Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), in collaboration with the WA Government and SportWest successfully delivered the Two‑Day Managing Integrity in Sport course on 4 - 5 March 2026 at the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport in Leederville.
The course brought together representatives from State Sporting Associations (SSAs), sport leaders and integrity practitioners to deepen their understanding of integrity threats, strengthen safeguarding practices, and improve capability across the WA sport sector. Across two days, attendees engaged in policy exploration, real‑world complaint scenarios, and practical discussions on how sport leaders can strengthen integrity systems within their organisations.
Speakers included senior representatives from Sport Integrity Australia Steve Wyatt, Lisa Purves, Helen McShane and Brenna Dodds along with Kellie Lewis from The Mental Health Project and SportWest’s Jasmine Cappellucci, True Sport Manager.
True Sport Session: The Interrelationship Between Mental Health and Integrity
As part of the program, SportWest’s True Sport team delivered a highly practical one‑hour session showcasing how mental health and wellbeing are intrinsically linked to sport integrity.
True Sport Manager, Jasmine Cappellucci and Kellie Lewis, CEO of The Mental Health Project, presented on how mentally healthy sporting environments contribute directly to safer, more compliant and more positive sport cultures. SportWest developed the True Sport Mental Health & Wellbeing Initiative in partnership with The Mental Health Project.
The session highlighted:
- Mental health as a core component of safe sporting environments, and how strong wellbeing cultures can reduce the likelihood of integrity incidents.
- Long‑term impacts of failing to maintain psychologically safe spaces, especially regarding child safety and member protection.
- The role of administrators, volunteers and leaders in shaping wellbeing culture—especially when equipped with accessible, evidence‑informed True Sport resources.
Participants were guided through practical examples showing how True Sport Mental Health & Wellbeing Initiative resources and tools can be applied in real-life integrity scenarios such as managing complaints, responding to participant distress, considering trauma‑informed practices and supporting staff or volunteers under pressure.
This scenario‑based approach allowed attendees to see how the resources can support both their administrative responsibilities and the wellbeing of their members, reinforcing that safeguarding and wellbeing are mutually reinforcing—not separate.
Using Mental Health Knowledge to Strengthen Integrity Systems
The True Sport session complemented SIA’s workshop-based format by giving attendees:
- Actionable strategies to embed wellbeing into their day‑to‑day integrity processes
- Practical guidance for integrating True Sport resources into policy application, decision-making and member interactions
- A clearer understanding of the nexus between mental health, safety, and compliance
By equipping sport leaders with tools that build empathy, communication skills and early‑intervention capability, the session supported the broader course objective: strengthening integrity outcomes across the WA sporting landscape.
A Collaborative Effort to Keep Sport Safe
SportWest is proud to work alongside Sport Integrity Australia and the WA Government to strengthen capability across the sector. With limited spaces filled quickly, the strong turnout reflects a shared commitment to creating safe, fair and inclusive environments for everyone in sport.
The True Sport team looks forward to continuing to support SSAs, clubs and volunteers through practical education, resources and sector-wide collaboration.
For further information or to access the resources, visit our True Sport Resource Hub or contact truesport@sportwest.com.au
