The AIS Respectful Behaviours Management Framework has been developed by the AIS in conjunction with Deakin University to assist sports recognise and address issues surrounding gender-based inequalities and violence, power imbalances, and athlete/athlete and coach/athlete relations within their high performance (HP) sporting environments.

Environments where these concerns are present negatively impact the wellbeing of individual's involved, and the sport more broadly. Experiencing these cultures in the HP environment can also impact an individuals’ wellbeing and mental health after their time in sport concludes.

What is the AIS Respectful Behaviours Management Framework?

The AIS Respectful Behaviours Management Framework provides a comprehensive, evidence-based education program that can be tailored to the needs and various entry points of sport. The Framework provides a platform for developing inclusive and safe HP sporting environments as it addresses the intersectional forms of power relations that occur between athletes/coaches and athletes/athletes in high performance sport, as well as gender-based and sexual inequalities and oppression.

Research shows:

Involvement in longer term professional learning programs has significant impact on ‘cultural competence and cultural awareness’ rather than single session and adhoc interventions.

Participants are empowered to provide leadership in discussing and addressing matters of racism, prejudice, diversity and inclusivity in a proactive and constructive manner.

The likelihood of ‘high risk attitudes and beliefs’ being communicated to athletes is reduced when coaches, staff and senior management participate in respectful behaviours education professional learning.

Delivery of the Respectful Behaviours Management Framework

The AIS Respectful Behaviours Management Framework is comprised of nine modules conducted for HP athletes, coaches and staff, in a collaborative workshop setting. The workshops are tailored to match selected modules with the needs of the organisation and can be delivered either in-person or via video conferencing.

Custom built workshops

Respectful behaviours workshops can be tailored to the needs of each NSO and NIN.

Workshops are flexible and can be designed to suit the needs of sport including:

Time – workshops can be delivered as full or half day workshops to support an induction process or alternatively as multiple modular based programs over a 3 month period.
Format – workshops are available either in person or via video conferencing to meet the needs of both centralised and de-centralised programs.
Content – workshops can be tailored to provide education and support around specific issues and incidents that may be presenting within the DTE or generally to increase participant knowledge around respectful behaviours for a proactive and protective approach to ensuring positive cultures in sport.

Key workshop themes

Understanding respectful behaviours in elite sport workshop

This workshop provides athletes and staff with an understanding of the context of respectful behaviours within elite sport and provides an introduction to concepts and themes in respectful behaviours. It allows participants to develop their own views, as well as listen to other peoples’ views, in relation to issues of gender, respect and relationships.

2 hours

Communication and dealing with conflict workshop

In a competitive environment, conflict can be inevitable. To ensure a positive, safe and inclusive high performance environment, developing participants who are open and willing to communicate issues early helps manage conflict.

This workshop assists participants to develop communication skills (digital and non digital) and to establish important connections between communication, conflict and consent in elite sport. It develops participants knowledge and understanding of respectful forms of communication in an elite sporting environment and explores personal comfort with conflict and provides strategies to help navigate conflict effectively.

3 hours
Prerequisite learning required.

Bystander awareness and response training workshop

This workshop provides participants with strategies to identify, intervene and engage others in responding to problematic attitudes, practices and behaviours. It also provides practical examples of intervening as a bystander. It allows participants important opportunities to consider issues of safety associated with intervening, and for participants to form their own micro-level action plan so everyone is aware of their role in keeping respectful behaviours a core part of elite sporting cultures.

3 hours
Prerequisite learning required.

Responding to serious incidents training workshop

This workshop is designed to enable participants to identify incidents in the DTE and how to respond in the moment. Participants explore their own reactions and feelings about potential issues that can be extremely challenging and confronting. This workshop may include issues such as how to respond to sexual assault or power imbalances between members (e.g. athletes, coaches and/or support staff). It provides strategies and practice for participants to respond to a serious incident.

3 hours
Prerequisite learning required.

NOTE: For specific information on reporting integrity concerns in sport, please visit the Sport Integrity Australia website https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/contact-us/anonymously-report-integrity-issues

Developing an ethical framework and practicing ethics of care with sport

This workshop is designed to provide staff with a framework they can refer to when difficult situations arise. This framework will allow them to look out for themselves and others by exploring personal ethics and putting these into practice.

3 hours
Prerequisite learning required: Participants will be required to have a sound understanding of the research, nature, extent and challenges of respectful behaviours in the elite sporting environment before completing this workshop.

Eligibility and suitability

National Sporting Organisation/National Institute Network

To be eligible for the Respectful Behaviours Management Framework, you must be a HP funded NSO or NIN.

The AIS Respectful Behaviours Management Framework training workshops are at no cost to the NSO or NIN. Workshops can be delivered both virtually (online) and face-to-face depending on COVID restrictions.

Elite Athlete Education Network/State Sporting Organisations

Elite Athlete Education Network and State Sporting organisations are also eligible to access workshops under a cost recovery agreement. Access is also dependent on presenter availability.

In person workshops

NSO/NIN/EAN/SSO’s are responsible for the following when hosting face-to-face workshops:

travel costs for their own staff and athletes to attend
an appropriate training room
catering.

Age suitability

As participants will be dealing with potentially sensitive issues focusing on respect, relationships and intersectional forms of violence in the elite sporting context, workshops are designed for participants 18 and over.

If you require a modified program suitable for participants aged 16-18 years or younger, please contact us directly for more information.

Whole of sport approach

Whole of sport approach to respectful behaviours

The following diagram represents core aspects associated with whole of sport approaches to respectful behaviours.

A whole of sport approach is where a sporting organisation aims to address the drivers of violence and harassment by enacting multiple strategies to change structures, norms, practices, attitudes and behaviours both within the organisation and in the broader sporting community.

A whole of sport approach can operate at different levels across a sport, from a peak national body to state associations and regional and local organisations. This approach is more likely to produce sustainable improvements.