Independent Review of gymnastics in Australia now open for public participation

At the request of Gymnastics Australia, with the support of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the National Institute Network, the Australian Human Rights Commission will today commence public consultation for its Independent Review of the sport of gymnastics in Australia.

The Review will build an understanding of the sport’s culture and identify systemic issues impacting upon athlete experience and barriers to reporting misconduct to inform future, better practice to ensure safety and inclusivity.

The Commission has sought and been granted ethics approval for the Review process from a national human research ethics committee.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins said the Commission would now begin conducting interviews and focus groups and accept written submissions from former and current athletes and their families, coaches, officials, administrators, and former and current staff.

Jenkins advised “with the spotlight on human rights of athletes globally this is a landmark project for the sport of gymnastics in Australia, and we expect the findings to inform future practice across sport more broadly.

“Any member of the gymnastics community in Australia, past or present, is encouraged to participate in the Review.

“Your experiences will be heard and will form an important part of the Review’s findings and recommendations for change.”

All information gathered through the focus groups, interviews and written submissions will be used in a de-identified manner and treated as confidential.

The Review will also consider current policies and practices relating to the safety and wellbeing of athletes within the sport. The scope of the Review does not extend to investigation of individual allegations or findings being made against individuals.

The Commission will publish its findings and recommendations for change in a public report to be released in the first quarter of 2021.

Interviews and focus groups will be conducted over the next two months, and written submissions will be accepted until 10th January 2021.

Those wishing to participate can visit humanrights.gov.au/gymnastics.