WAIS provides update on implementation of Sport Integrity Australia report recommendations

Found to have abused women who trained as gymnasts over three decades by a Sport Integrity Australia report released last year, the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) has provided an update on actions it is undertaking actions under the recommendations.

The independent review by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) investigating the culture of WAIS’ artistic gymnastics program between 1987 and 2016 revealed systematic physical and emotional abuse of young athletes by coaches and staff when training in the Western Australian Institute of Sport Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) program.

The report was commissioned by WAIS and the Gymnast Alliance Australia (GAA) as a result of historic allegations of athlete abuse and mistreatment in the elite program.

WAIS accepted four recommendations from the findings, including a “restorative” process with affected gymnasts, while WAIS Chairman Neil McLean stated at the time “to the women who reported such distressing experiences, we have listened to you”.

Following the release of the Report, WAIS also committed to undertaking actions under the recommendations, and provide publicly available six-monthly progress updates.

Released yesterday, WAIS advise that in the last six months it “has worked closely with the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) to understand the Department’s oversight and audit expectations. WAIS and DLGSC meet monthly to discuss our progress and implementation of the recommendations.”

It adds that “the WAIS Steering Group continues to meet monthly and oversees the implementation of the actions under each recommendation” before noting that “importantly, in May 2023 the Board renewed WAIS’ commitment, as stated in its strategic plan – Nurturing High Performance, that ‘above all, WAIS will act in the best interests of athlete health, wellbeing, and safety’.”

Last month, the WAIS issued a new apology to women who were abused while training as gymnasts under the WAG program, conceding its initial efforts at contrition “fell short”.

In a letter issued to the former youth athletes, WAIS admitting that first apology from last year was not enough.

The new letter from the WAIS Board stated “we have reflected on the past apology and understand why it needed to be re-assessed.

“As we prepare to invite you to participate in the restorative process, we would like to provide you with an updated apology.

“To read what you have been through has been deeply upsetting and we want to express our heartfelt apology to every gymnast who has suffered as a result of the time you spent in the WAIS Gymnastics program.

“We are sorry.”

The restorative process, facilitated by the Western Australian Department of Justice, offers face-to-face apologies involving a professional mediator or by formal letter, with all attendance on a voluntary basis.

Click here to view information about WAIS’ actions in response to the WAG program report.

Click here to view the update on the implementation of Sport Integrity Australia report recommendations.

Image credit: WAIS.