Law enforcement, government and sporting organisations came together in Perth this week to strengthen their collective response to child safeguarding and integrity risks in Australian sport.
The 2026 Sport Integrity Law Enforcement Conference, hosted by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), aimed to bring together law enforcement and sporting partners to improve collaboration efforts and prevention.
The Conference commenced with a Welcome to Country from Aunty Sharon Wood-Kenney, proud Noongar Yamatji Yorga (woman), and an opening address by Deputy Commissioner Kylie Whiteley of the Western Australia Police Force.
The Welcome and opening address were more than symbolic – they set the scene for a conference which included at its heart a discussion about how culture, respect and integrity come together to create safe environments for all who participate in sport.
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Under this year’s theme, 'Partnerships that protect', the conference explored how stronger partnerships, intelligence sharing and coordinated responses can help identify risks earlier, prevent harm and better protect participants, particularly children and young people.
SIA’s CEO Dr Sarah Benson said cooperation between partners is critical to keeping sport safe for all.
“Safeguarding in sport is a shared responsibility. Sports carry the responsibility for providing safe environments, supporting participants and acting under their policies; however, sport cannot respond to complex integrity risks alone," Dr Benson said.
"Child protection authorities, regulators, screening bodies and law enforcement also bring different information, expertise and powers. This week’s Conference brought these stakeholders together with sport under Sport Integrity Australia’s National Strategy for Information Sharing to strengthen relationships, share practical insights and identify how we can work more effectively together to prevent harm.
When we create safe and inclusive sporting environments, the benefits extend well beyond the field of play. Sport also plays a role in strengthening communities and building social cohesion.
– Dr Sarah Benson PSM, CEO, Sport Integrity Australia
Internationally recognised Professor of Criminology at the University of New South Wales, Dr Michael Salter, delivered the keynote presentation on Australian research into identifying and understanding child sexual offending behaviours and attitudes.
Professor Salter’s presentation highlighted the prevalence of child sexual abuse in sporting environments, including research from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, showing that 1 in 5 survivors identified a coach or instructor as their perpetrator.
Discussions centred around the importance of a prevention-focused approach and organisational culture, including how concerns are documented and if people feel supported to speak up.
Speakers challenged organisations to address concerning behaviours and boundary violations rather than wait until conduct reaches a criminal threshold.
“I was grateful for the willingness of the speakers and attendees to share their experiences, be open about vulnerabilities, and consider how these learnings can be applied in the future,” Dr Benson said.
“Every organisation needs to ask if its people have the capability and support to respond to issues but also a culture that encourages those concerns to be raised and handled in an appropriate and transparent manner.”
Representatives from SIA, state police agencies, national sporting organisations and the National Sports Tribunal contributed to the conference program. The day featured practical case studies, expert panel discussions and interactive sessions covering:
- the identification, assessment and management of persons of interest in sporting environments
- collaboration and investigative coordination between police and integrity agencies
- the role of strategic intelligence in identifying and preventing safeguarding risks
- opportunities to improve information sharing and strengthen partnerships across sport, government and law enforcement.
The conference was followed by a law enforcement collaboration meeting and National Integrity Manager Forum, providing further opportunities to share knowledge and strengthen professional networks across the sector.
- Find out more about SIA’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program.
*Professor Michael Salter is a Professor of Criminology in the School of Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, where he is Director of the Childlight East Asia and Pacific Hub. He is an internationally recognised expert on child sexual abuse, technology-facilitated abuse, and complex trauma, with a particular focus on prevention, perpetration, and systems reform.