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read moreThe Western Australian Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries has announced this week that the athlete safeguarding governance and culture review of the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) has commenced and that contributions are invited.
In the wake of scathing reports about the WAIS’ culture, the review, being undertaken by audit and business management specialists KPMG, will consider the governance and culture at sporting body in relation to athlete safeguarding and will identify areas for improvement and make recommendations that will ensure it is providing a safe and supportive environment for all athletes, now and in the future.
It will also consider the at besieged government-funded body’s policies and procedures in relation to athlete safeguarding, governance, oversight, culture and complaints handling.
The review is currently seeking to engage participant groups involved in WAIS elite sporting programs within the past five years including current and former WAIS athletes, including children and young people, along with families of current and former athletes including parents and guardians.
Media reports have also indicated significant staff turnover at the WAIS.
The West Australian recently reported that up to 25 of the institute’s 60 staff have departed over the past two years, some leaving full-time jobs to accept part-time opportunities.
It follows the resignation of nine 10 board members after a 20-month hold-up to a restorative process for gymnasts who were abused by demanding coaches between 1987 and 2016.
Long-standing Chief Executive Steve Lawrence also quit after discussions with the new board, led by new Chair Neale Fong.
The exodus of directors left just the ex-officio member Jennifer McGrath, a Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Deputy Director General, from the original board.
She was joined in September ago by Dr Fong, a former WA Football Commission Chairman and Director General of the Department of Health, former Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Dreibergs, ex-Department of Premier and Cabinet head Darren Foster and Hockey WA Chief Executive Fabian Ross.
The Western Australian Government provides 90% of WAIS’s $11 million annual funding.
Click here for more information on the review.
1st November 2023 - Australian Institute of Sport releases ambitious plan to balance gender inequality in coaching
27th October 2023 - Federal Government announces independent review of Canberra’s Australian Institute of Sport
9th October 2023 - Peta Slocombe and Kaylene Gulich appointed as WA Institute of Sport Board members
29th September 2023 - WA Institute of Sport Chief Executive steps down after 22 years
28th September 2023 - New Chair announced for Western Australian Institute of Sport as governance review gets underway
14th September 2023 - South Australian Sports Institute Director announces retirement
11th September 2023 - WA Institute of Sport hit by mass board resignations
24th August 2023 - Victorian Institute of Sport names new General Manager High Performance
22nd June 2023 - WAIS provides update on implementation of Sport Integrity Australia report recommendations
13th February 2023 - Tender now open for submissions from interested parties to review WA Institute of Sport
13th January 2023 - Australian Institute of Sport experiences increasing demand for site and services
8th September 2022 - Priya Cooper among four new appointments announced for Western Australian Institute of Sport Board
25th August 2022 - Australian Institute of Sport collaboration to study impacts of menstruation and hormonal contraceptives on female athletes
22nd April 2022 - WAIS responds to Sport Integrity Australia Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Program Report
20th April 2022 - Sport Integrity Australia review finds gymnasts suffered abuse while participating in the WAIS Program
14th February 2022 - Review of gymnastics at the Western Australian Institute of Sport recommends apology to abused athletes
6th May 2021 - WAIS apologises to former gymnasts for past ‘distress or injury’
25th August 2019 - WAIS announces new Athletics Performance Manager appointment
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