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Commission to conduct independent review of gymnastics in Australia

Sex Discrimination
The legs of a child gymnast seen standing on a balance beam.

The Australian Human Rights Commission will conduct an independent review of the sport of gymnastics in Australia, it has been announced today.

The review will be conducted at the request of Gymnastics Australia, and is supported by the AIS and the National Institute Network, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins said.

Commissioner Jenkins said the review will build an understanding of the culture of gymnastics in Australia at all levels of the sport, consider any barriers to reporting misconduct and abuse, and hear the experiences of athletes and members of the gymnastics community past and present.

The Commission has long recognised the important role that sport can play in furthering the promotion and protection of human rights, and has extensive experience in undertaking cultural reviews of diverse organisations.

In conducting the review, the Commission will facilitate a series of listening and focus groups, seek written submissions, and conduct interviews with current and former athletes and their families, coaches, officials, administrators, and other relevant personnel.

Current policies and practices within the sport relating to the safety and wellbeing of athletes will also form the scope of the review.

Commissioner Jenkins said the Commission was in the process of establishing the review process, and would share more information about how people could engage with the process shortly.

The review is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.

The Commission will publish a report with findings of the review as well as recommendations for changes.

More information is available at humanrights.gov.au/gymnastics.