Ensuring athlete safety and wellbeing is prioritised in the pursuit of sporting excellence.
A 2022 Sport Integrity Australia review of Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) historical Women’s Artistic Gymnastics program found that it was reasonably likely that some gymnasts suffered abuse and/or harm.
Following this review, the Minister for Sport and Recreation directed the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) to conduct a review of safeguarding governance and culture across all current elite sporting programs to ensure that it is a safe place for athletes now and into the future.
The Athlete Safeguarding Governance and Culture Review of WAIS (the review) commenced in November 2022.
The DLGSC appointed KPMG Australia to perform the review, including independent consultations, which will be overseen by DLGSC. The review will be conducted in accordance with terms of reference agreed between DLGSC and WAIS.
The review will consider governance and culture relating to athlete safeguarding, identify areas for improvement and make recommendations that will ensure WAIS is providing a safe and supportive environment for all athletes, now and in the future.
It will also consider WAIS’s policies and procedures in relation to athlete safeguarding, governance, oversight, culture and complaints handling.
Formal consultation concluded on 9 February 2023. KPMG are currently working to analyse the information collected and develop a final report.
Through the process of consultation, stakeholders were engaged by a range of means including cultural perception surveys, in-person and virtual consultation sessions, and focus groups. Eligible participants were current or former (within the past five years):
KPMG will provide a final report to DLGSC at the completion of the review.
If you’d like to speak to KPMG or have any questions about your involvement, please contact KPMG at safeguardingreview@kpmg.com.au
For enquiries and further information regarding the Review, please contact: childsafeguarding@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
If you have an urgent concern about the safety, health or welfare of a child, contact emergency services on 000.
If you are a child or adult who has been the victim of child abuse, or if you have information about someone else being abused, you can contact police anytime on 131 444 and can request to speak to a member of the Child Abuse Squad.
If you have concerns for a child’s wellbeing, contact the Department of Communities on 1800 271 889.