WAIS announces new Board Directors and adoption of sport integrity framework

Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) has announced the appointment of three new Board Directors along with the announcement yesterday that WAIS is the first National Institute Network organisation to formally adopt the Sport Integrity Australia National Integrity Framework effective from 1st January 2024.

Sailing Olympic gold medallist Elise Rechichi, former journalist Colleen Egan, and Curtin University research fellow Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker commenced in their WAIS board roles this month.

The WA Government’s appointments build on the previous new appointments by the WA Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman to focus on governance and restorative justice.

Rechichi has a strong commitment to gender equity and athlete wellbeing. She is a former WAIS scholarship holder (2003-2013) and dual Olympian, currently holding the position of Head of Performance Strategy at Paralympics Australia.

Egan is a former journalist best known for her Walkley Award-winning work on the wrongful conviction of Perth man Andrew Mallard. She is now an independent consultant.

Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker, who works in the fields of Australian Aboriginal identity and self-esteem, has competed in elite level sports as a member of the Women's National Basketball League and the Western Australian State Basketball League.

The appointments finalise recent board changes following the resignation of former members. The Board Directors appointed are:

• Dr Neale Fong (Chair);

• Gary Dreibergs;

• Colleen Egan;

• Darren Foster;

• Kaylene Gulich;

• Cheryl Kickett-Tucker;

• Elise Rechichi;

• Fabian Ross; and

• Peta Slocombe.

Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Deputy Director General Jennifer McGrath currently holds an ex-officio position on the board.

The WA Government remains committed to the restorative justice process between WAIS and former athletes involved in the Women's Artistic Gymnastics Program between 1987 and 2016.

WAIS is an independent organisation that receives the majority of its funding from the State. That funding supports the institute to provide pathways for athletes to safely progress to elite levels, such as the Olympics or Paralympic Games.

While a culture and governance review into WAIS is underway, it was announced yesterday that WAIS is the first National Institute Network organisation to formally adopt the Sport Integrity Australia National Integrity Framework effective from 1st January 2024.

This is an important step in protecting all WAIS athletes and coaches from integrity threats in sport and flows from the Sport Integrity Australia Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Report.

Sport Integrity Australia Chief Executive David Sharpe noted “WAIS’s adoption of the National Integrity Framework is a significant step forward for the Institute and I’d like to acknowledge the work done to get to this point.

“We look forward to continuing our work with the Institute as they move forward with embedding the Framework into their processes and procedures to enhance the safety and wellbeing of all who participate in the WAIS programs.”

WAIS’s latest milestone is critical in regaining some of its credibility and will see it embedding a best practice integrity framework with the highest standard of athlete safeguarding and integrity management in all areas of the organisation. Above all, WAIS will act in the best interests of athlete health, wellbeing and safety to ensure a Win Well culture.

An action plan will be implemented to embed the 10 National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, findings from an independent review by the Australian Childhood Foundation of athlete empowerment and parent engagement at WAIS, and the development of a national course on coaching children in high-performance environments in partnership with the Australian Sports Commission and Sport Integrity Australia.

A dedicated Integrity and Safeguarding Manager is being recruited to continue to develop, educate and embed integrity-related policies, procedures and practices into all levels of WAIS.

The framework consists of five integrity-related policies, including:

• Competition Manipulation and Sport Gambling Policy

• Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy

• Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy

• Participant Protection Policy

• Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy

WAIS has also confirmed its ongoing commitment to the safeguarding of children and young people with WAIS Chair, Dr Neale Fong confirming this is one of many critical steps WAIS will make to improve integrity in both WAIS training and competition environments.

WAIS is confident that the new Board will continue to propel WAIS forward as the industry-leading performance institute, producing champion sports people at the same time nurturing athletes in their life- journey.