Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) have partnered to develop a world first eLearning course to upskill coaches of junior athletes in high performance sport.
The Safe and effective coaching of young athletes in high performance sport course, launched today, was developed following a review of the Women’s Gymnastics program at WAIS in 2022, which identified a gap in this type of education in Australia and globally.
SIA CEO, Dr Sarah Benson, said embedding safeguarding practices in high performance coaching is in the best interest of our national and state/territory sport programs; particularly leading up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“We know that exceptional coaches are at the heart of any successful high performance sport program, and young athletes rely on their leadership, care and trust,” Dr Benson said.
“In developing this course, it was important to consider all the unique challenges being faced by young athletes – such as their physical maturation, hormonal changes, and mental development and wellbeing – to provide coaches with the insights and tools necessary for safe and successful high performance programs.
“This course proactively supports coaches to bring out the best in junior athletes while also keeping sport safe for everyone, at all levels.”
SIA, the AIS and WAIS worked in collaboration to ensure the course’s success, evidenced by the positive engagement with West Australian coaches during the pilot program.
“At WAIS, we’ve listened closely to the experiences of former athletes and committed to meaningful change; this course is one part of a broader effort to improve how we deliver high performance,” WAIS CEO Matt Fulton said.
“It’s been incredibly valuable to have our coaches involved in shaping its direction and driving positive outcomes in the development, wellbeing, and long-term success of young athletes.”
Australian Sports Commission Executive General Manager of AIS Performance Matti Clements said the course aligns with Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Win Well Strategy.
“Former and current athletes bravely shared their experiences, both at WAIS and other programs across the country, and told us more needs to be done to safeguard young athletes. We as a high performance system not only listened but acted,” Ms Clements said.
“All Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports and sporting bodies are united in our vision to win well. Ensuring our coaches and athletes have the support and environment to succeed in both sport and in life is crucial to achieving that goal.”
The course draws on the latest research and expertise, led by athlete development expert Dr Juanita Weissensteiner from the NSW Office of Sport, and the current integrity trends reported to Sport Integrity Australia.
The new course is now live and available via SIA’s eLearning platform.
For more information and educational resources for coaches and young athletes, visit SIA’s Safeguarding Resources.
