True Sport AU

What does positive change look like?

According to the independent University of Western Australia evaluation of the True Sport Sideline Behaviour Initiative, participating organisations are seeing meaningful improvements in the way sideline behaviour is managed.

The evaluation highlighted:
💙 Increased confidence in addressing inappropriate behaviour.
💙 Clearer behavioural expectations and reporting processes.
💙 Better support for officials and administrators.
💙 Stronger accountability across sporting organisations.

One organisation shared:

"We have had an increase in reports of poor sideline behaviour that have enabled investigation and sanctions to be applied, protecting our members."

Greater reporting doesn't necessarily mean more poor behaviour—it often means clubs and organisations have the confidence, processes and support to respond appropriately when incidents occur.

That's exactly what the Sideline Behaviour Initiative aims to achieve: empowering sporting communities with the tools and resources to create safer, more respectful environments where everyone can enjoy sport.

📣 Want to help shape the future of sport in WA?

SportWest is looking for young people aged 14-25 years to join the Voices of Children and Young People Advisory Group.

This is your chance to share your experiences, have your say on important issues, and help influence projects and programs that impact children and young people across the WA sporting sector.

We're keen to hear from young people of all backgrounds and experiences. Whether you're an athlete, volunteer, coach, official, administrator or emerging sporting leader, your voice matters.

📅 Applications close Friday 18 September 2026 at 5pm

👉 Submit your Expression of Interest today: https://www.truesport.com.au/news/have-your-say-join-sportwests-voices-of-children-and-young-people-advisory-group

Questions? Email [email protected]

A big thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for the BodyKind Sport for Coaches and Support Staff workshop, delivered in partnership with the Butterfly Foundation.

Facilitated by Sophia Davies and Danni Rowlands, the session explored how coaches and support staff can create environments where young athletes feel supported, valued and confident in their bodies. Attendees gained practical insights into body image, eating disorders, protective factors in sport, and the important role language and culture play in athlete wellbeing.

Thank you to Sophia, Danni and the Butterfly Foundation for sharing their expertise, and to all participants for your commitment to fostering safe, supportive and BodyKind sporting environments.

🏊‍♂️ SportWest's True Sport team was proud to join Water Polo WA's Member Forum and connect with clubs committed to building safe, inclusive and welcoming sporting environments.

The forum provided an opportunity to showcase the resources, education and support available through True Sport, helping clubs strengthen safeguarding practices, promote integrity, support member wellbeing and build positive club cultures.

Thank you to Water Polo WA and all club representatives who took part in the discussions and share a commitment to creating positive sporting experiences for everyone.

Learn more about True Sport 👉 www.truesport.com.au

On Thursday the 6th of August, SportWest's True Sport team proudly partnered with Evolve WA to deliver our De-escalating Conflict and Aggression Workshop as part of the True Sport Sideline Behaviour Initiative.

The workshop gave sporting organisations practical strategies and tools to better understand conflict, respond to challenging behaviours and help create safer, more respectful sporting environments.

Together, participants explored:
✔️ Practical de-escalation techniques.
✔️ Responding confidently to conflict.
✔️ Positive communication strategies.
✔️ Ways to strengthen club culture and support volunteers, officials and participants.

A big thank you to the Evolve WA facilitator for sharing their expertise and to everyone who attended for your commitment to making community sport a positive experience for all.

Every child deserves to feel safe in sport.

This week, the True Sport team was pleased to support the delivery of Safeguarding 101 for Sporting Clubs, in partnership with Sport Integrity Australia and the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (DCITS).

The workshop brought together sporting clubs and State Sporting Associations from across WA to strengthen their understanding of child safeguarding and build confidence in responding to concerns.

Participants explored practical strategies to:
✔️ Recognise safeguarding concerns.
✔️ Understand reporting processes.
✔️ Strengthen child safe practices.
✔️ Create safe, welcoming and inclusive sporting environments.

Thank you to Sport Integrity Australia, Mat Sinclair and Wendy Carter for sharing their expertise, and to everyone who participated in this important session.

By continuing to learn, collaborate and invest in safeguarding, we're helping ensure children and young people can enjoy positive experiences in community sport.

Congratulations to SportWest Cultural Navigation Advisory Group member, Mariah Williams OLY, on her nomination for the 2026 National NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year!

🖤💛❤️

When clubs have the confidence to act, positive change follows.

The University of Western Australia's independent evaluation of the True Sport Sideline Behaviour Initiative shows the initiative is helping sporting organisations create meaningful change.

The evaluation found:

💙 91% intend to continue promoting the initiative's resources.
💙 82% reported greater confidence to talk about sideline behaviour.
💙 82% increased their intention to actively address inappropriate sideline behaviour.
💙 91% agreed the initiative strengthened their organisation's ability to promote positive sideline behaviour.

One participant shared:

"Decisions of sideline behaviour that before would have been swept under the carpet, are now being addressed..."

That quote captures exactly what the initiative aims to achieve—creating sporting environments where concerns are recognised, conversations are encouraged and positive behaviours become the standard.

Together, we're helping clubs build stronger cultures that benefit players, officials, volunteers, parents and supporters alike.