Australian Performance Support Practitioner Minimum Standards
Last updated on 11 July 2025
Overview
Background
The Australian Performance Support Practitioner Minimum Standards represent the minimum standards for Performance Support staff and contractors engaged in these disciplines of practice by National Sporting Organisations/National Sporting Organisations for People with Disability (NSO/NSODs), and the National Institute Network (NIN) organisations. Organisations engaging performance support staff are also required to be aware of the requisites and best practice recommendations of Sport Integrity Australia’s National Integrity Framework, opens in a new tab and associated policy standards available here National Integrity Framework | Sport Integrity Australia, opens in a new tab.
Purpose
The Australian Performance Support Practitioner Minimum Standards;
- Provide a foundation for NSO/Ds and the NIN to ensure quality Performance Support delivery for sport. 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).
- Represent the minimum standards for Performance Support practitioner qualifications and accreditations. NSO/Ds 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 (guidance regarding this can be found in the Success Profiles.
- Form part of the AIS SSSM Best Practice Principles, which are part of ASC Sports Governance Principles. Further 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.
Minimum Standards
Biomechanics
Professional qualifications:
- Bachelor of Exercise Science, Movement Science or Sports Science, Sports Engineering or a related field
Professional accreditations:
- ESSA Accredited Sports Scientist (ASpS) Level 1
Medicine
Professional qualifications:
- Bachelor of Medicine, Surgery (MBBS) or equivalent
Professional accreditations:
- AHPRA Registration as a Medical Practitioner
Performance Analysis
Professional qualifications:
- Bachelor of Exercise Science, Movement Science or Sports Science, Data Science/Analytics or a related field
Professional accreditations:
- ESSA Accredited Sports Scientist (ASpS) Level 1
Performance Nutrition
Professional qualifications:
- Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics from a Dietitians Australia (DA) accredited course; or
- Bachelor degree of Science or a related field, followed by a postgraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from a DA accredited course; or
- Dietetic Skill Recognition (DSR) examination for overseas trained Dietitians, administered by DA
Professional accreditations:
- Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) with DA
- Accredited Sports Dietitian (ASD) with SDA
Physiology
Professional qualifications:
- Bachelor of Exercise Science, Movement Science or Sports Science
Professional accreditations:
- ESSA Accredited Sports Scientist (ASpS) Level 1
- Current ISAK accreditation if conducting skinfold testing
Physiotherapy
Professional qualifications:
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy or equivalent
Professional accreditations:
- AHPRA Registration as a Physiotherapist
Psychology
Professional qualifications:
- Tertiary qualifications and supervised training as specified by the Psychology Board of Australia to meet their General Registration Standard
Professional accreditations:
- AHPRA Registration as a Psychologist
Soft Tissue Therapy
Professional qualifications:
- Diploma of Remedial Massage
Professional accreditations:
Practitioner-level membership of:
- Massage & Myotherapy Australia (MMA); or
- Association of Massage Therapists (AMT); or
- Myotherapy Association of Australia (MA); or
- Australian Natural Therapies Association (ANTA); or
- Massage Association of Australia (MAA); or
- Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (ATMS)
Strength & Conditioning
Professional qualifications:
- Bachelor of Exercise Science, Movement Science or Sports Science or a related field
Professional accreditations:
- ASCA Professional Coach Level 2
- Current ISAK accreditation if conducting skinfold testing
First Aid/CPR | Current First Aid and CPR accreditation from a recognised Australian authority (with the exemption of Psychology and Nutrition practitioners that do not travel with athletes). Note: First Aid/CPR are a requirement for professional accreditation in certain disciplines. |
Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) | Complete Sport Integrity Australia e-learning modules (Sport Integrity Australia eLearning: Log in to the site), opens in a new tab
|
Working with Children and Vulnerable People Check | Working with Children and Vulnerable People Check is required, consistent with the state and territory jurisdiction and organisation’s policies. |
Criminal History Check | Criminal history record checks — as required, consistent with the state and territory jurisdiction and organisation’s policies. |
Insurance | Covered by an appropriate level of current Public & Products Liability Insurance as well as Professional Indemnity Insurance. |
For guidance on assessing suitability of an applicant during the recruitment process, who has applied for a child related position, please refer to the following resources: