On Side

In this second episode of our Online Safety in Sport podcast series, we explore why education is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent online harm in sport. From social media abuse to harmful online behaviours that spill into real-world environments, the impacts are growing – but so are the opportunities to respond.

Online harm isn’t inevitable. With the right education, shared responsibility and early action, sport can remain a safe, respectful space.  

Our On Side host Tim Gavel is joined by two leaders working at the forefront of safeguarding and integrity in Australian sport:

• Kate McMahon, National Integrity Manager at Surfing Australia, who brings a unique perspective shaped by her background in media, storytelling and a lifelong connection to the surfing community.
• Lisa Purves, Director of Safeguarding at Sport Integrity Australia, who leads national efforts to strengthen child safety and help organisations prevent and respond to harm, including in online spaces.

Together, they unpack:

• Why online safety is such a critical issue for sport right now
• The real impact of online abuse on athletes, participation and wellbeing
• Why online harm isn’t separate from sport – but part of the broader culture
• How education empowers athletes, coaches, parents and organisations to take action
• The role everyone plays in building safe, respectful online environments.

Explore the eSafety Commissioner’s Safe Sport Hub for online safety advice and resources to help make sure everyone in sport has more positive experiences online.

Read Surfing Australia’s Safer Internet Day blog mentioned in this podcast on this Surfing Australia website.

Support the show: https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/

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In this first episode of On Side’s Online Safety in Sport series, we unpack what’s changing in the digital environment and what it means for sport at every level.

Online spaces are now an integral part of sport connecting athletes, clubs and fans like never before. But alongside these opportunities comes a rapidly evolving set of risks.

Our host Tim Gavel is joined by two leading experts working at the forefront of online safety and athlete protection. Dr Emma Kavanagh, a renowned researcher in athlete welfare and safe sport, shares insight into the drivers of online abuse, including the rise of harassment, impersonation and harmful behaviours targeting athletes. Commander Joanne Cameron, who leads the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, brings a law enforcement perspective on emerging threats – particularly those impacting children and young people, including grooming, exploitation and the growing use of AI and deepfake technologies.

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, administrator or parent, this episode offers critical insight into the online challenges facing sport and the steps we can take to create safer environments for everyone.

Support the show: https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/

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In Episode 1 of our Sport is for Every BODY mini-series, Olympic rhythmic gymnast Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva and Sport Integrity Australia’s Mat Sinclair share how parents can support their child’s body confidence in sport. Mat explains how SIA partnered with The Embrace Collective to develop practical resources to help families respond to body shaming, advocate for their children, and foster inclusive environments.

Listeners will learn why language matters, how to reframe conversations around what bodies can do, and what steps to take if body shaming occurs.

Download our parents and carers fact sheet for practical steps to support your child if body shaming happens.

Support the show: https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/

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In this episode of On Side, we learn more about Dr Sarah Benson PSM, the new CEO of Sport Integrity Australia (SIA). Taking the reins in March this year, and in the fifth year of SIA operations, Dr Benson discusses how far the agency has come and priorities for the years ahead to protect sport against current and emerging threats.

Support the show: https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/

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While the sport supplement market might be thriving, the use of supplements can destroy an athlete’s career. 

Supplement manufacturers often use omissions or alternative names to lure buyers in and create the illusion of a clean substance. When in fact many contain substances that are prohibited in sport. 

A recent research collaboration between Sport Integrity Australia and Human and Supplement Testing Australia (HASTA) found that of 200 supplement products tested, 35 per cent contained one or more WADA Prohibited Substances. 

In addition to this, 57 per cent of the products that tested positive did not list the prohibited ingredients on their packaging or website. 

In this episode our host Tim Gavel speaks to a panel of guests about the research results, risks around use of supplements and how this can lead to unintentional doping.

To contribute to the survey, please visit this link Call for Contributions on Unintentional Doping Survey

Find out more at https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/ 

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In this episode of On Side we’re joined by one of Australia's greatest sporting legends, Lauren Jackson – a five-time Olympian, WNBL and WNBA champion, and global icon in basketball.

Lauren has not only dominated on the court but continues to make a lasting impact off the court. We talk with Lauren about her journey from the grassroots through elite sport, the barriers and inequities women and girls still face in sport, and how she’s using her platform to lead change, inspire the next generation, and drive equity in sport.

LJ also speaks frankly about her experiences in the anti-doping space and the need for sport to remain clean and fair.

*Any mention of corporate sponsorships in this episode of On Side does not constitute an endorsement by Sport Integrity Australia. 

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Our Athlete Advisory Group (AAG) plays a vital role informing the strategic direction and shaping education strategies of the agency. Through their collective lived experience, they provide insights into the pressures and influences that can threaten the integrity of sport, and how we can better assist athletes to be clean, safe and fair in sport. 

Marathon runner Cassie Fien was a member of our AAG for more than four years. With her final term recently coming to an end, we had a chat with Cassie about her role on the AAG, in particular, the lived experience she was able to share as a sanctioned athlete.

Hear more of Cassie’s unique and valuable insights in this episode of On Side.

Find out more at https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/

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How do we stop or curb the use of Performance and Image Enhancing drugs in sport?

In the fight to keep sport clean, safe and fair, shutting down illicit drug production and distribution has become a task that requires a multidisciplinary approach. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pushing national anti-doping agencies and law enforcement to collaborate to prevent and respond to integrity threats in sport.

WADA has expanded its Intelligence and Investigations Capability and Capacity Building Project, into Asia and Oceania, following the success of a similar program in Europe.

The first of six workshops was held in Australia this month, with representatives from 10 countries in attendance.

With the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games touted as the Pacific Games, we speak with Chair of the Oceania Regional Anti-Doping Organization, Dr Lawrence Teariki Puni, along with WADA Investigator, John McLaughlin, about the importance of collaboration in combatting drugs in sport.

Find out more at https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/

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Guest: Dr Gemma Payne (Assistant Director, Science & Medicine)

Today (11 February) is International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

It’s a time for the team at Sport Integrity Australia to reflect on the important work of women in this field.

This year’s theme is: Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science and is the 10th anniversary of the event – 2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science | UNESCO.

The gender composition of our Science and Medicine team at Sport Integrity Australia is 90% women. In addition to this, membership of the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee, established under the Sport Integrity Australia Act, is 70% female.

Our Science and Medicine team work hard to understand the science of doping and the analytical procedures used to test samples. Being at the forefront of wider developments in forensic science is an essential part of the team’s role in deterring, disrupting and detecting doping in sport.

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we speak with our Assistant Director of Science and Medicine, Dr Gemma Payne. Gemma completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours (in Forensic Science) at university, followed by a PhD. Our host Tim Gavel speaks with Gemma about her role at Sport Integrity Australia, the importance of forensics in the intelligence process at the agency and the fresh approach women bring to the field of science.

Find out more on our website: https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/

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Investing in integrity is crucial for the long-term sustainability of sport, but sadly it’s not the subject everyone in sport ‘wants’ to discuss.

With more than 90 National Sporting Organisations, National Sporting Organisations for people with Disability and Sport Administration Bodies adopting the National Integrity Framework or working towards the Integrity Policy Standards, sports are looking for new and innovative ways to highlight the importance of integrity in sport within their membership.

In November (2024), Swimming Australia launched its inaugural National Integrity Month, using the acronym FISH to spread awareness about its values – Fairness, Integrity, Safety, Happiness.

It’s an event the organisation will now hold annually to boost the profile of integrity and the role we all play in protecting sport. Some of the messaging is as simple as providing clubs with information and advice on appropriate photo use of young swimmers.

In this episode of On Side, we chat with Swimming Australia’s National Integrity Manager, Lydia Dowse, and Complaints and Compliance Manager, Scott Elliott, to find out more about how they prioritise integrity for the safety of members and the long-term sustainability of their sport.

Guests: Swimming Australia's Integrity Manager Lydia Scott and Swimming Australia's Complaints and Compliance Manager Scott Elliott

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