In 2021-22, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) revised the dAIS Scheme to ensure athlete support is aligned to the National Athlete Categorisation Framework (NACF), designed to identify, develop and progress athletes along a defined and time limited pathway to the podium.
Transition to the new dAIS has been phased to ensure athletes are not impacted in preparation for an upcoming pinnacle event.
Implementation of the new dAIS has been introduced to national sporting organisations (NSOs) as follows:
Summer Olympic and Paralympic NSOs | Winter Olympic and Paralympic NSOs | Commonwealth Games only NSOs | |
---|---|---|---|
New dAIS implementation | Post 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games | Post 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games | Post 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games |
What are the key changes?
From | To | Rationale |
---|---|---|
To reward’ system for athletes based on performance considerations in past events. | To award’ system for athletes for performance outcomes at future pinnacle events. | To allow athletes to focus on achieving goals at their pinnacle event, doing what is required in the years leading up to it, rather than forcing annual performance focus that may not be in the best interest of their ultimate goal. |
Seven levels of support for Olympic/ Paralympic athletes and four levels of support for Commonwealth Games athletes. | Five levels of support for all athletes to align to the National Athlete Categorisation Framework: podium, podium ready, podium potential, developing and emerging. | To ensure the right athletes on an upward performance trajectory are being supported. |
Bi-annual nominations | Annual nominations with bi-annual payments to take place in either October or March each year (NSO choice). | To provide greater certainty and stability to athletes and allow NSOs to align dAIS nominations to benchmark events for purposes of athlete categorisation. |
dAIS eligibility for special considerations (such as pregnancy, illness and injury) nominated by NSOs and centrally reviewed and administered by the ASC. | dAIS eligibility for Associated Policies (such as pregnancy, illness and injury) are the responsibility of the NSO as part of their sport-specific Athlete Categorisation framework. | The ASC acknowledges that all NSOs are different, and therefore will be developing their own policies based on ASC guidelines and sport-specific elements unique to their athletes. |
No support available for retiring or transitioning athletes. | Additional funding available for Podium, Podium Ready and Podium Potential athletes that are retiring or transitioning out of competitive sport. | To support athletes in their transition post-sporting career. |
Frequently asked questions
- The scheme moves to an award rather than reward system;
- Bi-annual nomination changes to one annual nomination per financial year (with two payments);
- Athlete categorisation and dAIS support are streamlined so that the right athletes on a performance trajectory to the podium are being supported;
- To align with athlete categorisation, dAIS will only have five levels: podium, podium ready, podium potential, developing and emerging;
- Budget allocation will be maximised in the pursuit of medals and medallists at the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games; and
- Development of effective policies and procedures will be in place for different circumstances e.g., pregnancy, illness, major injury etc.
- There is a clear link between Athlete Categorisation and dAIS;
- The impact of the funding in the system will be maximised to support medal winning success at the Olympics, Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games;
- The right athletes, as identified by their own NSOs, on an upward performance trajectory with the ability to win medals at the Olympic, Paralympic Games or Commonwealth Games will be supported;
- The scheme will allow athletes to focus on achieving their goal at the pinnacle event, doing what is required in the years leading up to it, rather than forcing annual performance focus that may not be in the best interest of their ultimate goal; and
- More stability and security for athletes with genuine medal potential is provided via annual reviews.
Athlete categorisation
The key change to the dAIS scheme is that it is now fully aligned to Athlete Categorisation. NSOs are responsible for their own sport-specific Athlete Categorisation framework that clearly articulates the performance pathway for every athlete and what an athlete needs to do to progress along the pathway.
It is the NSO responsibility to nominate athletes for dAIS in line with their Athlete Categorisation framework, including nominations under “associated policies”.
To be eligible for dAIS, an athlete must be categorised in accordance with the NSO sport-specific Athlete Categorisation Framework. An athlete will receive dAIS funding based on their Athlete Categorisation level (e.g., Podium, Podium Ready, Podium Potential, Developing or Emerging).
Prior to nominating athletes for dAIS support, NSOs will be required to develop a sport-specific Athlete Categorisation Framework, agreed by the ASC, to underpin the prioritisation and planning of support to athletes under the dAIS scheme.
The NSO sport-specific athlete categorisation matrix, aligned to the National Athlete Categorisation Framework, should outline a criteria for Podium, Podium Ready, Podium Potential, Developing and Emerging athletes to ensure the right athletes on an upward performance trajectory are being supported along a defined and time limited pathway to the podium.
The NSO Athlete Categorisation Framework must cover:
- Performance criteria against each dAIS level;
- Annual benchmark events, World Championships, and other key selection events that may be considered as part of their assessment/reassessment process;
- How the NSO will deal with Team and Relay athlete nominations for dAIS support;
- Any additional performance standards or progression benchmarks that athletes will need to meet at each Athlete Categorisation level to be nominated for dAIS support;
- Any qualifying criteria to assess athletes’ performances against the depth of competition at events being used for assessment;
- Any other non-performance-related factors that may be determining factors in the level of dAIS support offered;
- Associated Policies for Injury, Illness, Pregnancy, and Transition policies; and
- Appeals process.
Any adjustments to this Framework must be agreed with the ASC before being applied.
Timing
Transition to the new dAIS has been phased to ensure athletes are not impacted in preparation for an upcoming pinnacle event. Implementation of the new dAIS has been introduced to national sporting organisations (NSOs) as follows:
Summer Olympic and Paralympic NSOs | Winter Olympic and Paralympic NSOs | Commonwealth Games only NSOs | |
---|---|---|---|
New dAIS implementation | Post 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games | Post 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games | Post 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games |
The staggered implementation of the new dAIS guidelines acknowledged the different pinnacle event cycles, ensuring athletes were not disrupted by changes in the funding structure that may have adversely impacted performance in such a critical time of the cycle.
Whilst the new process dAIS nominations will take place only once a year, athletes will receive payments twice a year, in line with the ATO tax-class ruling. More frequent payments (e.g., monthly) would impact the tax class-ruling to the detriment of losing the tax-free benefit of dAIS.
NSO changes
As was the case in previous years, NSOs can only nominate categorised athletes. NSOs will be required to develop a sport-specific athlete categorisation matrix agreed by the ASC, to inform the prioritisation and planning of support to their athletes under the dAIS scheme. Linking the dAIS scheme to Athlete Categorisation will ensure the right athletes are being supported along a defined and time limited pathway to the Podium.
The ASC will invite NSO’s to nominate athletes for dAIS once per financial year, at either October or March. Payments will be aligned to a December payment and a May payment.
Athlete changes
The new dAIS scheme will allow athletes to focus on achieving their goal at the pinnacle event, doing what is required in the years leading up to it, rather than forcing annual performance focus that may not be in the best interest of their ultimate goal.
If you have received dAIS in the past, your future grant amount might differ from the amount you used to receive. The new amount aligns with your Athlete Categorisation level that is determined by your National Sporting Organisation.
More frequent payments (e.g., monthly) would impact the tax class-ruling to the detriment of losing the tax-free benefit of dAIS.
Associated policies for dAIS eligibility
All NSOs are required to address, within their own sport specific athlete categorisation framework, associated policies to categorise athletes for dAIS eligibility under the following:
- Short and long-term major injury and illness;
- Time away from competition;
- Transitioning into a sport from another; and
- Pregnancy.
It is important these policies are not confused with employee policies (e.g. maternity leave policy, paternity leave policy). The NSO associated policies are for purpose of athlete categorisation, not employment.
In terms of dAIS support, the ASC does not have any influence or consideration in respect of employment policies, as athletes are not employees of the ASC.
The NSO is responsible for developing the associated policies for dAIS eligibility, as part of their sport-specific Athlete Categorisation framework. Support from the ASC is available where required.
To support NSOs in developing the associated policies for dAIS eligibility, the ASC has provided guidance notes in Appendix A to the Guidelines.
The associated policies for dAIS eligibility are to ensure NSO’s have effective policies in place to provide athletes with greater certainty in areas of support, such as dAIS. Historically, the ASC has centrally managed the application of special consideration cases as pregnancy, illness, and injury; however, the AIS acknowledge that all NSOs are different, and therefore NSOs should be responsible for developing their own sport-specific criteria based on specific situations that are unique to their athletes.
To be eligible for dAIS support under an associated policy, an athlete must meet the requirements outlined in their NSO Associated Policy Athlete Categorisation matrix, as agreed by the ASC.
If a NSO elects to nominate an athlete under an associated policy for dAIS eligibility, athletes will be supported as part of the total dAIS allocation available to the NSO.
It is important to note that the Guidelines for NSO dAIS Associated Policies are related to eligibility for dAIS support ONLY. These policies are not confused with employee policies (e.g. maternity leave policy, paternity leave policy). The NSO associated policies are for purpose of athlete categorisation, not employment.
In terms of dAIS support, the ASC does not have any influence or consideration in respect of employment policies, as athletes are not employees of the AIS.
Unless agreed with the ASC as part of the NSO’s associated policies, dAIS allocations are full allocations for a 12-month period.
Transition / Retirement policy
The retirement/transition scheme is one of the key enhancements to the new dAIS scheme; the ASC has secured additional funding to support athletes who are transitioning out of competitive sport (retirement or non-selection resulting in non-categorisation).
NSOs will implement clear sport-specific guidelines defining transition out from competitive sport (retirement or non-selection resulting in non-categorisation), and only athletes who meet these criteria are eligible for this support.
Retiring athletes who have a history of contributing to their sport outcomes may be eligible for half an allocation of dAIS (at the level they were last categorised at) on the recommendation of the NSO.
Athletes who fall into this category may still be eligible for dAIS for a period of 6 months if they meet the following minimum criteria:
- Prior to transitioning out of competitive sport, the athlete was categorised as podium, podium ready or podium potential within the sports athlete categorisation matrix AND be receiving dAIS support in the past 12 months;
- The athlete has developed a transition plan with a member of the sport specific AW&E team (or equivalent) and meets regularly focussing on maintaining their wellbeing during the transition; and
- The NSO may require that the athlete contributes to the sport in a specific way as part of being nominated for dAIS e.g., speaking at camps, promo material for upcoming events, inclusion in formal or informal mentoring programs, developing a plan to transition to sport specific coaching/administration/support services etc.
Not all categorised athletes will be eligible for retirement / transition support due to affordability constraints.
Contact
For further information, please contact your NSO and/or Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Manager, or contact the ASC at AISInvestment@ausport.gov.au.