Swimming Australia acknowledges complaints process could have been better communicated

June 16, 2021

Swimming Australia has admitted it could have done better in making its members aware of how to access an independent complaints process.

In the wake of two-time Olympic silver medallist Maddie Groves quitting the Tokyo Olympic trials, citing "misogynistic perverts" in the sport, Swimming Australia Chief Executive Alex Baumann announced yesterday that the organisation would contact all its members immediately to make them aware of how to access the complaints process.

Speaking at the 2021 Australian Swimming Trials at the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Adelaide, after what he described as a "regularly scheduled meeting", Baumann advised “we acknowledge the complaints process should be easily accessible and we have committed to ensuring all our members are aware of the avenues to access this process.

"I don't think it's vague, I think it's pretty comprehensive. What I think has happened is that we haven't communicated effectively.

"In the next 24 hours we will be sending a communication to all of our community reiterating the avenues of process for any complaint."

Swimming Australia Director Tracy Stockwell said members could raise their complaints directly with the organisation but, noting that the body had become aware some members did not feel comfortable doing that, advised that they could instead go straight to the Australian Institute of Sport or Sport Integrity Australia.

She said that was a relatively new process, which the organisation acknowledged it has not publicised.

Stockwell said the Swimming Australia board had met on Tuesday, and was making progress with regard to the independent female panel it had committed to following Groves's allegations.

She told the ABC “we have a draft terms of reference for the formation of our panel and this has gone through our integrity and ethics committee as well as the board today and we're still finessing that

"We are listening to the allegations and I have empathy for those athletes."

She said a "number of impressive candidates" had come forward and that she hoped to be "able to announce a chairperson as soon as possible".

15th June 2021 - Kate Palmer says Australian high-performance sports system a broken ‘boys’ club

14th June 2021 - Swimming Australia to create independent all-female panel to investigate misogyny

10th June 2021 - Olympic swimming trials set to commence at SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre

19th May 2021 - Study suggests swimming pool water inactivates COVID-19 virus in 30 seconds

13th May 2021 - Speedo unveils Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics swimwear range

10th May 2021 - Swimming Australia partners with Elyptol

4th May 2021 - Review reveals ‘toxic’ environment within Australian gymnastics with culture of physical, emotional and sexual abuse

16th April 2021 - Swimming Australia unveils new nationwide inclusive swimwear policy

15th April 2021 - Swimming Australia names Alex Baumann as new Chief Executive

1st April 2021 - Swimming Australia confirms 2021 Age Championships will proceed on the Gold Coast

10th March 2021 - Swimming Australia extends swimwear and apparel partnership with arena

12th February 2021 - Amazon enters Australian live streaming market with Swimming Australia deal

16th December 2020 - Swimming Australia presents 2020 Community Award winners

9th November 2020 - Kieren Perkins appointed as Swimming Australia President

19th August 2020 - Swimming Australia highlights role swimming can play in nation’s Coronavirus recovery

5th July 2020 - Swimming legend Laurie Lawrence says outgoing Australian head coach is ‘a w**ker’

20th April 2020 - Swimming Australia celebrates first year of iSwim

27th November 2019 - Swimming Australia honours Gina Rinehart with Lifetime Contribution Award

12th November 2019 - Swimming Australia and Belgravia Leisure partner to deliver activity and experience-based swim school teaching

2nd October 2019 - Swimming Australia launches grant program to encourage physical activity

29th July 2019 - Swimming Australia scrutinised over handling of Shayna Jack doping result

19th February 2013 - Review slams ‘toxic’ culture in Olympic swim team

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