can be accessed on the WAIS website.

Overview

In the last six months, the WAIS Board has established a steering group to oversee the implementation of actions under reach recommendation. The Steering Group has since met twice, with planning underway to implement against each action.

In June 2022, the Hon. David Templeman, Minister for Sport and Recreation, also made a commitment to implementing the Report recommendations. The Minister has directed the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) to oversight and audit WAIS’ compliance with the implementation of the recommendations from the Review, to facilitate the restorative and reconciliation process, and to undertake a comprehensive governance and culture review of WAIS.

WAIS has been collaborating with the DLGSC to establish the parameters under this Direction.

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

Following feedback from some sporting organisations on challenges associated with adopting the SIA NIF, as designed for National Sport Organisations, SIA provided WAIS a Non-NSO version of the NIF in June 2022. WAIS has reviewed and confirmed that this version of the NIF is suitable for its requirements.

To progress adoption of the SIA National Integrity Framework, a SIA contact has been established and WAIS representatives have attended the SIA ‘Managing Integrity in Sport’ course in December to develop WAIS’ internal capabilities to deliver on this action.

In addition, WAIS is working to establish additional intermediate independent complaint option for staff and athletes, while it works towards adopting the SIA independent complaint handling channel.

Update on 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.

WAIS is currently establishing the scope of the review and the required skillset of an independent reviewer.

  • 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.

WAIS has progressed its planning to undertake a review of parental engagement in its sport programs. As part of this review, stakeholder engagement is expected to begin early in 2023.

  • 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 and developmental psychology, in the sporting environment.

The AIS High-Performance Coach Development manager has acknowledged the national system significance of this recommendation and has joined the Steering Committee to support this Action. National and local stakeholders are being consulted to identify what options exist for coach education systems to deliver a national solution on these education topics.

Update on Recommendation 3: WAIS should continue to embed athlete wellbeing into policies, procedures, and practices into 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.

Staff education on the identification and prevention of disordered eating was completed in June 2022. A subsequent independent audit of the training completed is in process with a draft audit report submitted to WAIS. To augment staff understanding of this topic, WAIS will also offer an in-service course in 2023.

Update on 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.

To facilitate the restorative and reconciliatory process, DLGSC, WAIS and Gymnastics Alliance Australia are being assisted by the Department of Justice.