Swimming Australia to embrace review recommendations
Swimming Australia
Published: Feb 19, 2013 01:09:57 PM Updated: Mar 19, 2013 09:24:15 AM
Swimming Australia has today welcomed the release of the Independent Review of Swimming handed down by, the Hon. Warwick Smith AM and his panel, and also outlined the findings from its own review into the culture and leadership within the sport.
Following months of reflection and review since London 2012, which has already seen considerable change within the sport, the Swimming Australia board will now look to prioritise and categorise the recommendations to come out of the two reports.
Swimming Australia President Barclay Nettlefold said the completion of both reviews will further aid the change and new direction for the sport, which is already well underway following last month’s successful BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series in Perth and the National Event Camp involving more than 150 athletes, coaches and support staff on the Gold Coast.
Nettlefold said the sport and the EnergyAustralia Swim Team has already started to reconnect with the Australian public and more particularly the swimming community.
“We know sport is a challenging environment by nature, and there is no doubt this has been a challenging time for all of us,” said Nettlefold.
“It’s been a time of reflection and review, and a time to be honest and open about how we can make the right steps towards future success.”
Both the Independent Review of Swimming and Bluestone Review into culture and leadership detail a series of recommendations to improve key areas around performance, discipline, culture, coaching, athlete management, team and organisational leadership and governance.
“We’ve been proactive and work has already started on the majority of the recommendations in these reports, including the introduction of a High Performance Director and an Ethical framework,” said Nettlefold.
“The board will now implement a 100 day plan to further address the recommendations in both reviews.”
“The underlying message from these two reviews is that we all have to be accountable for the future success of swimming in Australia and that starts with discipline and setting the right standards of behaviour from the top down.”
“The establishment of an Integrity Panel will look at specific incidents discussed in the reviews and address them in isolation, and in accordance with the Swimming Australia Team Agreements and disciplinary procedures available.”
“Swimming has a proud history in this country and everyone in the sport wants to maintain and improve on the credibility and integrity which has developed over more than a century of success.”
“Before we look at winning gold medals, we want to win back the admiration of the nation, and we want to engage with our swimming community like never before at every level.”
In addition to the Integrity Panel looking into disciplinary matters, the Swimming Australia board will now look to prioritise and categorise further recommendations from both reviews, as part of the re-development of the strategic plan for the next eight years.
For further information on the Independent Review of Swimming go to www.ausport.gov.au
To see the Bluestone Review into culture and leadership for Swimming Australia go to www.swimming.org.au
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