Sport Integrity Australia establishes new Safety in Sport division

Sport Integrity Australia’s commitment to protecting sporting participants has been strengthened  by the establishment of a Safety in Sport Division.

This announcement enables Sport Integrity Australia to play a national co-ordination role for sport integrity related matters, focusing on abuses of power such as discrimination and vilification.

The expansion of SIA’s operations will not include a takeover of existing integrity units in professional sport in Australia but will work closely in partnership with professional sporting codes to change cultures.

Initiatives included in the Safety in Sport Division involve the engagement of a Deputy Chief Executive of Safety and Culture Strategy who would inform SIA’s approach to dealing with a range of issues including discrimination based on race, culture, sexual and gender identity as well as abuse and mistreatment across all levels of Australian sport.

There will also be an expansion of the capability of SIA’s existing 1300 hotline for people to make complaints regarding abuses.

The expanded hotline will include 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.

Sport Integrity Australia Chief Executive David Sharpe advised “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.

“What action or response taken will be driven by the person coming forward to share their experience or story.

“This does not have to be public, they may just want someone to listen. Information gathered will allow the agency to further identify emerging trends and inform our education initiatives and strategies.”

Federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells notes “Shockingly, since SIA opened its doors, it has received more than 1300 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 hotline will provide a place for anyone in sport, past or present, to feel heard and seek support.

“In my short time as Federal Minister for Sport, I have set out to make a contribution that progresses integrity and equality within our wide world of sport.

“I am yet to find anyone who can assure me our sporting institutions are safe.

“This is the first step of many to help people in sport feel safe and have faithful means of reporting abuses.

“We expect this to feature in our 2032 Olympics and Paralympics Legacy policy, currently being developed.”

The Federal Government is also conducting a rapid review of Government sporting responsibilities at the Federal level to ensure there are no gaps and deliver greater clarity at the Commonwealth level.

The Safety in Sport Division will not cover investigations of historical matters but will have the capability of listening to historical concerns to guide future strategies.