Operational highlights
| Title | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Basketball and Netball Centre works | In September 2017, an NBA Academy was opened at the AIS in Canberra, sharing facilities with Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence. The NBA Academy is an elite training centre for Australian and international basketball prospects. To support the NBA Academy, replacement of all external wall cladding, reconfiguration of the mechanical services pods and upgrading of the air-conditioning system was conducted across the Basketball and Netball Centre. This complements the floor replacement that was undertaken in 2016. This work extends the life of the external elements of this facility for high performance sport for another 30 years. |
| Reconciliation Action Plan | Sport Australia has developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), with the support of Reconciliation Australia, as a tool to help the organisation build positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It is a practical plan for action built on relationships, respect and opportunities. Sport Australia wishes to commit to the Australian Government’s goal to make significant and measurable improvements in Indigenous health and wellbeing, and understands that sport plays an important role in achieving this goal. The RAP includes as a key objective that Sport Australia work closely with our system partners to increase the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in sport, through programs and services that reach metropolitan, rural and regional areas. |
| Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace re-accreditation | Sport Australia achieved reaccreditation for a further 12 months as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace, continuing to lead the way in its commitment as an equitable and flexible workplace. This year’s focus was on communication, and the Australian Breastfeeding Association congratulated Sport Australia for showing an exceptional standard and variety of communication channels available. Sport Australia continues to provide facilities to employees who wished to continue breastfeeding when they return to work from parental leave, through our Lactation and Quiet Rooms (located in the Corporate Services Building and the Physiology department) on the Bruce campus, in addition to on-site childcare facilities. |
| Responding to Sexual Misconduct Policy | Sport Australia has zero tolerance for any behaviour that puts the wellbeing of people in the Australian sporting community at risk, including bullying, sexual harassment or assault. In April 2018, Sport Australia published its ‘Responding to Sexual Misconduct’ policy, a practical example of Sport Australia’s commitment to providing support and care for anyone impacted by sexual misconduct while under Sport Australia’s care (current or past). Sport Australia has established a dedicated support and response framework, ensuring that athletes, staff and others in our care can confidentially disclose sexual misconduct, seek help and receive appropriate, sensitive and timely support. Following the publication of the policy, the focus has turned to building awareness and understanding across the organisation, with a range of awareness and training activities rolled out. |
| 2017 Canberra Region Tourism Awards | Sport Australia received a commendation in the International Ready category of the 2017 Canberra Region Tourism Awards. The AIS Campus in Canberra is internationally renowned as Australia’s premier elite sports precinct and the training camp location of choice for many Olympic and world champion athletes. It is also a vibrant retail, tourism, sporting, business event and entertainment precinct now being marketed under the banner ExperienceAIS. This innovative marketing approach, cooperatively delivered with key industry stakeholders, drives greater commercial visibility and outcomes for the products, services and venues at the AIS. |
| AIS Aquatic and Fitness Centre— 5-star venue | The AIS Aquatic and Fitness Centre has again been recognised as an ACT 5-star aquatic venue by the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia, achieving a safety score of 98.3 per cent. This is the highest score achieved to date and the highest score which is possible given the facility design. The Facility Safety Assessment provides recommendations for best practice for public safety, management and operations in the aquatic venue. |
Site management
Sport Australia operates facilities, residential services and other activities for high performance NSO programs at the AIS Canberra campus. The campus is also used by a variety of community, sporting and commercial groups and is a popular national attraction for visitors. In addition, Sport Australia operates strategic sports training facilities at Pizzey Park (Gold Coast) and at Varese in Italy and operates from leased premises in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.
In 2017–18, Sport Australia conducted a strategic asset review that involved the exploration of site options for the AIS Bruce campus, to identify a strategy which can best support Sport Australia’s strategic direction and the Australian high performance sport system. As at 30 June 2018, Sport Australia is continuing to develop and test preferred options for the site, and in 2018–19 expects to develop a business case for consideration by government.
Until the site strategy is finalised and approved, Sport Australia continues to operate and maintain the AIS Bruce campus with a focus on fire safety, work health and safety, and supporting high performance athletes. In 2017–18, Sport Australia undertook a number of key facility refurbishment projects in line with our strategic direction, including:
- AIS Athletics Track and Field Centre (buildings 2 and 22)—replacement of the infield turf surface and improvements to internal access paths to improve patron safety
- Childcare Centre (building 6)—upgrading of the eastern fence and upgrade of the shade sail covering part of the front playing area
- AIS Aquatic and Fitness Centre (building 10)—installation of new tiles to the decks of the 25m and 50m pools, upgrade to the mechanical plant, de-commissioning of the spa and plunge pools and reconfiguration of the area for a general purpose space, and replacement of the roof gutters
- AIS Basketball and Netball Centre (building 13)—replacement of all external wall cladding, reconfiguration of the mechanical services pods and upgrading of the air-conditioning system
- Fields 1 and 2 and Multi-fields 3 and 4—installation of LED lighting to all four fields
- AIS Campus—continued installation of replacement and additional security cameras to enhance site safety
- AIS Dining Hall (building 35)—kitchen and dining hall refurbishment works undertaken to enable Sport Australia to meet its WHS requirements, retain its food licence and improve the dining experience
- AIS Rowing Centre (Yarralumla)—installation of replacement pontoon for Rowing Australia.
Environment and heritage
The Sport Australia Environmental Management System is based on the International Standard for Environmental Management Systems (ISO 1401:2004). It comprises policy objectives, targets and procedures for monitoring and review. A fundamental goal of Sport Australia’s Environmental Policy is to comply with Australian Government environmental policies, initiatives and legislative requirements.
During 2017–18, Sport Australia continued to monitor its energy and water usage and implemented specific environmental initiatives. Key activities included:
- continued lighting upgrade program to install energy efficient LED light fittings and improve lighting controls
- continued monitoring of water, gas and electricity usage
- continued identification as an accredited recycler by ACTSmart
- continued operation of the organic waste recycling program, with an increase in 2017–18 of 10 per cent averaging 1,100kg per week across the four worm farms. The additional organic waste has been accessed for external use, including through organic trials with GIO Stadium and the University of Canberra
- implementation of improved waste infrastructure to assist in waste segregation and minimise contamination of waste streams
- continued staff and visitor waste education resulting in high volumes of waste diversion
- continued implementation of a 65/35 split for recycling and general waste bins within all work areas across the AIS campus.
- Sport Australia continued to enhance its capability to identify and manage its buildings and artefacts of heritage or cultural significance. In 2017–18, Sport Australia:
- continued operation of the Sport Australia Heritage and Culture Committee to oversee Sport Australia’s heritage commitments
- received an Initial Environmental Constraints Assessment for the AIS Bruce campus
- continued work on the development of an online history of AIS scholarship holders, including completion of: swimming, netball, men’s football and athletics
- created and adopted a ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and passed over reconciliation responsibilities and activities to a new RAP Working Group
- created a new Sport Australia Acknowledgement of Country and began installation of meeting room plaques with the wording: I wish to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today and pay my respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. I wish to also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make to sport in Australia and celebrate the power of sport to promote reconciliation and reduce inequality.
No property with heritage values was acquired or disposed of during 2017–18.