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Sport Governance Principles

The Engagement and Development Process for the Governance Framework

The new governance framework (incorporating the Principles; Education, Support, and Resources; Evaluation and Assurance) was codesigned and developed over a ten-month period in 2019 in partnership with the State and Territory Agencies of Recreation and Sport (STARS).

The process involved four formal consultation phases and regular informal consultations with a broad range of sector stakeholders who apply governance in sport across the country. Each phase of the process included four stages: a needs and purpose analysis, engagement design, engagement implementation, and evaluation and revision.

These are summarised below.

Phase OnePhase TwoPhase Three
Needs and Purpose
  • Understand industry viewpoints on sport governance in Australia and the role of the governance principles
  • Develop an aligned vision for sport governance in Australia
  • Validate phase one findings across a broader audience
  • Seek feedback and guidance on key elements of the evolution of the governance principles and the development of a governance framework
  • Develop solutions to address the problems identified in Phase One using the guidance provided in Phase Two
  • Ensure relevance and applicability of proposed solutions to the industry
Engagement Design
  • Human centred design – involving the ‘end user’ perspective in the design
  • Co-delivery in partnership with STARS
  • Targeted at ‘industry’ – NSOs and SSOs
  • Scope for whole-of-sector and broad geographic engagement
  • Interactive
  • Balance quantitative and qualitative style questions
  • In-depth engagement in each of the specific areas of the proposed governance framework (Principles; Education, Support, and Resources; Evaluation and Assurance)
  • Co-design and business-led—draw on the knowledge and experience of industry practitioners and experts
Engagement Implementation
  • Workshops (8) held in every state and territory capital open to NSO and SSO directors and CEOs and two workshops specifically for NSO directors and CEOs
  • Delivered in March and April 2019
  • Used online jams—a combination of a tele-conference, online polling, and live results
  • One online jam for STARS and Feds; Seven jams open to the whole-of-sector; three jams for NSO Directors; and three jams for SSO Directors
  • Delivered in July and August 2019
  • Structured design labs using an iterative and guided approach
  • Combination of people from STARS, Feds, NSO, SSO as well as other experts
  • Three separate design labs targeted at each part of the framework
  • Delivered in September and October 2019
Evaluation and Revision
  • Findings informing Phase Two included details on:
  • Desire for Improved Governance
  • Barriers to Good Governance
  • Benefits of Evolved Principles
  • Need for standardised and “tiered” resources
  • More education needed broadly and specifically within the principles
  • Principles needed to be accessible to the whole-of-sector; not just for experienced directors
  • Recognising a need for compliance, the principles primary purpose should be to help organisations
  • Targeted feedback on draft principles was used to develop the new structure and content
  • Identified elements of the education, support, and resources part of the framework
  • Development of a ‘continual improvement’ approach to evaluation and assurance
  • Further engagement with experts for specific feedback on areas of the principles
Participants
  • 153 individuals from 109 sport and recreation organisations (across 52 different sports)
  • Over 300 registrations across 70+ sports
  • Minimum of 180 participants across 14 online jams
  • 41 attendees at full-day design labs
  • Follow-up consultation with six experts in specific areas of governance
  • Pressure testing with select number of NSOs and all STARS

Participants

KEY SUPPORTING PARTNERSPHASE ONE
SPORTS REPRESENTED		PHASE TWO
SPORTS REPRESENTED		PHASE THREE
CONTRIBUTING INDIVIDUALS
WA Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural IndustriesAFLMountain BikeAFLGridironShootingAndrew Dee, Volleyball AustraliaLisa Hasker, Vicsport
Sport and Recreation VictoriaAthleticsNetballAquaticGymnasticsSkate Andrew Putt, Office of Sport NSW Lisa Morisset, Mountain Biking Australia
Communities Tasmania - Sport and RecreationBadmintonDisability SportArcheryHandballSkipping Ben Houston, Sailing Australia Luke Carman, Qld Sport and Recreation
SA Office for Recreation, Sport and RacingBaseballRugby LeagueAthleticsHockeySoccer Caitlin Foxharding, Fencing Australia Margot Foster, Talk the Talk
QLD Housing, Homelessness and SportBasketball Paralympics Badminton Ice Racing Softball Catherine Clark, Shooting Australia Maria Nordstrom, Basketball NSW
NT Sport and Active RecreationBlind SportsPony ClubBaseballIce SkatingSpecial Olympics Chris Rushton, Tenpin Bowling Australia Mark McLatchey, Squash Australia
NSW Office of SportBMX CricketBasketballJudoSport Climbing Craig Beed, Hockey NSW Melanie Woosnam, Hockey Australia
ACT Treasury and Economic Development DirectorateBowlsRowingBiathlonKartingSport Inclusion AustraliaCraig Carracher, Volleyball AustraliaMike McLaughlin, Squash Australia
VicsportBoxingSurf Life SavingBlind SportsLacrosseSquash Darren Simpson, Sport NSW Ned Coten, Basketball Australia
SportWestCalisthenicsRugby UnionBMXLeisure NetworksSurfing David Bell, Diving Australia Neil Dalrymple, Bowls Australia
Sport SAPaddle SailingBocceSurf Life SavingSwimming David Garnsey, Tennis NSW Nicole Adamson, Gymnastics Australia
Sport NSWCroquetSoftballBowling Little AthleticsTable Tennis David Shilbury, Deakin University Paolina Hunt, Netball Australia
QSportCyclingSport InclusionBowlsModern PentathlonTaekwondo Denis Mowbray, Gryphon Management Paula Devenny, Qld Sport and Recreation
 Deaf SportsSquashCalisthenicsMotorsportTennis Emilia Skopal , Football Federation Australia Peter Cummiskey, Qsport
 DivingSurfingCricketMountain BikeTenpin Fiona Jones, Vicsport Rachel Waterhouse, Governance Institute of Australia
 Dragon BoatSwimmingCroquetNetballTouch Football Helen Nott, Paralympics Australia Regina Weiss, ASADA
 EquestrianTable TennisCurlingOlympic Winter InstituteTriathlon Iain Roy, Royglo Rick Hastie, Archery Australia
 FencingTennisCyclingOrienteeringUnderwater Rugby John Mullins, Mullins Lawyers Simon Neaverson, Governright
 FootballTenpin BowlingDartsPaddleUnisport Karen Anderson, Fencing Qld Sue Tymms, Sport and Recreation Victoria
 GolfTouch FootballDeaf SportsParalympicsSoaring Kate Davies, Cricket Qld Tim Burke, Sport and Recreation Victoria
 GymnasticsTriathlonDisability SportPony ClubVolleyball Kate McGurk, Lander and Rogers Tim Harradine, Triathlon Qld
 HockeyUnisportDivingRiding for the DisabledWater Polo Kate Walker, ASADA Troy Morgan, Qld Touch Football
 Ice Skating and Ice SportsVolleyballEquestrianRowingACHPER Kirin Lindop, Athletics NSW Wayne Druery, Surf Life Saving Australia
 LacrosseWater PoloFencingRugby LeagueLocal Government Liam Murphy, Calisthenics Victoria  
 Little AthleticsWrestlingFlying DiskRugby UnionRegional Sport Assemblies  
 MotorsportsYMCAFootballSailing  
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