Current and former Hockeyroos players and staff dating back to the 2016 Rio Olympics will be interviewed as part of an independent inquiry into allegations of what the players’ union describes as “a toxic culture and bullying” within the women’s national program.
With the team’s Tokyo 2021 preparations in tumultuous territory, Hockey Australia on Thursday launched its proposed inquiry in response to alleged complaints about the sport’s administration.
Months of player unrest came to a head last week when the former captain Georgina Morgan and the current world goalkeeper of the year Rachael Lynch were unexpectedly dropped from the squad. Both players are appealing their omissions.
Since then, the players have considered strike action and numerous reports of alleged grievances have emerged, most of which appear to be directed at Hockey Australia’s high-performance management.
On Tuesday, the current Hockeyroos squad and members of the HA board held a meeting at which the former were offered clarity around the inquiry’s proposed process.
Led by Richard Redman, the manager of the Australian Institute of Sport’s conduct and professionalism team, and Adam Carrel, a partner at Ernst & Young, it is due to run until 18 December.
Over the course of the coming week the inquiry will interview – on a voluntary basis – current athletes and staff, followed by former athletes and staff who have served since the Rio Olympics.
HA says it expects to publicly provide the inquiry’s summary findings and recommendations by early February 2021 – less than six months before the rescheduled Olympics are due to start.
The union, the Australian Hockey Players’ Association, said it had been engaged by the governing body to provide input into its terms of reference.
“Hockey Australia has informed the Australian Hockey Players’ Association (AHPA) that its proposed inquiry into claims of a toxic culture and bullying in the national women’s hockey program is set to commence on Thursday 10 December 2020,” the AHPA said in a statement on Thursday.
“The AHPA is supportive of a thorough and transparent inquiry which is independent, adheres to due process and which will ultimately make findings and appropriate recommendations which reflect the true state of affairs within the national women’s hockey program.”
“Subject to the inquiry’s satisfaction of these criteria, the AHPA encourages its members and stakeholders to engage with the inquiry and to allow proper process to take place.”
Last week, the HA chief executive, Matt Favier, threw his support behind Gaudoin and Cumpston.
“Paul is still absolutely backed and supported by the leadership team and the board,” Favier told AAP. “And Toni is probably one of the best performing high-performance directors the sport has ever had. She is tough but fair.”
