Sport Integrity Australia launches its Safety in Sport Division

Sport Integrity Australia has today launched its Safety in Sport Division aimed at helping to address discrimination, abuse and mistreatment across all levels of Australian sport.

The new Division, announced by Federal Minister for Sport Anika Wells in September 2022, will not cover investigations of historical matters but will have the capability of listening to historical concerns to guide future strategies.

Headed by Dr Sarah Benson, the Division will play a leading role in protecting the safety of sporting participants in Australia as it will allow for greater national coordination and response to issues that fall under the National Integrity Framework.

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.

The capability of the new Safety in Sport Division includes an expansion of the hotline for people to make complaints regarding abuses.

The 1800 Safe Sport hotline is available 7am-7pm seven days a week to provide a place for anyone in sport to feel heard and seek support. The hotline includes an anonymous reporting capability focusing on wider racial and cultural issues in sport and will complement the existing complaints process managed through the National Integrity Framework.

These initiatives will be overseen by Safety and Culture Advisor Patrick Johnson, who will ensure Sport Integrity Australia’s work in this space is appropriate and informed. A proud indigenous Olympian, Johnson is the only Australian ever to break the 10-second barrier for the 100m. He also has an extensive career off the track that includes 10 years in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 20-plus years of advocacy work for equal rights for all Australians, in addition to various indigenous leadership roles.

Sport Integrity Australia is also rolling out a Safeguarding in Sport Continuous Improvement Program, designed to support national sporting organisations, state sporting organisations and community affiliated bodies (associations/leagues and clubs) to implement the Member Protection and Child Safeguarding Policies.

By signing up to the Safeguarding in Sport Continuous Improvement Program, sports are committed to working to embed a genuine safeguarding culture within their sport to protect all members – young and old.

If you have any questions about the Safety in Sport Division you can contact the Sport Integrity Australia communications team at communications@sportintegrity.gov.au.