Our history

The ASC is a corporate Commonwealth entity within the Australian Government’s Department of Health portfolio. It was established on 13 September 1984, when the then Prime Minister, the Honourable Bob Hawke, and Minister for Sport, the Honourable John Brown, announced the membership of the Commission and its terms of reference. The ASC was formally established by the Australian Sports Commission Act 1985.

In August 1987, the Australian Government announced its decision to rationalise federal assistance to Australian sport. As a result, the AIS—first established as a public company under the Australian Capital Territory’s Companies Ordinance in 1981—was amalgamated with the ASC. The ASC subsequently became the principal Australian Government agency responsible for sport in accordance with the revised Australian Sports Commission Act 1989.

Our organisation

The ASC has staff and offices across Australia, including headquarters at the AIS campus in Bruce, Canberra, as well as five regional offices and two high performance centres. The AIS campus is a 65-hectare multipurpose facility with sporting, administration, commercial and residential functions. The offices in Brisbane and Perth closed by 31 July 2019, with the Adelaide office scheduled for closure by 31 December 2019.

In 2018–19, the Board approved a new operating model for Sport Australia and the AIS. This enables Sport Australia to focus on participation, physical activity and sport industry growth while giving the AIS autonomy and independence for high performance outcomes. Sport Australia and the AIS each have a CEO who reports directly to the Board.

Organisational structure

ASC Organisational Structure

Our people

The ASC has a highly adaptable, capable and diverse workforce. During quarter one of 2018–19, the ASC was in the final stages of transition following the organisational restructure conducted in 2017–18. As at 30 June 2019, we have 464 full time equivalent staff employed on an ongoing, non-ongoing and casual basis.

The ASC Enterprise Agreement 2016–2019 came into effect on 19 February 2016 with a nominal expiry date of February 2019. The Agreement provides ASC staff with competitive remuneration and employment conditions. A two-year Determination to extend the Enterprise Agreement arrangements was approved by the CEO, Kate Palmer, on 15 January 2019. The Determination, which applies salary increases to the minimum and maximum salary ranges, was applied from 21 February 2019.

The ASC also offers staff several additional benefits not included under the Enterprise Agreement, including:

> annual influenza immunisations

> free skin cancer checks provided by Spotscreen

> a free, confidential employee assistance program for employees and their immediate families

> access to flexible working arrangements

> free onsite car parking (Canberra)

> priority access to the on-site childcare centre (Canberra)

> access to the on-site gymnasium and aquatic centre (Canberra).

Employees may also make use of a range of salary sacrifice benefits, including additional superannuation, leased motor vehicles and child care.

The ASC is continually working to ensure that athletes, staff and others in our care have appropriate protection and support. From 1 July 2018, the ASC became a participating institution in the National Redress Scheme.

Following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the ASC engaged the Australian Childhood Foundation to undertake an independent review of the ASC’s current operations and services against child safe standards. As a result, the ASC has developed the Child Safe Sport Framework and is progressing with an implementation plan for recommendations made in the report.

Employee classification by gender

Infographic Australian Sports Comission Staff

Employee age breakdown

Years of Service

Work health and safety

The ASC Work Health and Safety (WHS) Policy outlines the ASC’s commitment to providing a safe and healthy workplace for staff and visitors and our approach to the continuous improvement of health and safety. The WHS Policy and operations are overseen by the ASC Work Health and Safety Governance Forum and the WorkSafe Committee.

The WHS Governance Forum provides leadership and strategic oversight of workplace health and safety management systems and employee rehabilitation. The forum is responsible for ensuring compliance and overseeing performance reporting, including periodic reporting to the ASC Executive and the ASC’s Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

The WorkSafe Committee is an operationally focused consultative forum which comprises employee Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) and senior management. The committee meets regularly and three HSRs from the committee are also members of the WHS Governance Forum.

Key initiatives during 2018–19 included:

> continued monitoring and review of the WHS and rehabilitation management systems performance reporting

> continuation of the early intervention scheme which had a positive impact on the Comcare premium

> focus on psychological and wellbeing training

> provision of education and training on first aid, fire warden, emergency response accompanied by emergency exercises

> completion of the annual program of WHS-related training and workplace hazard inspections.

Notifiable incidents

A total of two incidents arising from the conduct of ASC business were reported to the regulator during 2018–19. It was determined that the ASC had ensured, as far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others, and no further action was required. No incidents occurred that required investigation in 2018–19 under Part 10 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011

Reconciliation Action Plan

The ASC’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was endorsed by Reconciliation Australia in February 2019. The ASC continued to develop and grow its RAP, with the support of Reconciliation Australia, as a tool to help the organisation build positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. The RAP is a practical plan for action built on relationships, respect and opportunities.

The ASC continues 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. Key RAP activities for 2018–19 included:

> the appointment of Andrew Larratt, General Manager Sport Business as the RAP Chair

> establishment of a RAP Steering Committee, comprising senior staff, to promote and drive the RAP actions

> becoming a member of Supply Nation to assist in improving supplier diversity in its procurement practices

> development of an Acknowledgement of Country wording for corporate and wider sport use.

The RAP includes as a key objective that the ASC work closely with our system partners to increase the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in sport, through its programs and services.