Applying to the Program

The application process

Step 1: Complete the initial application form (Part One). This form asks some simple questions about you, your contact details and your time at the AIS.

Step 2: You will be contacted by a member of the Restorative Program Team who will outline the steps involved for accessing the Program and explain the support options we can provide. You will be assigned a dedicated Case Coordinator who will stay connected with you throughout the Program.

Step 3: You will be asked to complete a more detailed application form (Part Two) to tell us about your experience at the AIS and the impacts of this. If required, we can assist you to complete this step.

Step 4: Once we receive Part Two of your application, an assessment process will be undertaken.

Step 5: Once your application has been assessed, your dedicated Case Coordinator will contact you to talk through the outcome of this and what Program elements you are eligible for.

You can withdraw or put your engagement with the Program on hold at any time.

Help to apply

Once you contact the Program, you will be assigned a dedicated Case Coordinator who will answer your questions and explain the process and possible outcomes. They will stay in contact with you and can connect you to the Mental Health Referral Network for specialised support services.

The Program support team is available to guide you through this process and talk about any concerns you may have and/or to help you complete an application.

Phone: 1300 345 616 Email: restorative@ausport.gov.au

Withdrawing from the Program

You choose how and when to engage with the Program. You can withdraw, request to slow down or put your matter on hold at any time. Our aim is to support you through the process. Please raise any concerns with your dedicated Case Coordinator.

You can still access support services even if you withdraw from the Program.

Program timeframe

Participation in the Program can take from 6 to 12 months and the total time for each person will vary.

How long does the process take?

There are 5 stages in the ASC Restorative Program. These stages and the timeframes are outlined in the 36969_Restorative-Program-fact-sheet.pdf.

You have the opportunity to choose how and when to engage with the Program elements.

You can withdraw from, or put on hold your involvement with the Program at any stage.

Information you will need to supply

Stage 1 intake form: 

In the Stage 1 intake form, some details are required to help us determine your eligibility to participate in the Program:

• full name
• date of birth
• AIS scholarship program (sport)
• dates you were at the AIS
• confirmation that you will be reporting a matter that is connected to the AIS
• consent to the ASC accessing and data matching your personal details
• contact details

Proof of Identity: 

After completing the Stage 1 intake form, you will be assigned a dedicated Case Coordinator who will contact you to discuss the next steps. You will also be directed to a third party identification provider to confirm your identity.

This identity check helps us maintain confidentiality and protect individuals engaging with the Program.

Stage 2 intake form:

Once your identity is validated and eligibility to participate in the program is determined, you will be provided a second form, where you will be asked to provide information about your experience. Please note: You are not required to provide any evidence or documentation to validate your report.

Program elements

Participation in the Program provides an opportunity for you to raise concerns, be heard and be supported through meaningful outcomes that are designed to enable your recovery and improved wellbeing.

Access to counselling and wellbeing services

You will be eligible to access counselling and related support services to enable your recovery and improve your wellbeing.

The AIS Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) is a group of expert psychologists and mental health clinicians available to provide confidential and specialised support to you.

Restorative engagement

The restorative engagement process provides you the opportunity to engage with a senior representative from the ASC. These engagements occur after careful preparation by a specially trained facilitator who will work with you to understand what aspects of your experience you would like to discuss with the senior representative and what potential outcomes you hope to achieve. The engagement between you and the ASC representative involves sharing your story and experiences and the representative responding to this. These engagements may be in the form of a meeting, letter, other form of exchange or to visit a particular site.

Financial payment

As a participant in the Program, you may be eligible for a one-off financial payment. Eligibility for a payment is a separate determination to eligibility to participate in the Program. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The Program is not a compensation scheme. Any payment is intended as a symbolic acknowledgement of an athlete’s experience and its impact, not as compensation.

A payment is not intended to affect any legal liability. An athlete receiving a payment under the Program will not be required to release the ASC from any legal liability and similarly the payment will not constitute an admission of legal liability by the ASC.

Privacy information

How will my privacy be maintained?

TheASC Restorative Program - Privacy Collection Noticeexplains how the ASC manages the information that you may provide when engaging with the Program. If you are unsure of any information in this notice, please contact the Program restorative@ausport.gov.au or the ASC Privacy Office privacy@ausport.gov.au.

We will treat all personal information in accordance with the ASC Privacy Policy.

We will not share any personal information with any other agency or organisation outside of the Program without your consent, except when a disclosure is required under law or to protect the safety of an individual or others. Where a disclosure is required, the ASC will notify you of this. You can discuss any privacy concerns with your Case Coordinator at any time.

What will you do with my information?

The Program aims to demonstrate our leadership in institutional accountability, through meaningful engagement with eligible athletes and provide outcomes that will assist you to address the impacts of your experience.

The ASC is committed to improving culture and governance both internally and within Australian sport and will use the insights and learnings from the program to inform future practices.