Governance standards improve across the sector

Governance systems and processes across the sector have shown strong signs of improvement over the past 12 months, thanks to the ASC’s governance advisory service.

Hockey Australia appointed Nominations Committee Chair Alison Gaines after working with the ASC to improve its governance processes.

The Sport Governance Standards (SGS) self-assessment tool showed that funded NSOs and NSODs have scored on average 6% higher than the previous year, improving in areas such as accountability, transparency, culture, diversity and integrity.

The SGS was co-designed with the sport sector in 2020 to help sports evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of their governance systems and processes.

The results form the basis of each organisations’ tailored sport Governance and Organisational Enhancement (GOE) Plan that identifies areas for further development.

Board diversity was pinpointed in 2020 as a major area for development across the sector, and 12 months on, NSOs and NSODs recorded an average uplift of 100%.

This includes Hockey Australia, which identified a need to boost its board nominations processes.

‘’We worked with the ASC to develop an improved process to go out to a broader market and attract the best calibre of Board Directors possible,’’ said Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles.

‘’After redesigning our terms of reference and committee structure, we went through an expression of interest process and attracted some really strong candidates.

‘’We selected Alison Gaines, a governance adviser with over 2 decades of experience with boards, nomination committees and corporate recruitment, which is exactly what we needed.’’

Water Polo Australia has also achieved several governance milestones. It has modernised its code of conduct, refreshed its committee structures, strengthened its board evaluation processes and implemented a whole-of-sport strategic plan.

“The standards and the support we’ve received from the ASC has been really helpful. The process we’ve been through has helped us tighten up our governance across a range of areas,” said Water Polo Australia CEO Richard McInnes.

‘’It’s given our Board a sense of comfort that we’ve got those standards in place, and it provides our members with some comfort that we are operating with good governance principles.”

This piece of work aligns with one of the ASC's key strategic pillars: 'A thriving organised sport sector' which is outlined in the 2021-22 Annual Report

To read the full Report click here.