Sport participants will benefit from stronger safeguards under new policy updates to the National Integrity Framework (the Framework) and associated Sport Integrity Policy Standards (the Standards), which sports must adopt by 30 April 2027.
The Framework was launched by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) in 2021 and is a set of policy templates that sporting organisations can adopt to manage integrity threats in areas including child safety, participant behaviour, competition manipulation and the use of drugs and medicine in sport.
The policies are underpinned by a standardised complaints and reporting process that outlines how allegations of inappropriate behaviour must be managed.
To ensure it remains fit for purpose and aligned to current best practice, the Framework is reviewed by SIA and the sector periodically. The recent 2025-26 review process was undertaken in close consultation with national sporting organisations, national sporting organisations for people with disability, and other key stakeholders.
SIA CEO, Dr Sarah Benson, said this extensive review reflected the biggest update to the National Integrity Framework since its launch.
"Australia’s modern sporting sector has a large focus on the importance of integrity, and these updated policies will ensure the Framework remains fit for purpose," Dr Benson said.
“Sport Integrity Australia’s focus in this review was to ensure the policies support real world application across the sport sector, represent best practice, align with relevant legislative changes and reforms and are responsive to emerging integrity risks.
“Upholding integrity in sport is a shared responsibility. This is a collaborative effort with our National Sporting Organisations and other key stakeholders, and I thank everyone for their valuable contributions to this review which have shaped the policies as they stand today.”
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Since 2021, 96 sports have adopted the Framework, with 48 sports involved in the National Integrity Manager (NIM) network. The government-funded NIM positions play a critical role within sport by embedding and promoting integrity across their sports.
SIA works closely with these sports during the Framework policy adoption and implementation process to ensure they are providing the best integrity environments for their members.
"Sports are now required to update their policies by 30 April 2027 to align with the changes to the Framework and the Standards. We will work with these sports in the coming months to support policy adoption and implementation," Dr Benson said.
The updated Framework consists of 5 policies that all work together to assist in building safe and fair sporting environments. These policies include:
- Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
- Participant Protection Policy (previously Member Protection Policy)
- Competition Manipulation and Sports Betting Policy
- Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy
- Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy.
Accompanying these policies are companion guides that promote best practice and support implementation across the sporting sector. For example, the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy Companion Guide acknowledges the varying size and complexity of sporting organisations and provides flexible, scalable advice to help sports strengthen safeguarding practices.
More information
- Find a list of Sporting organisations signed up to the National Integrity Framework
- Read more about the National Integrity Framework
- SIA appreciates the efforts of everyone involved in this review – read more about the extensive process
- Download a summary of the key changes [PDF 162.03 KB]