17 Dec 2008

As we near the end of 2008, it is timely to reflect on what has been a highly eventful year for Australian sport and the Australian Sports Commission.

In the field of excellence in Australian sporting performances, we have seen a range of tremendous performances by our athletes and teams across a variety of sports and disciplines. While the efforts of the Australian teams at the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics received much of the headlines, there have also been outstanding performances by athletes in other major international, regional and national sporting competitions. While too numerous to list individually, I offer my congratulations to all athletes who have represented their country this year with distinction, along with their coaches and support staff.

Importantly, the year brought many other notable achievements within the Australian sport system. Following more than 12 months of intensive planning and development, the eTID online self-identification tool was introduced in July 2008. This web-based initiative, which supplements existing talent identification programs, seeks to identify and develop Australia's future sporting talent. The interactive website allows users to enter in results for a series of simple ‘home-based’ performance tests and measurements which can be used to help identify athletes for selection in national talent identification and development programs.

Earlier in 2008, the Active After-school Communities program celebrated a major milestone — the participation of 150 000 Australian children in safe, fun and structured physical activities. This program highlights the importance of partnerships within the Australian sports system, involving state and territory governments, local government, schools, community-based sporting clubs and organisations, local businesses and the broader community.

Off the field, the Government has established an independent sport panel to investigate reforms required to ensure that Australia’s sporting system remains prepared for the challenges of the future. Under the chairmanship of David Crawford, the panel is looking at both high performance and community-level sport under its terms of reference. As with many organisations and individuals in the sport sector, the Australian Sports Commission has made a substantial submission and a face-to-face presentation to the panel and provided a range of information in response to requests from the panel. We look forward to the panel’s report next year and the Government’s response.

Within the governance and management of the Australian Sports Commission, the year has witnessed some significant changes. In May 2008 membership of the Board changed considerably, with Deputy Chairman Alan Jones and Commissioners Pam Tye, Roy Masters, Kieren Perkins and Geoff Stooke leaving. Each had made a substantial contribution to this organisation and sport in general, and their efforts were greatly appreciated.

At the same time we welcomed new Board appointees Kate Allen, Sally Carbon, Liz Ellis, David Gallop and Kyle Vander-Kuyp. With a range of significant issues on the agenda, the new Board Members were certainly required to hit the ground running.

In November 2008 we also farewelled Peter Bartels, the long-standing Chairman of the Australian Sports Commission Board. The Commission and Australian sport saw extensive change during the 11 years of his stewardship, and Peter was a major driver of positive change over this time. He was a tireless worker for the Australian sport system and its athletes, and through his persistence and commitment Australian sport is in a better place than when he began his first term on the Board back in 1992.

Following Peter’s departure, Greg Hartung has been appointed Chairman. Greg has been a Commissioner since May 2005, and was the inaugural Chief Executive of the Australian Sports Commission from 1984 to 1988. Replacing Greg as Deputy Chair is Alisa Camplin, aerial skiing gold medallist at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

On the management side, September 2008 saw the resignation of Mark Peters as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Sports Commission. Over his seven and a half years in charge, Mark oversaw important reforms within the organisation and within Australian sport. He leaves many physical and operational legacies to the benefit of our sport system.

For the coming holiday season, on behalf of the Board and staff of the Australian Sports Commission I wish you all a safe and refreshing time as we prepare for the challenges that lie ahead in 2009.

Brent Espeland
Acting Chief Executive Officer