26 October 2026, Lausanne – The Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU), in collaboration with Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), delivered two safeguarding workshops at the World Aquatics Training Centre at Bond University on the Gold Coast, reinforcing the importance of safe, respectful and inclusive environments in aquatics.
The workshops brought together eight World Aquatics Scholarship Holders and three coaches and staff members to strengthen their understanding of safeguarding, athlete welfare and the shared responsibility of protecting everyone involved in sport.
Established in 2020, Sport Integrity Australia is an Australian Government agency dedicated to keeping sport safe, fair and inclusive.
The workshops were delivered in two tailored sessions: one for athletes and another for coaches and staff. This approach allowed the content to address the specific responsibilities and experiences of each group.
Led by Matthew Sinclair, Assistant Director of Safeguarding at Sport Integrity Australia, the sessions combined expert guidance with practical examples and open discussion. Participants explored the fundamentals of safeguarding, the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy sporting environments, different forms of harassment and abuse, and how to recognise potential warning signs. They also covered reporting and response procedures, including how to use the AQIU Reporting Platform to raise concerns.
Sinclair noted that the group was actively engaged and described the session as a “valuable opportunity to engage directly with athletes about their rights and responsibilities in contributing to safe sporting environments”.
He added: “This is vital education for athletes visiting from other federations as they can take these learnings and share with their peers in their home team environments.”
The AQIU was represented by Eugenie Buckley, member of the AQIU Supervisory Council, who attended and contributed to the workshops.
“Integrity is at the heart of sport. It is fundamental to ensuring that every participant has the opportunity to participate, develop and succeed in a safe, fair and respectful environment,” Buckley said
“Integrity is not simply a policy or a set of rules; it is about people, culture, accountability and the responsibility we all share to protect athletes and uphold the values of our sport.
“Ultimately, every swimmer deserves to feel safe, respected and supported, and that is a responsibility we must all take seriously.”
Participant feedback highlighted the practical value of the workshops.
Safeguarding Officer Susan Dunnigan praised the workshops, describing them as a “great overview with some really useful and interesting examples.”
Kyle Samuelson, Director of Swimming at Bond University, said he “gained valuable knowledge and practical skills that I can confidently put into practice”.
The World Aquatics Scholarship Holders collectively described the session as informative and valuable.
“It was particularly beneficial to explore our responsibilities as athletes, how to recognise and respond to potential safeguarding concerns, and the appropriate channels available to seek support or report issues,” they noted.
The workshops reflect the AQIU’s continued commitment to working with international and national sporting organisations to promote integrity, strengthen safeguarding awareness and protect athletes, coaches and staff.
The AQIU thanks Sport Integrity Australia for its close collaboration in delivering the two workshops and remains committed to supporting a culture in which the safety, welfare and voices of athletes are protected and respected at every level of the sport.