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The
ADF Sports Council’s Inappropriate Sports Listing means
COs will be unable to authorise on duty participation of
members in listed sports and activities in off duty hours.
Photo illustration by Cpl Belinda Mepham, Army newspaper
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It’s
your choice
ADF
Sports Council speaks out about Inappropriate Sports Listing
By
Cpl Alisha Carr
THE ADF Sports Council (ADFSC) has responded to concerns about the
Inappropriate Sports Listing, which restricts COs in their discretion
to authorise on duty participation of members in listed sports and
activities in off duty hours.
Chairman
of the ADF Sports Council, Col Andrew Nikolic, said the Inappropriate
Sports Listing was introduced in the aftermath of the ADF Health
Status Report, which highlighted an increasing trend of sports-related
injuries, rising compensation costs and negative capability impacts.
“There
was a clear need to have a fresh look at ADF sport and, in particular,
issues like workplace risk assessment, duty of care and Commonwealth
liability,” he said.
“The
outcomes of this study were endorsed by senior Defence leaders and
reflected a desire to ensure that participation by ADF members in
sport and recreation activities was founded on an appropriate balance
of risk, cost and benefit.”
He
said one outcome of the review was a recommendation to publish a
list on the ADFSC web site, detailing those sports and activities
that were considered to be ‘inappropriate’ for ADFSC,
single-service or CO authorisation.
These
included a range of motor sports, mounted sports, aeronautical sports
and miscellaneous sports and activities, including sports parachuting,
scuba diving, gliding, water skiing, alpine skiing and offshore/ocean
yachting.
“Regrettably,
this has resulted in four Sports Associations having their membership
of the ADFSC revoked, although there are still 20 Associations affiliated
to the ADFSC that continue to represent the sporting needs of the
vast majority of ADF members.”
Col
Nikolic said the listing does not impact on the conduct of military
training, or on a member’s freedom to participate in any sport
or activity when not on duty, or on adventurous training activities
that are covered by a separate policy.
“As
has always been the case, members may engage in any sport or activity
during off duty hours, but must recognise that if they choose to
do so without ADF authorisation, they personally accept the risks
involved with respect to insurance coverage and compensation.
“The
policy does not mean ADF members who are injured while participating
in the listed sports are not entitled to free medical cover. It
does mean, however, that the ADF will not provide workers’
compensation cover for members who sustain injuries while participating
in the listed activities.
“The
rationale that underpins this outcome is that while the ADF may
gain some benefit from a member’s participation in certain
sports or activities, in some cases the benefit is considered to
be substantially outweighed by potential risks. Given that these
risks often occur in an environment where the ADF has no ability
to influence conduct or safety, it was appropriate to consider which
risks the ADF was prepared to underwrite.
“It
is considered that the current range of sports and recreational
activities available to ADF members strikes a reasonable balance
between risk, cost and benefit. It is noteworthy also that the ADF
appears to be the only employer in Australia that continues to deem
members on duty and provide worker’s compensation cover to
employees who are participating in a wide range of non-representative
sporting activities after hours and outside of work premises.
“This
is still the case for a large number of sports that CO’s may
grant duty status for. The policy changes described merely seek
to restrict this approval to sports that the ADF feels it gains
most benefit from.
“While
noting a small number of complaints, I believe current sports policy
is consistent with the needs of the majority of members across all
age groups.”
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