20 Jul 2009

Seven weeks into this exciting and challenging new role, things are starting to gel for me. Obviously I still have a lot to learn but it is already clear to me that the ASC can take a new leadership role to improve the Australian sports system.

I have greatly valued the openness and spirit of engagement people throughout the system have afforded me. Your insights are invaluable in helping me build my understanding of the issues we collectively face and those which the ASC might focus most on.

For me, clarity of our strategic direction and role is fundamental to both the ASC and to those with whom we work to deliver outcomes for Australian sport. This is particularly so in sport, given the diverse and large number of system stakeholders that need to be on the same page for the best outcomes to be achieved.

We at the ASC have commenced reviewing and evaluating our strategic positioning and intent. Over the next month or so we will be engaging with many stakeholders in formulating the proposed new direction and approach. The ASC’s Board will play an important role in this external engagement, and the subsequent communications to build understanding and a sense of ownership of the future direction for all involved in Australia’s sports system.

Given some of the very significant new collaborative strategies currently being progressed, I believe we also need to give priority to the development of a roadmap of proposed reforms for the next three to five years. This would enable important system improvements to be implemented while the outcomes of the Crawford review are finalised. I expect that we will have formulated this roadmap towards the end of September and that we will also be actively engaged in dialogue with you on this.

Some of the most significant issues I think we need to pay attention to are:

• better aligning our high performance sport efforts
• re-communicating the value of sport to the Australian community
• coach retention and career paths.

The ASC will be focusing on these areas over coming months and seeking to build coalitions to address both immediate concerns and the medium to long-term issues.

It is pleasing to note the strong collaborative commitment made by many parties involved in the National Elite Sports Council to achieve vastly improved alignment and coordination in the support for elite athletes, through the AIS and the state institutes of sport/state academies of sport network.

My strong sense is we need to refresh research and communications on the value of sport as a part of any calls for increased funding of sport. We may all be aware of the important contribution sport makes but it is important we clearly articulate and effectively communicate this. ASC is taking a lead in this work and will share the outcomes of research and strategising with our system partners in coming months.

I have learned of the criticality of quality coaches to the success of Australian sport and have already been acquainted with the loss of some of our highly regarded coaches to our international competitors. There is no doubt in my mind that we need to tackle this issue in the strategic planning with individual NSOs, but we also need to pay increased attention to this issue across the sports system. As for any valuable employee, actions need to be taken to retain and develop our best coaches and the ASC will also be working on this issue with you over coming months.

Until next time.

Matt