Safety in Sport

Sport is more than playing the game: it’s also the culture of sporting organisations, and it’s a sad fact that some sporting organisations have hit the news because of abuses of power such as discrimination and vilification.

The Federal Government recently announced measures to protect sporting participants through Sport Integrity Australia’s (SIA) Safety in Sport Division. SIA is set to play a national co-ordination role for sport integrity related matters, focusing on abuses of power such as discrimination and vilification.

Initiatives included in the Safety in Sport Division involve the engagement of a Deputy CEO of Safety and Culture Strategy and the expansion of the capability of SIA’s existing 1300 hotline for people to make complaints regarding abuses. The expanded hotline includes an anonymous reporting capability focusing on wider racial and cultural issues in sport and a broadening of the education platform to inform culturally sensitive issues.

The Minister for Sport, Anika Wells, spoke about the need for these measures, saying “Shockingly, since SIA opened its doors, it has received more than 1,300 matters regarding sports integrity which shows the dire need for increased resourcing.

“The expanded hotline will provide people in sport an anonymous way to report abuse and will complement the existing complaints process managed through the National Integrity Framework.”

The CEO of Sport Integrity Australia David Sharpe said “Sport Integrity Australia is working to change the culture of sport from the community level up by embedding acceptable behaviours and anti-discrimination attitudes at all levels of sport.

“It is critical we start the conversation and education at the grassroots level because today’s five-year-old could be our 2032 Olympian”.

You can learn more here: https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/

• Topics:

• General Sport