Background

The Australian Performance Support Practitioner Minimum Standards represent the minimum standards for Performance Support staff and contractors engaged to deliver professional services in these disciplines of practice by National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), National Institute Network (NIN) partners, the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, and Commonwealth Games Australia. These standards, along with the AIS Sport Science Sport Medicine Best Practice Principles are a recommendation within the National Integrity Framework.

Purpose

The Australian Performance Support Practitioner Minimum Standards;

• Have been developed in line with Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Strategy.
• Provide a foundation for NSOs and the NIN to ensure the highest quality Performance Support delivery for the High Performance (HP) sport system. These were originally developed in response to the Australian Government’s Senate Inquiry into “The Practice of Sports Science in Australia” and the subsequent adoption of national accreditation schemes for sport scientists and strength and conditioning coaches (announced in December 2017 and required by 1 January 2019), though continue to be reflective of the Australian HP sport system’s collective drive to optimise Performance Support and Performance Teams.
• Represent the minimum standards for Performance Support practitioner qualifications and accreditations. NSOs and the NIN are encouraged to establish personnel standards over and above these (guidance can be found in the Australian Performance Support Practitioner High Performance Expectations). Additional personnel considerations such as Performance Support practitioner experience and professional development are not within the current scope of the standards.
• Form part of the AIS SSSM Best Practice Principles, which are part of ASC Sports Governance Principles. Further principles and requirements relating to staff integrity and capability are outlined in the AIS SSSM Best Practice Principles which should be read with the Australian Performance Support Practitioner Minimum Standards for full context. The AIS SSSM Best Practice Principles are available on the Australian Sport Commission website.

Please note, NSOs should ensure due process is followed when engaging international Performance Support practitioners to provide services outside of Australia, to ensure Performance Support practitioners of an equivalent standard are engaged.

In addition to the role specific minimum standards, all Performance Support staff and contractors must meet the following requirements before practicing:

For further support please see Sport Integrity Australia’s recruitment and screening guidelines.