Sporting Chance

APPROVED SPORTS

Current sports and activities for which on-duty authorisation may continue to be given by a CO are: Australian Rules Football; Basketball; Bowls; Cricket; Golf; Hockey; Netball; Nordic Skiing and Biathlon; Rugby League; Rugby Union; Running and Athletics; Sailing (offshore/ ocean yachting restricted); Soccer; Softball; Squash; Tenpin Bowling; Touch Rugby; Triathlon; Volleyball; Waterpolo.

ADFSC responds to criticisms of sports listing

Statement: I will not receive medical treatment if I’m injured participating in a sport or activity in off-duty hours without approval. Response: Your current level of access to medical services as a member of the ADF is unaffected. Whether you injure yourself gardening at home or as a result of unauthorised participation in a sport or recreational activity, you are entitled to free medical treatment. Statement: The changes to sports policy have affected the conduct of ADF training activities. Response: There is no effect on the conduct of military training. For example, members of the ADF are required to participate in parachuting, abseiling, rock climbing and scuba diving as part of military training designed to support a specific ADF capability. Should they wish to explore these or other “non-approved” interests as a personal, recreational choice in off-duty hours, they are free to do so but are not covered by the ADF for compensation in the event of death or injury. Statement: The changes to sports policy affect the conduct of adventure training activities. Response: Adventurous training complements but is distinct from sport in the ADF. The policy framework for the planning and conduct of adventurous training in the Australian Defence Organisation is contained in DI(G) Pers 14-3. Statement: The Defence Force is trying to dictate what I can and can’t do in off-duty hours. Response: As has always been the case, members may engage in any sport or leisure activity while off-duty, but must recognise that, without ADF authorisation, they personally accept the risks involved with respect to compensation. Statement: More injuries occur in football codes. My sport is being unfairly singled out. Response: The ADFSC’s determination of approved sports and activities was not underpinned by a purely quantitative argument. For example, while the number of injuries in football codes may be higher than other sports, deaths and serious injuries were not as high in percentage terms compared to activities such as sports parachuting, scuba diving, horse riding, rock climbing etc. To view the ADF Sports Policy visit http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/home/ documents/DATA/ADFPUBS/DIG/ GP14_02.PDF. If you have any questions or comments e-mail Major Barry Dachs at barry.dachs@defence.gov.au.

By David Sibley
THE ADF Sports Council (ADFSC) is reviewing the ADF sports policy, including the inappropriate sports listing, in

response from affected groups.

ADFSC Chairman Colonel Andrew Nikolic said the ADFSC had decided to take a “holistic look” at the policy both in response to letters to the service newspapers and as part of the normal review process.

“Like all policy, sports policy continues to be progressively refined to ensure that it best meets the needs of the ADF,” he said.

“The underlying intent of the policy DI(G) Pers 14-2 (ADF Policy on Sport) issued in November 2002, is that it is founded on an appropriate balance of risk, cost and benefit.

“We will continue to review the inputs of affected groups and individuals against that intent.

“Issues like duty of care and legal liability will also be considered in determining the risks that the ADF is prepared to ‘underwrite’.

“Defence remains committed to sport, recognising particularly among the many benefits, those of fitness, teamwork, and participation in the community. The sports policy simply seeks to ensure that these benefits are not outweighed by the risk of death or serious injury involved in a number of high-risk sports and activities”.

Recent letters to the service newspapers had expressed concern about the policy, with most comment from members or supporters of the four sports associations no longer affiliated with the ADFSC – water skiing, sports parachuting, alpine skiing and gliding. Additionally, participants in recreational activities such as scuba diving, which cannot be approved under the new policy, had also outlined concerns.

“A key perception in these letters is that opportunities to participate in sport have been substantially diminished, and this is clearly not the case,” COL Nikolic said.

COL Nikolic said a number of misconceptions were apparent in relation to the effect of the new policy.

The key effect of the new policy was its restriction of a CO’s discretion to authorise the participation of members in sports and activities in off-duty hours, where the risk of participation was considered by the ADFSC to be unacceptably high.

Members can participate in the activities without authorisation, but if they did so, would not be compensated for death or injury.

COL Nikolic said it should be noted 20 sports associations retained their affiliation with the ADFSC.

“Contrary to the assertion by some correspondents that there has been a significant reduction in opportunities for participation in sport outside of the ADF workplace, 20 associations continue to represent the sporting interests of the vast majority of ADF members,” he said.

The changes to sports policy followed a risk analysis of the range of sports and activities approved by COs. COL Nikolic said the result was a list of sports and activities that exposed the ADF to an unacceptably high level of potential risk exceeding the benefit gained.

“These included motor sports, mounted sports, aeronautical sports and a number of miscellaneous sports and activities, such as sports parachuting, horse riding, scuba diving, paragliding, alpine skiing, water skiing, etc,” he said.

“The vast majority of ‘mainstream’ sports, however, remain unaffected.”

Some recreational activities were retained to cater for the needs of the ADF population across all age groups, such as golf and tenpin bowling. Other activities, such as scuba diving and sports parachuting, were not approved because of the much higher potential exposure to risk.

“Statistical evidence from the Victorian Coroner, for example, highlighted the fact that activities like sports parachuting and scuba diving feature in the ‘top three’ of adventure-sport-related deaths,” he said.

COL Nikolic said “it is noteworthy that the ADF appears to be the only employer in Australia that continues to deem its members on duty and provide workers’ compensation cover for a wide range of non-representative sporting activities after hours and outside of work premises”.

 

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