A delegation of sport and recreation integrity officials from New Zealand visited the Sport Integrity Australia offices this week to learn about how Australia established Sport Integrity Australia three years ago, gain insight into how we manage sport integrity matters and for them to share their experiences so far and their future plans.
New Zealand is in the process of establishing the Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission - a new Independent Crown entity intended to enhance integrity within sport and recreation by protecting and promoting the safety and wellbeing of participants and the fairness of competition. It will fold in Drug Free Sport New Zealand and the Sport NZ integrity functions including the complaints and mediation service.
The NZ delegation comprised four officials from the Integrity Transition Programme - which is establishing the Commission: Don Mackinnon - Establishment Board Chair; Rebecca Rolls - Director, Integrity Transition Programme; Sadie Verity - Transition Operating Officer; and Regan Nathan - Senior Policy Advisor.
In addition to meeting with various areas of our agency, the NZ delegation presented to all staff on their integrity review process, the Integrity Transition Programme to establish the new Commission, threats to integrity, as well as their integrity framework, codes, processes and pathways.
"Like many countries we've had a series of high profile reviews into integrity issues in sport, which brought out a range of issues in relation to bullying and athlete welfare," said Don Mackinnon of the New Zealand experience. "So our participant centred focus across the sport and recreation sector is prominent in what we are creating, as well as core functions such as anti-doping and competition manipulation.
"This visit to Sport Integrity Australia allows us to pass on insights from the New Zealand experience and helps us foster an international approach to improving integrity outcomes. While we share our many similarities, the inclusion of recreation in the NZ integrity focus may be a little more unique to us."
Darren Mullaly, the Head of International Relationships and Strategy, said Sports Integrity Australia looked forward to continuing to partner and collaborate with the New Zealand Commission.
"We've enjoyed a very close relationship with Drug Free Sport New Zealand in the anti-doping context in the past and we're very much looking forward to continuing to partner and collaborate with the new organisation," he said.
