• The scheme moved to an award rather than reward system;
• Bi-annual nomination changed to one annual nomination per financial year (with two payments);
• Athlete categorisation and dAIS support are now streamlined so that the right athletes on a performance trajectory to the podium are being supported;
• Aligning with athlete categorisation, dAIS now has only have five levels: podium, podium ready, podium potential, developing and emerging;
• Budget allocation is maximised in the pursuit of medals and medallists at the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games; and
• Development of effective policies and procedures are now in place for different circumstances e.g., pregnancy, illness, major injury etc.

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.

dAIS nominations will take place only once a year and 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.