Delays in delivering justice to dozens of gymnasts who suffered abuse at WA’s elite athlete support institute would be unfair to pin on the organisation’s outgoing CEO, its chairman says.
Key points:
WAIS is an elite sports institute to support athletes in Western AustraliaDozens of former gymnasts have claimed physical and emotional abuseThe search is now on for a new CEO after Steve Lawrence’s departure
Steve Lawrence confirmed on Thursday he would step down as the chief executive of the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) after more than 20 years in the role.
It is the latest development in an ongoing series of departures at WAIS, which has struggled to deal with allegations of physical and emotional abuse by 57 former athletes in its elite gymnastics program.
A Sports Integrity Australia investigation laid bare allegations of children subject to a “culture of fear” that included verbal and physical abuse, frequent and traumatising skin fold testing, weight shaming and being expected to train while injured.
Some of those former gymnasts affected by the abuse, alleged to have happened between 1987 and 2016, expressed frustration that 18 months on, the process of “restorative justice” had not begun.
While many of the former gymnasts were critical of Mr Lawrence’s handling of the issue during his tenure, WAIS chair Neale Fong said those sentiments were misplaced.
“Steve, as far as we’re informed, actually distanced himself from the decisions and involvement in the restorative justice program for the gymnasts because of his potential conflict,” he said.
Speaking to ABC Radio Perth’s Mornings program on Friday, Dr Fong described the restorative justice effort as complex, but confirmed he had spoken to several of the gymnasts involved and work was progressing.
“We’re just getting on with it now,” he said.
“We’ve got the clean air that we can move with.
“And as I said, I think it’s important to understand that Steve has had a good contribution, notwithstanding some of the issues that are floating around.”
Dr Fong also praised Mr Lawrence for standing aside after almost four decades with WAIS.
“He’s had a significant input into that organisation,” he said.
“He came to the conclusion that for the good of the institute — and to be fair to him, he put that above his own desires and needs — he’d step down.”
Search for new leader
WAIS’s team performance director Neil Potts will act in the CEO role until an interim chief executive is appointed.
Dr Fong said that person was likely to come from within, with a broader search looming for a full-time CEO.
He stressed a focus on athlete safety would play a key part in the recruitment process, in an effort to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
“Some of these kids are identified in primary school as six or seven-year-olds,” he said.
“They’re very young. It is important that we surround the development, the pathway for these kids with safety and with care.
“And bring the parents along with us, and ensuring everywhere they have the ability to be the best they can be, in a safe environment.”
Former gymnast encouraged
Despite Dr Fong’s praise of Mr Lawrence, former gymnasts were adamant the biggest roadblock to cultural change at WAIS had now been removed.
“He was obstructive in what we were trying to achieve,” 1996 Olympic representative Jen Smith said.
“Not just for us, but to make WAIS an actual institute that people would want to train at.”
But she agreed with Dr Fong’s assertion that the organisation now had clear air to enact reform.
“It’s the first time that we’ve probably felt true encouragement that there was a potential pathway forward,” she told the ABC.
“We had no movement while he was there.”
Compensation discussions
As discussions with former gymnasts continue, the WAIS board has also been in talks with the Department of Local Government and Sport over how to manage potential financial claims stemming from the abuse allegations.
Dr Fong stressed monetary considerations were not a major factor in the complaints from gymnasts, and said WAIS was committed to ensuring former athletes were given every chance to find redress.
“Restoring someone’s physical and mental health is not something you do to people,” he said.
“It’s something you work with them [on], by listening and working collaboratively.
“We need to be led through that as a new board … to find out what their issues are, how we can restore their physical and mental health.”
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WA’s Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said Mr Lawrence’s departure was “mutually agreed” with the board, which was working on achieving restorative justice with the gymnasts.
“I have confidence in the new board to, in a sense, address the historic issues, issues of the past, and also set the WAIS board up to proceed in the future,” she said.
“I think we’ve seen already the chair of the board being very active in talking to stakeholders.”
