
Members may have become aware of the introduction of the National Integrity Framework (NIF) by Transplant Australia but wondering what the NIF is and why it is important not only for our organisation, but the wider sporting community in Australia.
The NIF is a suite of policies which set consistent rules that all people in the Australian sporting community – athletes, coaches, volunteers, staff and board members – need to follow in relation to their conduct and behaviour in sport. Transplant Australia is just one of the many National Sporting Organisations or National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) for people with Disability (NSODs) to have adopted and implemented the NIF in an effort to standardise acceptable behaviour in sport to make it safer, fairer and inclusive for all participants.
Origins of the NIF in Brief
The NIF was introduced as a way in which to deal with threats – local and global – to the safety and integrity of sport in Australia which were identified during the 2018 Report of the Review of Australia’s Sports Integrity Arrangements (the Wood Review). The Recommendations of the Wood Review covered five key themes and made 52 recommendations. The five themes were:
- Reponses to match-fixing
- Regulations of gambling and sports wagering
- Enhancement of anti-doping
- Developing a National Sports Tribunal
- Developing a National Sports Integrity Commission
A year prior to the Wood Review findings, there was another review into concerning conduct in Australia more generally – the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Although the Royal Commission looked at institutions more broadly across Australia, it was evident in Volume 14 of the Royal Commission report that there was an ongoing need to protect children and young people from abuse in the sporting environment as well as in other community institutions.
The NIF Policies:
The NIF is comprised of five policies – four core policies – and one policy which underpins the other four.
The four core policies – each with an explainer video link for more information – are:
- Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy [SGCYP video][SGCYP Auslan video]
- Member Protection Policy [MPP video][MPP Auslan video]
- Competition Manipulation and Sports Gambling Policy [CMSGP video][CMSGP Auslan video]
- Improper Use of Drugs and Medicines Policy [IUDMP video][IUDMP Auslan video]
Each of the above policies define what is known as ‘Prohibited Conduct’ – that is actions or behaviour which are unacceptable to us at Transplant Australia.
The Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy [CDDP video][CDDP Auslan Video] is the policy which underpins the core policies of the NIF. The purpose of this policy is to hold people or sporting organisations accountable for their misbehaviour or wrong doing, and explains how people or sporting organisations will be held accountable for their actions.
I Think a Policy Has Been Breached – Who Do I Complain To?
For serious types of misbehaviours, there is an independent complaint handling body, called Sport Integrity Australia (SIA). Complaints which should be made to SIA are concerns of breaches of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy or complaints about Discrimination. For complaints of these matters, you can follow this link. Only matters which have occurred after we signed the NIF on 30th June 2022 can be reported to SIA.
Matters which do not involve safeguarding concerns or discrimination, or occurred prior to us signing the NIF should be complained about to us at Transplant Australia. Our contact details are contactus@transplant.org.au
Complaints to SIA | Complaints to us |
• Misconduct with a child or young person • Sexual behaviour with or around a child or young person
• Shaming, humiliating, intimidating or belittling a child or young person • Causing a child or young person physical pain or discomfort • Breaching the Child/Young Person Safe Practices • Supplying of drugs or alcohol to a child or young person • Discrimination based on: – race or ethnicity – age – disability – sex or sexual orientation – religion • Doping (managed under the sport’s Anti-Doping Policy)
YOU MUST REPORT TO SIA IF IT INVOLVES A CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON. |
• Abuse, bullying or harassment between adults
• Victimisation of an adult • Sexual Misconduct between adults • Match, race or competition fixing and other types of Competition Manipulation • Supplying inside information for the purposes of gambling • Betting by members on their own sport • Unlawful use or provision of over the counter or prescription drugs or supplements • Use, possession or trafficking of illegal drugs • Concealing information about Prohibited Conduct • Selection and eligibility disputes • Competition Rules disputes • Code of Conduct breaches • Social Media Policy breaches • Governance misconduct • Employment disputes • Complaints that are solely a Personal Grievance • Whistleblower disclosures • Any conduct that occurred before your sports commencement date • Any other policies that your sport has |
If you are still unsure whether to make a complaint to Sport Integrity Australia or us, you can call SIA on 1300 027 232 and they will be able to provide you further guidance of who is the most appropriate body to make your complaint to.
Further Information
Over the next few months, Transplant Australia will be providing information and education on a variety of the NIF policies and areas of concern through newsletters and our social media channels. We hope you will follow this campaign to help make our sporting organisation as safe as it can be.
In addition, SIA has created a raft of free e-learning short courses on each of the topics which can be completed in your own time and can be accessed by registering here. These courses are excellent professional development for athletes, coaches, volunteers and staff alike. Whilst we do not mandate these courses for every participant in our organisation, completing these courses is a good way to demonstrate our commitment to keeping our community safe and a way we contribute to keeping the broader Australian sporting community safe. It’s a matter of out with the old maxim ‘knowledge is power’ and replace it with the new idea that ‘knowledge is empowering’.
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