In addition to this restorative process, the Western Australian Government has established a scheme to provide acknowledgement payments to eligible former participants of the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) Program.
WAIS Restorative Engagement Process
The Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime within the Department of Justice has worked with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries to establish and facilitate a restorative process between WAIS and former gymnasts.
The Restorative Engagement Process provides a safe and supported opportunity for a professionally facilitated restorative engagement session with a WAIS Board Representative. The session provides an opportunity for you to receive an acknowledgement and apology for the harmful practices you experienced during your time in the WAIS WAG Program.
How can I participate in this restorative and reconciliation process?
This process is available to all WAIS WAG Program participants and will close on 31 August 2024.
If you are a former WAIS WAG participant and would like to participate, contact WAISRestorativeEngagement@justice.wa.gov.au, or phone the Office of Commissioner for Victims of Crime on 1800 428 873 for further information.
Acknowledgement Payment Scheme
The Western Australian Government is offering an acknowledgement payment of $15,000 to former WAG gymnasts who experienced physical or emotional harm while competing or training to represent WAIS at a national championship level. Over the course of the program, these athletes were variably described as scholarship holders, elite or competition squad members and competed at a junior or senior international level.
Applications for the Acknowledgement Payment Scheme close on 31 August 2024. Please ensure you submit your application before the scheme’s closing date as late applications will not be accepted.
Refer to the applicant fact sheet below for further details on the scheme, support services and other relevant information.
Applicant Fact sheet
Show moreWhat is an acknowledgment payment?
An acknowledgment payment is a payment made as a gesture of goodwill or moral obligation, rather than one required by law. As such, it does not constitute an admission of civil liability by the Western Australian Government.
Why is the Western Australian Government offering an acknowledgment payment and for whom?
The Western Australian Government is offering an acknowledgment payment of $15,000 to those who experienced physical and/or emotional harm while training or competing to represent the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) at a national championship level as part of the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Program. Over the course of the program, these athletes were variably described as scholarship holders, elite or competition squad members, and competed at a junior or senior international level.
Who is ineligible to receive a payment?
Former Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Program participants who were not harmed and/or did not compete or train at a national championship level are not eligible for a payment through the WAIS Acknowledgement Payment Scheme. Athletes at this level were variably described using terms such as being part of a development or preparatory squad.
All former participants in the WAIS Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Program are eligible to participate in the Restorative Engagement Process and receive the available counselling support.
I’m unsure if I am eligible to receive a payment. Should I still apply?
If you are uncertain of your eligibility but believe that you meet the eligibility criteria, making an application is the only way your eligibility can be properly assessed.
While the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries cannot provide advice on individual eligibility, please call 61 8 9492 9660 or email childsafeguarding@dlgsc.wa.gov.au if you would like to discuss any aspect of the process.
Who is running the Acknowledgment Payment Scheme?
The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries has overall responsibility of the scheme, including assessing which former gymnasts are eligible to receive payments.
The Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime will process the applications. Applicants will be able to fill in an online form on this webpage.
When will I be able to apply?
Applications open on 29 May 2024 and close at midnight, 31 August 2024. Please ensure you submit your application before the closing date as late applications will not be accepted.
When will I be told if my application has been successfully assessed?
You will be contacted following the closure of the application process on 31 August 2024 if your application has been successfully assessed. We will contact you before that date if we require more information.
Financial or legal implications
If you have any queries, you are encouraged to seek your own legal and financial advice regarding this payment. Please contact the Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime on 1800 428 873 if you need advice on how to access legal and financial support services.
What support is available?
If you are already taking part in the Restorative Engagement Process with the Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime, or if you are applying for the Acknowledgment Payment Scheme, you can access six, one-hour free confidential counselling sessions. This counselling is intended to provide support to participants throughout the process.
Please contact the Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime at WAISRestorativeEngagement@justice.wa.gov.au or 1800 428 873 for details on how to access this service.
What will happen with the information that I provide?
The personal information you provide will be treated with strict confidence and will not be shared outside of the Department of Justice, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, or WAIS. We will seek your consent if we believe we need to share your information with other parties to confirm your application. Please note that the only information that will be shared is your name, attendance information and date of birth to determine your eligibility to the scheme.
Your application information will be stored on the Department of Justice’s confidential records management system.
Contacts to assist you with your application.
If you need to contact the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries about the Acknowledgement Payment Scheme, please call (08) 9492 9660 or email childsafeguarding@dlgsc.wa.gov.au.
For any other information about the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries implementation of the Minister’s directions in response to the Sport Integrity Australia report, please visit https://dlgsc.wa.gov.au/department/child-safeguarding/wais-womens-artis… contact childsafeguarding@dlgsc.wa.gov.au.
If you have questions about the application process, or need help completing the application form please contact the Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime at WAISRestorativeEngagement@justice.wa.gov.au or 1800 428 873.
Other information
If you require immediate counselling support, 24-hour phone assistance is available through:
- BeyondBlue 1300 224 636
- Lifeline 13 11 14
If you experienced sexual abuse while in the care of an institution, including WAIS, you can apply to the National Redress Scheme https://www.nationalredress.gov.au
