Question 149 - 12 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members cannot believe the Triathlon Australia website has the following heading in its membership page:

JOIN OUR GROWING TRIATHLON COMMUNITY WITH TRIATHLON AUSTRALIA MEMBERSHIP.

The reality is:

TA membership has declined by over 25% during the past 5 years and is most likely continuing to fall yet again in the current year.

Why therefore does TA state the Triathlon Community is growing because in addition to a very drastic decline in membership:

• There is no National series of races

• Participation is down

• There are less technical officials to oversee safe racing conditions

• Coaching pathways are non existent

• The national media can only report on alleged Match fixing and staff resignations the sport is so dead to the public

• There are no International WT races held in Australia, so no need for the best athletes to race and train here.

• There are no athlete pathways to nurture and develop future athletes as painfully demonstrated at the Tokyo Olympics

• Para athletes are treated with contempt

• Age Groupers are paying absurd entry fees for a water bottle prize pack.

• Member Protection problems are rife …….the list goes on

TA has overseen a decline in everything yet continues to be in denial , making quite ridiculous statements like the heading above on its membership page.

The existing TA Board, (now departing failed CEO), President, High Performance Director have all contrived to take the sport into a position of serious decline with less and less of everything that contributed to Australia being the World leading Nation in all aspects of triathlon. Yet they all continue to be in denial, even the TA CEO is claiming success as the he walks out the door of the train wreck that is TA.

When will the TA President, Board of Directors and National Performance Director (along with his useless entourage) leave?

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from them all.

Question 148 - 11 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Look at this Triathlon Australia

British Triathlon with a full series of events for all athletes and planning to bring the world best. Link to announcement is here.

Meanwhile in Australia our elites have 3 races tops, the pathway athletes have one plus a play at runaway bay yet again, our Para Athletes might have two and our age groupers can pay over the top race entries to win a water bottle.

What a mess triathlon Australia.

When will the entire board, President and the National Performance Director (along with his useless entourage) follow the TA CEO’s lead and leave?

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia

Question 147 - 10 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Email sent to Triathlon Australia outgoing CEO:

Dear Miles,

Congratulations on your resignation as CEO of TA. Members were extremely pleased to hear this.

Can you please advise me of the progress of my alleged October 6 suspension as a TA member.

Kind Regards,

Emma Carney

Question 146 - 10 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are puzzled at your press release stating the TA COO Tim Harradine will be interim CEO at TA.

The 2020/21 TA annual report lists Tim Harradine as Executive Director of Triathlon Queensland under the heading of State and Territory staff.

Tim Harradine is NOT included in the list executive staff list of TA and in the Annual Reports of TA for 2019/20 and 2020/21 he was only identified in a list of Triathlon Queensland representative. Triathlon Queensland identified Tim Harradine as Executive Director, making no mention of a TA role of COO, nor as a part time Executive Director of TQ.

Firstly, it is obvious TA an already bloated organisation, triathlon is a sport is small, so why would they want to add a COO?

Secondly, as there is no record of a TA COO, either on the TA website or in the last two Annual Reports is this just another instance of the TA Executive Board deciding it would be a great idea to mislead the Australian Media, TA members and Australian Sport and make up a COO position to ensure an individual from TQ would be the interim executive, because they will continue with the same administrative misdirection that is already at TA?

After all, TQ is just a shadow of TA and agrees with every decision of TA.

What a mess TA.

When will the TA Board of Directors, the TA President and the National performance Director all follow the TA CEO and leave?

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

NewsCorp 9 February

Surely more than the TA CEO were involved.....

What is the TA Board and President doing. Why is the National Performance Director still in his role?

What a mess Triathlon Australia.

Question 145 - 8 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Oh Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members hope you arent just passing the baton from one rotten administrator to another.

Triathlon Australia press release -

“…with Chief Operating Officer Tim Harradine to act as interim CEO…”

Members ask - When was Tim Harradine appointed Chief Operating Officer? That role/title is not on the list of staff on the Triathlon Australia website. Is it just Triathlon Queensland and Triathlon Australia shuffling roles again? Has a role been made up - why aren't members updated??

Members wont accept further contrived appointments.

It is quite obvious there needs to be a full independent review, the CEO has abandoned a sinking ship and reshuffling leaders will NOT be accepted by members.

Make real changes for the better.

Question 144 - 8 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members understand the CEO has resigned.

When will the TA President, Board Executive and National Performance Director also leave?

Members demand change. NOW.

Update - 4 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

An update on the Q141 below - mens only race.

Race organisers https://www.nxsports.org were approached by a High Performance network coach requesting an elite drafting format race was put on.

TA sanctioning was then requested and provided to the race organisers.

Despite the race organiser believing it was a race for both men and women, it was theTA HP coaches who limited the filed to only the men from their squads.

Typical Triathlon Australia nepotism.

The good news is, the race organiser, is interested in setting up draft legal races in the future, providing all athletes the opportunity to race this format if they hold an elite racing licence.

What is very obvious in all of this is that due to the fact the National Performance Director cant put together a race series, it will be up to the triathlon community to go ahead and set them up for the good of the sport.

Keep an eye on the https://www.nxsports.org for draft legal races in the future.

Question 143 - 4 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Your official website has an 'Elite' link in the main top menu. The drop down takes members to the Official TA High Performance Program.

The entire page has 2 sentences -

The Triathlon Australia High Performance program has a vision of “Sustained International Success”.

While its mission is “to create a winning environment which provides Australian triathletes and coaches with the opportunity to be continuously successful at Olympic Games and major WT international competitions”.

pare it to Triathlon Canada, who receive far less government funding and who have far less staff - https://www.triathloncanada.com/high-performance/

What an absolute disaster the TA HP Team is.

Apparently the TA National Performace Director and the TA Performance Programs Manager (the genius who sourced the platform shoes for Tokyo) are this week meeting with all athletes and coaches who are not categorised (and not in TA Performance Centres) to tell them how to improve their results so they can be welcomed to the TA HP Program.

Is that a joke?

Triathlon Australia, your High Performance Program is a disasted and the leaders need to go. Triathlon in Australia needs saving from the Triathlon Australia High performance program.

WTF? Get Real - 3 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

An update on the AIS review was published yesterday and the TA President proclaimed

“Triathlon Australia remains committed to a robust review, ensuring the outcomes provide long-term solutions for the sport and inform the future direction and strategy which will form the basis for resetting the program to maximise success in Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032."

Members suggest Triathlon Australia doesnt get ahead of itself. The Commonwealth Games are in July and the TA HP Team still hasnt finalised trials. Lets put things into perspective TA - things are a mess and now the entire HP program has a babysitter overseeing everything.

What a mess. Why is the National Performance Director still in his position?

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from triathlon Australia.

Question 142 - 2 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Thanks for the update...on nothing.

Read ‘update’ here.

Question 141 - 2 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Can you please confirm for members - is it true that the Kingscliff Triathlon held on the weekend had an elite draft legal sprint category ONLY for the men.

Is it true Triathlon Australia permitted a race to be sanctioned which did not recognise women?

Wow. Triathlon Australia if that is the case, Triathlon Australia is an appalling sexist organisation.

Not only does Triathlon in Australia need saving from Triathlon Australia, so do women and girls.

That is outright discrimination. Do all women need to take this further so it never happens again?

Question 140 - 1 February via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Australian Coaches today received an email from Triathlon Australia with the Subject 'Coach Connect October'.

Coaches would like Triathlon Australia to know - it is now February, the year is 2022, and everything Triathlon Australia does is absolutely hopeless.

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

What a mess.

Question 139 - 31 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have been appalled at your obvious lack of care over High Performance with no selection races planned in. It is not just the High Performance athletes and coaches who are treated with distain. There is obviously a clear disregard for membership with the near 38% drop from it’s peak and the declared intention at the agm to focus on participation.

Members were curious as to how the national participation programs were going.

On investigating the TRIactive (national participation program) website we see the following.

Only 3 states listed. Of these 3 states, Victoria had a program that had finished, WA had a single program in Perth and Tasmania were simply collecting an expression of interest. This is during the peak summer period of the sport when the opportunity exists to capitalise on the interest generated from ongoing events - those ongoing events that you purport to support but do little more than tax the event organisers.

Upon further review, members looked to see how they could become TRIactive coaches to help bring the sport to brand new participants and were equally stumped by the National Coaching Framework returning a page not found error.

With the only state currently advertising a nationally branded participation TRIactive program being one that has opted out of the OneSport model. Is this lack of engagement and effort in other states the template you will use to run the sport in the future? Do you see this fulfilling your basic requirements of the Respond, Recover , Thrive tenets of your 21-25 strategic plan? Is this the sum total of your stated focus on participation as you championed at the agm?

Seeing as this program was delivered almost solely through grant funding, can any of you actually be trusted to acquit any future funding without it continuing to be wasted on staff salaries with zero benefit to the community? This is, after all, a program that has supposedly been running for several years.

The zero clue and zero effort behaviour is bad enough when supported by public money but this incompetence adds to the negative effect that mismanagement in other areas has had.

Perhaps the National Participation Manager needs to be added to the list of those that key staff who are failing in their roles....

With a strategic goal of 'Respond to and Recover' members suggest Triathlon in Australia can only achieve this if Triathlon Australia is independently reviewed.

What a mess Triathlon Australia.

Statement - 30 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Notice to Athletes and Coaches of Triathlon in Australia -

As Triathlon Australia are still unable to finalise the 2022 National Performance calendar including the Commonwealth Selection races, Athletes and Coaches should take control of their season and aim for the following National Triathlon events -

Elite and U23

Devonport 26-27 February 2022

Gold Coast Sprint 3 April 2022

Focus on sprint events, because the Commonwealth elite race is a Sprint Triathlon, so race the only Sprint races on the domestic calendar to give yourself the best opportunity to perform.

Youth and Junior Athletes should not wait for Triathlon Australia to put a calendar together. It quite possible the series will never be finalised and will be a mess if it does go ahead. The best racing experience can be found on this website (all events also have prize money) -

Link here

All races in this national pathway series are designed for youth, and will develop your race skill, speed and tactical awareness. Triathlon Australia have ignored this for years and it is key for young athletes to progress successfully into world class triathletes.

Anyone who is bullied or told they will miss out on selection (selection for what at this level - Triathlon Australia doesn’t support pathway athletes) should report the threat to Sport Integrity Australia. Triathlon Australia is there to support athletes and provide opportunity, not hinder their progress.

The Triathlon Australia High Performance team is letting all athletes down with their inability to put together a race series and the above - apart for your local races (you must support those locally who are supporting the sport - there is a big chance Triathlon Australia is making things difficult for your local race organisers too) - are the only national races worth planning for.

The fact that Triathlon Australia cannot put a national series together and organise the selection races for a major games is an absolute disgrace. It is becoming more and more obvious that Triathlon Australia is likely to have already picked the team and will not have selection races in order to justify their pre selection. With a race available (Devonport) and Triathlon Australia claiming organising races is so difficult, while also refusing to reinstate Devonport as a selection race, the entire debacle stinks of a contrived selection process yet again.

What an absolutely appalling mess Triathlon Australia.

Question 138 - 29 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

From the Triathlon Australia High Performance Team -

'We appreciate your understanding and patience as we continue to work to finalise updates to the domestic performance calendar in order to give athletes the best possible racing opportunities under difficult circumstances. We will provide a further update as soon as available.'

....Athletes are still waiting for the Commonwealth Games selection races. Devonport Triathlon is still going ahead - why doesn't TA keep this original race as planned as a selection event?

Will TA just wait, then when all racing has passed, use the covid excuse and then select who they want anyway? Smells a bit like the Tokyo selection mess.

What a disaster the TA HP team is.

It is quite obvious Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

Question 137 - 28 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

A question from members, regarding insurance.

Members would like to know how Triathlon Australia expects an athlete to live on $300 a week!?

This is the maximum amount that you are ‘insured for’ in case you are seriously injured during a race or training of a sanctioned event under ‘standard membership’

Sorry Triathlon Australia but there is nothing ‘standard’ about living on $300 whilst you recover from a serious accident….?

Absolutely Nothing

Triathlon Australia, why be a member? What is the benefit - TA ignores you, TA doesn't care to insure you properly....

It’s $629 a fortnight for the centre link payments for a single person so TA’s insurance policy is lower than that.

Triathlon Australia - once again you are appalling to members.

What a mess.

Question 136 - 27 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

A question from coaches...

The reaccreditation process this year for TA Coaches was to simply upload CPR, first aid certificates and Working With Children Checks (WWCC). Apparently coaches remain accredited despite these not checked and valid.

Why were coaches not required to renew and update their Sport Integrity Australia Anti-doping e-learning certificate? Other National Sporting organisations require this. Why does Triathlon Australia not?

Given this was not required by Triathlon Australia - does this mean there is a possibility coaches are now not insured?

Can Triathlon Australia please provide confirmation that coaches are insured.

What a mess Triathlon Australia.

Question 135 - 26 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have noticed, interestingly, the 'HP Key Staff' list has been silently altered on the Triathlon Australia website (refer old and new below)

Members are surprised the two positions vacant did belong to women. Did TA just cut the women from staff? Does TA think all the men are doing an excellent job?

All males appointed to coaching staff. Thats creating a nice environment for our female athletes (not). How absurd.

Members note the National Performance Director remains as the lead. Also the Performance Programs Manager - apparently he was the genius who sought out the platform shoes which failed in Tokyo (and every trial prior).

Without a change in leadership how does TA expect a different outcome?

What a mess. What a sexist mess.

Triathlon Australia time to update your approach.

Question 134 - 26 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Team England have announced their Commonwealth Games team overnight.

Do you think the TA High performance Team could announce when the AUS Commonwealth Games Trials are?

What a mess TA. How is Triathlon Australia able to continue to oversee the decline of Triathlon in Australia?

What is the National Performance Director doing if the Commonwealth Games selection is such a mess?

Question 133 - 23 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

A message from U23 Athletes and Coaches.

'While it is common knowledge Triathlon Australia ignores pathway athletes, do you think TA could add U23 to the list of relevant athletes in the 'Important Documents' link (2022 Domestic Performance Racing Calendar Information) on the TA website...?'

So many staff members in the TA HP Team and so many problems, errors and mistakes. What is everyone doing? Why is the TA HP program failing the sport quite as much as it is? Where is the leadership form the National Performance Director?

What a mess TA.

Question 132 - 23 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Victoria,

A message from a member -

'It must be amateur hour at Tri Vic - If you go to the event listings on the Tri Vic website and go to the next 2XU race - race 4 - and click on the rego link - it takes you to a page saying entries closed as they’ve not updated the link from last year!'

Triathlon Victoria can you please lift for members.

Question 131 - 22 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

When will the AIS 'Refresh Review' be published?

It was originally end of November. Triathlon Australia website now has removed all timelines for publishing.

Will the Triathlon Australia review be as thorough as Swimming Australia's??

The focus of the recommendations with SA are protecting members - TA will you be doing this in the future?

Swimming Aust report can be read here.

Question 130 - 22 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members voting results are here.

Members provided TA with a list from the Sports Australia and AIS, online directors learning module last week. (you can refer to this here - https://www.emmacarney.com/boarddirectors)

The list defines what a National Sporting Organisation (NSO) Board is expected to do.

Members voted on the list, and answer Yes or No to whether they think the TA Board Directors are carrying out their obligations.

Results of the vote are -

• 92% of all votes were No (ie the Board is failing) to questions, 8% Yes

• The question which received the most Yes (ie the board is not failing) was question 1 - so at least members do have faith Board Directors are not seeking to break the law.

• The most votes for No (failing) was question 9 is the Board held ‘accountable and transparent.’

• The next question to receive the most No (failing) responses was regarding the Board and its setting of the ‘culture for the organisation and model the values and behaviours that are consistent with these.’

• Not many members believe the CEO is reviewed either (lots of No’s)

Why on earth would anyone remain on the TA board right now and be a part of this mess?

It is quite obvious the TA Board Directors need to resign and call for a full independent review.

Question 129 - 21 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Last week, it was announced by TA that the Commonwealth Games trials which had been move from Devonport to NZ were cancelled. The sensible thing would be to return it to Devonport as was originally in the selection document.

TA announced the Athletes and Coaches last week -

'Triathlon Australia will provide a further update by COB next Friday, 21 January 2022.'

Members were wondering if Triathlon Australia have forgotten about the Commonwealth Games Trials?

Will Triathlon Australia update members?

Do members just have to wait and see how long a 21 January COB update takes?

Triathlon Australia what a mess. This is embarrassing. Commonwealth Games selection trials are so important. What is actually wrong with the TA HP Program??

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 128 - 19 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members voting is back.

Members provide TA with a list from the Sports Australia and AIS, online directors learning module.

The list defines what a National Sporting Organisation (NSO) Board is expected to do.

Members can will vote on the list, and answer Yes or No to whether they think the TA Board Directors are carrying out their obligations.

Members encourage the TA Board Directors to also read the list, perhaps they aren’t aware of their obligations?  There are new Board Directors at TA now - will they initiate change or just join in the decline?

Let’s see what the members think.

Voting will be open until Friday 21 January - the same date the Triathlon Australia High Performance Team thinks it will finally publish the selection races for the 2022 Commonwealth Games (athletes and coaches can only hope).

What a mess Triathlon Australia.

LINK - voting has now closed.

Question 127 - 17 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Oh Dear Triathlon Australia,

The first race of the 2022 Junior and Youth Series already in doubt....meanwhile the best Junior, Youth and U23 series in the country - the Australian Grand Prix Triathlon Series - (https://grandprixtriathlon.com.au) is into round 4.

Why dont you support a series that is already up and running?

Why don't you support the https://grandprixtriathlon.com.au ??

Triathlon Australia, your HP team is a disaster, please don't destroy the pathways athletes futures too.

What a mess Triathlon Australia.

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 126 - 10 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Congratulations - another major games selection fiasco is on the horizon.  Members ask how do you keep doing this?

Section 5 under the heading of nomination criteria, provides details on how athletes can gain selection for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Item 5.2 (a) automatic selection has changed from winning the National Sprint Championships (Devonport) to Winning the Oceania Sprint Championships (which is in New Zealand).

Triathlon Australia, why on earth would you move such a vital race decision off shore when Covid travel restrictions are such a problem.  You have added a clause in recognising this  - the race will be ‘void’ if there are problems with travel .  Excellent just remove opportunity.  How is this even ok.

Triathlon Australia - why aren’t you sensible and use the National Sprint Championships in Australia as planned?

Triathlon Australia why does your National Performance Director  constantly make such absurd decisions?  

Why is he even still around screwing up the program?  

Triathlon Australia, what a mess, what an embarrassment.

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 125 - 7 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Someone else has spoken out multiple times regarding the failings at Triathlon Australia. Will you threaten them legally and suspend their membership too or is TA sexist and only does that to women who speak out?

Post 124 - 3 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Over the Christmas and New Year period, while the members voted on the most pressing issues needing attention from Triathlon Australia directors, the daily open questions have been backing up, so we could return to them.

However, as members have provided Triathlon Australia with a list if items to address, and the AIS ‘review refresh’ is well overdue there will be a pause in questions.

It is time Triathlon Australia proceeded with integrity.  

Members will not be satisfied if there is no action. 

Post 123 - 2 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Happy New Year from members.

In acknowledging the strategic pillar of ‘more people involved in more places’ , members have spent the Christmas and New Year period addressing the major problems at Triathlon Australia.

Members identitfied 12 major areas requiring improvements and then voted on their order of importance.

When staff return from holiday, members suggest the following items need to be urgently addressed in the order provided.

Not surprisingly, the absolute priority is for a full independent review of the sport, given its dramatic decline.

Triathlon Australia - it is time members were provided the courtesy by the TA Board Directors to act as members wish.

Results - Ranked Member Wishes

• Wish 12 - The TA Board Directors to take their roles seriously, save the sport of Triathlon in Australia and call for a full independent review.

• Wish 5 - Published results of the AIS led sham ‘refresh review’

• Wish 1 - Published National Series for entire sport. Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available.

• Wish 7 - Transparency and integrity in the governance practices of TA.

• Wish 4 - TA Coach Education is developed properly & Athlete Poaching by TA stops.

• Wish 8 - The TA CEO either does his role or is removed. Given the failings preferably the latter.

• Wish 11 - The National Performance Director resigns. Immediately. The HP Program is the worst program seen in Australian Triathlon history.

• Wish 3 - TA allows all members to vote at the TA AGM.

• Wish 6 - Triathlon Australia to obtain a full sport sponsor requiring a real national racing series to also be constructed.

• Wish 9 - TA President removed before her tenure is up at the 2022 TA AGM.

• Wish 10 - Athlete Categorisation undertaken sensibly.

• Wish 2 - TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body.

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from triathlon Australia. What a mess. Time to act Triathlon Australia.

Post 122 - 1 January via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Welcome to Round 3 - the final day of member voting.

With memberships falling over 25% in the last 5 years, HP performance athletes can no longer perform in the culture within the HP Team at TA, there are no real sponsors, no national race series, member protection issues, athlete safeguarding problems and integrity of governance issues - members provided 12 key wishes leading into Christmas for Triathlon Australia to address.

Members have spent the last week voting on the wishes to rank them in order of preference for TA staff to address when they return from Christmas and New Year holidays.

How the voting worked -

• Round 1 is complete - we started with 12 wishes. 3 were voted on each day over 4 days.

• Round 2 is complete - 4 Wishes remaining, 2 voted on over 2 days.

• Round 3 - 2 remaining wishes voted on today, New Years Day

• Published results - tomorrow

Something for Triathlon Australia to work on, whenever the holidays finish for staff…?

What a mess TA.

To vote, head over to instagram @emmaecarney story or here.

Post 121 - 31 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Welcome to round 2 day 2 of member voting.

Members provided 12 key wishes leading into Christmas for Triathlon Australia to address.

Members are now voting on the order of preference so when TA staff return from Christmas and New Year holidays they can address them as members would prefer.

How this works -

• Round 1 is complete - we started with 12 wishes. 3 were voted on each day over 4 days.

• Round 2 started yesterday - 4 Wishes remaining, 2 voted on over 2 days.

• Round 3 - 2 remaining wishes voted on New Years Day

• Published results - New Years Day 2

Something for Triathlon Australia to work on, whenever the holidays finish for staff…?

What a mess TA.

To vote, head over to instagram @emmaecarney story or here.

Post 120 - 30 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Welcome back to member voting.  We are the last day of Round 1 voting.  

With the 12 wishes of members submitted into Christmas Day, voting has commenced to determine member order of preference of the wishes.  Real voting, not contrived State/Territory Triathlon Association influenced voting.

Triathlon Australia can then act on the wishes in the voted order of preference.  

How this works - 

• Round 1 -  Starting with 12 wishes. 3 voted on each day over 4 days.

• Round 2 - 4 Wishes remaining, 2 voted on over 2 days.

• Round 3 - 2 remaining wishes voted on

• Published results - New Years Day.  Something for Triathlon Australia to work on, whenever the holidays finish for staff…?

Vote on emmacarney.com or Instagram @emmaecarney.  

Voting is confidential - no leaks, no BS, no cheating, no bullying, no intimidation.  

Just voting.  

To vote today, Round 1, Day 4. head over to instagram @emmaecarney story or here.

Post 119 - 29 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Welcome back to member voting.  We are the last day of Round 1 voting.  

With the 12 wishes of members submitted into Christmas Day, voting has commenced to determine member order of preference of the wishes.  Real voting, not contrived State/Territory Triathlon Association influenced voting.

Triathlon Australia can then act on the wishes in the voted order of preference.  

How this works - 

• Round 1 -  Starting with 12 wishes. 3 voted on each day over 4 days.

• Round 2 - 4 Wishes remaining, 2 voted on over 2 days.

• Round 3 - 2 remaining wishes voted on

• Published results - New Years Day.  Something for Triathlon Australia to work on, whenever the holidays finish for staff…?

Vote on emmacarney.com or Instagram @emmaecarney.  

Voting is confidential - no leaks, no BS, no cheating, no bullying, no intimidation.  

Just voting.  

To vote today, Round 1, Day 4. head over to instagram @emmaecarney story or here.

Post 118 - 28 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Welcome back to member voting. We are at Round 1, Day 3. Real voting, not contrived State/Territory Triathlon Association influenced voting.

With the 12 wishes of members submitted into Christmas Day, voting has commenced to determine member order of preference of the wishes.

Triathlon Australia can then act on the wishes in the voted order of preference.

How this works -

• Round 1 - Starting with 12 wishes. 3 voted on each day over 4 days.

• Round 2 - 4 Wishes remaining, 2 voted on over 2 days.

• Round 3 - 2 remaining wishes voted on

• Published results - New Years Day. Something for Triathlon Australia to work on, whenever the holidays finish for staff…?

Vote on emmacarney.com or Instagram @emmaecarney.

Voting is confidential - no leaks, no BS, no cheating, no bullying, no intimidation.

Just voting.

Today is Round 1, Day 3.

To vote, head over to instagram @emmaecarney story or here.

Post 117 - 27 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Welcome back to member voting. Real voting, not contrived State/Territory Triathlon Association influenced voting.

With the 12 wishes of members submitted into Christmas Day, the votes are now on to decide the priority of these 12 wishes.

It is hoped Triathlon Australia will act on the wishes in the voted order of preference

How this will work -

• Round 1 - Starting with 12 wishes. 3 voted on each day over 4 days.

• Round 2 - 4 Wishes remaining, 2 voted on over 2 days.

• Round 3 - 2 remaining wishes voted on

• Published results - New Years Day. Something for Triathlon Australia to work on, whenever the holidays finish for staff…?

Vote on emmacarney.com or Instagram @emmaecarney.

Voting is confidential - no leaks, no BS, no cheating, no bullying, no intimidation.

Just voting.

Today is Round 1, Day 2.

To vote, head over to instagram @emmaecarney story now or here.

Post 116 - 26 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are going to give an example of member voting.  Real voting, not contrived State/Territory Triathlon Association influenced voting.

With the 12 wishes of members submitted into Christmas Day, there will now be a vote on the priority of these 12 wishes. 

It is hoped Triathlon Australia will act on the wishes in the voted order of preference 

How this will work - 

• Round 1 -  Starting with 12 wishes. 3 voted on each day over 4 days.

• Round 2 - 4 Wishes remaining, 2 voted on over 2 days.

• Round 3 - 2 remaining wishes voted on

Published results - New Years Day.  Something for Triathlon Australia to work on, whenever the holidays finish for staff…?

Vote on emmacarney.com or Instagram @emmaecarney.  

Voting is confidential - no leaks, no BS, no cheating, no bullying, no intimidation.  

Just voting.  

Let the voting begin.

To vote, head over to instagram @emmaecarney story or here.

Question 115 - 25 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome back to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

For those wishes you may have missed, members provide the overall list at the end of each post for TA to reference.

As it is Christmas Day, the 12th wish from Members is for the Triathlon Australia board directors to take their roles seriously and save the sport of Triathlon in Australia.

The standard every TA Board Director continues to oversee is the standard they each accept.

Until those in positions accept there are serious problems at Triathlon Australia the sport will continue to decline.

The greatest Christmas present those in leading positions at Triathlon Australia can give members is best practice of integrity and ethical governance at Triathlon Australia.

The cultural problems require a full independent review and every Board director should call for one.

The current problems cannot continue .

12 Days of Christmas member wish list -

Wish 1 - Published National Series for Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available.

Wish 2 - TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body.

Wish 3 - TA allows all members to vote at the TA AGM.

Wish 4 - TA Coach Education is developed properly (with the intention of developing coaching skill, not a TA fundraiser) and Home Coached athletes are no longer poached and forced into the failing TA HP Training Centres

Wish 5 - published results of the AIS led sham ‘refresh review’

Wish 6 - Triathlon Australia to obtain a full sport sponsor requiring a real national racing series to also be constructed.

Wish 7 - Transparency and integrity in the governance practices of TA.

Wish 8 - The TA CEO either does his role or is removed. Given the failings preferably the latter.

Wish 9 - The TA President undertake her responsibilities at Triathlon Australia for the sport of Triathlon.

Wish 10 - Athlete Categorisation undertaken sensibly.

WISH 11 - The National performance Director resign. Immediately. The HP Program is the worst program seen in Australian Triathlon history.

Question 114 - 24 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome back to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

For those wishes you may have missed, members provide the overall list at the end of each post for TA to reference.

With Christmas Day tomorrow, the eleventh wish from members is for the National Performance Director to resign.

Yesterday the athlete categorisation process was completed and published.  Athletes were sent emails regarding their categorisation or non-categorisation.  Members expected this to be a mess, and many deserving athletes were left off the categorisation list.  Basically the categorisation list sits as a reshuffle with the breakdown as - 

There were 54 categorised athletes and now there are 46. Of the 54 the movement has been:

Same category 27 

Removed 14

Lower category   9

Elevated category   4

At a time when athlete pathways and support are so poor at TA, what is the point of reducing support?  Why are so many athletes omitted who are currently preforming?    

With less than a handful of NSW athletes added to categorisation, so it doesn’t seem likely the performance centre will be filled by athletes without forcing them there anytime soon.  Thats money well wasted again TA.  

Amongst the lack of logic around the process, with the list published, what was completely amazing was the fact that the notification email sent to athletes was provided by the HP Administrator not the NPD, because he was already on leave.  That conduct by the HP demonstrates nothing but contempt for the athletes who were removed or demoted from categorisation.  Where is the counselling for the athlete, where is the explanation of what an athlete needs to work on to improve - just what sort of person fires or demotes anyone by getting an administrative assistant to of the dirty work and then just ‘go bush’.  How can any athlete perform well with that sort of culture inside TA HP.  An athlete is forced from a home base to the NP Centre then fired or demoted by an assistant - no words can describe what a low act that is.  

WOW.  Just WOW.  How can the National Performance Director not even finish the years work?  What if an athlete had a question?

What a mess Triathlon Australia.  What an appalling culture in your high performance team.  

Full categorisation list can be found here - https://www.triathlon.org.au/Elite/Athlete_Categorisation.htm

Those athletes who missed out, please DM me.  Do not leave the sport, you have just dodged the biggest bullet in Triathlon - involvement in the worst performing Triathlon HP Program in Australia history.  

What a mess Triathlon Australia. 

12 Days of Christmas member wish list - 

Wish 1 - Published National Series for Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available.

Wish 2 - TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body. 

Wish 3 - TA allows all members to vote at the TA AGM.

Wish 4 - TA Coach Education is developed properly (with the intention of developing coaching skill, not a TA fundraiser) and Home Coached athletes are no longer poached and forced into the failing TA HP Training Centres

Wish 5 - published results of the AIS led sham ‘refresh review’

Wish 6 - Triathlon Australia to obtain a full sport sponsor requiring a real national racing series to also be constructed. 

Wish 7 - Transparency and integrity in the governance practices of TA.

Wish 8 - The TA CEO either does his role or is removed.  Given the failings preferably the latter.

Wish 9 - The TA President undertake her responsibilities at Triathlon Australia for the sport of Triathlon.

Wish 10 - Athlete Categorisation undertaken sensibly.

Question 113 - 23 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome back to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

For those wishes you may have missed, members provide the overall list at the end of each post for TA to reference.

With 2 Days to go until Christmas, the tenth wish from members, is the simple task of Athlete Categorisation.

Triathlon Australia, how do you mess up such a simple process?  In the past month an 18 page document containing intellectual drivel was hurriedly put together, missing the key HP requirements athletes need to perform at a world leading level in Triathlon.  If you had a National race series you would easily identify the athletes than need categorisation, but because you don’t have a National race series and because all 19 Staff in the TA HP program (led by the National Performance Director) do not know what is required at the elite level of world triathlon racing, the simple task of identifying and supporting talent has become over complicated and confused to the point where no one at TA has any idea of the performance status of athletes. 

The 19 Strong staff TA HP team, have given up on categorising athletes and now athletes have to apply.  In order to be accepted, these athletes will most likely have to leave their home coaches, be interviewed one on one by the National Performance Director, sign a TA  Athlete Agreement that removes the athletes basic human rights to earn a living as an athlete and will have to do as they are told, and, if the allegations concerning the Port Douglas race last year are correct, even throw races if the National Performance Director wants a particular athlete to win. 

With this in mind, despite athletes and coaches submitting their applications by the due date, athletes who are showing extreme potential are still missing out on support from TA.  Members are trying to understand the process - does the TA HP team aim to screw over pathway athletes a little longer and hold off any support…then hope only the athletes in side the HP program should win races anyway, because they will get preferential selection… ?   Whatever the process, it is destroying pathways and has decimated out once great sport.

TA needs a full independent review.  The National performance Director needs to go, along with his useless entourage.  The embarrassment of Australia High Performance Sport - well done TA.  

12 Days of Christmas member wish list - 

Wish 1 - Published National Series for Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available.

Wish 2 - TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body. 

Wish 3 - TA allows all members to vote at the TA AGM.

Wish 4 - TA Coach Education is developed properly (with the intention of developing coaching skill, not a TA fundraiser) and Home Coached athletes are no longer poached and forced into the failing TA HP Training Centres

Wish 5 - published results of the AIS led sham ‘refresh review’

Wish 6 - Triathlon Australia to obtain a full sport sponsor requiring a real national racing series to also be constructed. 

Wish 7 - Transparency and integrity in the governance practices of TA.

Wish 8 - The TA CEO either does his role or is removed.  Given the failings preferably the latter.

Wish 9 - The TA President undertake her responsibilities at Triathlon Australia for the sport of Triathlon.

Question 112 - 22 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome back to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

For those wishes you may have missed, members provide the overall list at the end of each post for TA to reference.

With 3 Days to go until Christmas, the ninth wish from members is a simple wish - can the Triathlon Australia President undertake her responsibilities at Triathlon Australia for the sport of Triathlon.

Members have already raised the issue of concern regarding the conflict of interest of the TA President in her role at TA and her personal ambassadorships with a number of companies that relate to Triathlon products.

To quote a member -

‘…if we can assume that these brands aren't aligning with her because of her stellar results (I've beaten her in an IRONMAN and I'm average) then is it because of her profile? And, if her profile comes not from her results or achievements but because of her role as TA President, isn't that incredibly troubling? ..’

Where can members find the conflict of interest information submitted by Board Directors at Triathlon Australia?

If the President is an ambassador for a product does that mean TA will turn down the sponsorship proposal of an opposing Product? If not, why not - Athletes are required to do this in the TA Athlete agreement.

The TA President often claims to be the best female leader at TA, but members reminded her she is not. From 2011 -2015 there was a very strong woman as TA CEO - Anne Gripper. During Anne’s 5 years tenure as TA CEO, the TA membership increased from 9000 to over 21500. The sport had an integrity and ethics committee, and was not in decline. Since Anne Gripper has departed from TA as CEO, memberships have fallen by over 5% a year and now sit at around 14500.

With regard to the silence from TA, members ask the President when will there be a response to the over 110 open questions? Members welcome the TA President to make public statements, because the TA Board and TA Executives have been largely silent regarding all the issues of concern of the rapidly declining member base, but please do not attempt to convince members you are reaching out to correct and improve the problems, when the reality is quite the opposite.

Triathlon Australia is currently in the worst state it has even been in. It can be concluded, Male or Female you will go down as residing as President of TA during one of the worst periods of leadership at TA.

Quite an achievement.

When will the TA President undertake her role seriously and review the TA CEO? The TA CEO answers to the President. Why are the failings allowed to continue. Why is no one held accountable at Triathlon Australia for destroying the Sport of Triathlon in Australia?

The failings at TA will go down in history as one of the greatest declines of an NSO in Australian Sporting history. Is that the Christmas Message the president wants to continue to spread to members…?

What a mess Triathlon Australia.

12 Days of Christmas member wish list -

Wish 1 - Published National Series for Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available.

Wish 2 - TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body.

Wish 3 - TA allows all members to vote at the TA AGM.

Wish 4 - TA Coach Education is developed properly (with the intention of developing coaching skill, not a TA fundraiser) and Home Coached athletes are no longer poached and forced into the failing TA HP Training Centres

Wish 5 - published results of the AIS led sham ‘refresh review’

Wish 6 - Triathlon Australia to obtain a full sport sponsor requiring a real national racing series to also be constructed.

Wish 7 - Transparency and integrity in the governance practices of TA.

Wish 8 - The TA CEO undertakes the duties of his role as TA CEO and is also properly reviewed on them.

Question 111 - 21 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome back to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

For those wishes you may have missed, members provide the overall list at the end of each post for TA to reference.

With 4 Days to go until Christmas, the eighth wish from members, is for  the Triathlon Australia CEO, Miles Stewart to do his role as required.

Specifically this requires the TA CEO to  - 

1. Sports Program Planning and Implementation - both directly and through delegation the CEO is responsible for ensuring both human and other resources are in place for the effective carrying out of all TA sports programs including the successful undertaking of team planning, preparation, operations and participation outcomes. 

   Manage the human and physical resources of TA.

2. Apply a creative mindset to lead and achieve stepped change throughout the sport of triathlon - committed and able to mobilise Triathlon Australia and the community behind an exciting vision.

3. Build a robust and efficient organisation that is committed to developing its people and administrative capabilities - by ensuring that staff have the essential knowledge and skills to service members, member organisations, and support stakeholders.

4. Ensure the existence of viable events for triathletes - in collaboration with external event organisations and "live and breathe" these events.

5. Management - Assume the overall responsibility for the management of the day to day operations of Triathlon Australia, including all the human and financial resources, driving and developing the business consistent with the agreed strategic priorities.

6. Promotion and Marketing - Ensure the optimal development and promotion of all Triathlon Australia’s activities, services and programs while building the profile of triathlon through strong brand and communication programmes and robust marketing alliances.

7. Winning Culture - provide the foundation for Triathlon Australia’s players and teams to perform at the best of their ability. Ensure strategies and practices are in place to enable the optimum performance of Triathlon Australia athletes in domestic and international competitions.

8. Grow the sport - Implement strategies and practices to grow the participant base and provide pathways for players, coaches, officials and administrators of all ages and cultures throughout Australia.

9. Customer service - Build and maintain Triathlon Australia’s reputation as a first-class service organisation, driving and developing a service culture across the organisation as a whole.

At present TA employs a total of fourteen (14) staff, plus a large number of volunteers make up Sub Committees.

The professional staff resource at TA includes:

• Chief Executive Officer

• National Manager, Corporate Services

• National Manager, Membership and Participation

• National Manager, Events

• National Manager, Communication and Projects

• National Performance Director

• National Manager, High Performance Pathway

• National Manager, Age Group Teams

• National Manager, Paratriathlon

• National Manager, Coach Development

• National Manager, Technical

• Head Coach - National Performance Centre

• High Performance Operations Manager

• Administration Assistant

Members would like to know why the TA CEO HAS FAILED TO - 

1. Remove all the HP personnel that are his professional staff resource? 

2. No positive action on his ‘promotion and marketing’ responsibility? 

3. No positive Action on the ‘winning culture’ responsibility? 

4. No positive action on his ‘grow the sport’ responsibility? 

Why has he, instead, taken the sport backwards, and quite significantly?  

The CEO’s contract provides for annual reviews, so why haven’t these issues been acted on by the board?

If the board hasn’t sought to keep the CEO to his agreed functions, why haven’t they resigned?

Triathlon Australia your leaders are absolutely appalling and are destroying the sport of triathlon.  Triathlon in Australia needs saving from you all.  

What a mess TA.  A full independent review is the only solution.

12 Days of Christmas member wish list - 

Wish 1 - Published National Series for Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available.

Wish 2 - TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body. 

Wish 3 - TA allows all members to vote at the TA AGM.

Wish 4 - TA Coach Education is developed properly (with the intention of developing coaching skill, not a TA fundraiser) and Home Coached athletes are no longer poached and forced into the failing TA HP Training Centres

Wish 5 - published results of the AIS led sham ‘refresh review’

Wish 6 - Triathlon Australia to obtain a full sport sponsor requiring a real national racing series to also be constructed. 

Wish 7 - Transparency and integrity in the governance practices of TA.

Question 110 - 20 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome back to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

For those wishes you may have missed, members provide the overall list at the end of each post for TA to reference.

With 5 Days to go until Christmas, the seventh wish from members, is for Triathlon Australia to have some openness and transparency with regard to Triathlon Australia’s governance. With both the Victorian and National AGM’s recorded their simple wish is for these to be made public in a similar fashion to Triathlon Ireland here 

Clarity, honesty and transparency are visible throughout in Triathlon Ireland’s approach as well as the acceptance of the need to reflect on their handling of tough issues they’ve faced.

Whilst members can’t hope for this level of good governance to be displayed Triathlon Australia without a full independent review driving much needed change we can at least wish for transparency those members unable to attend (almost all members), by making the recordings public for members, to watch. With such a convoluted and contrived method of gaining entry to the AGM’s, it is the least that you could do.

Members suspect that the reason this has not been done is to cover the alleged misrepresentations at the Victorian AGM and the allegations of bullying suffered by an entire state (TWA) and raised at the National AGM. In truth, the bullying culture has affected more than just the state of WA, in fact the entire triathlon community, but then we wouldn’t want members to know what really goes on and TA standard operating procedure would we!

How is Triathlon Australia not able to do this?  

Why do the TA Board Directors, president and CEO believe that it is acceptable conduct to act in such a manner and treat members with contempt?  

No wonder more than 25% of members have walked away from TA.

Triathlon Ireland show a level of transparency and integrity with its governance that Triathlon Australia should aspire to one day achieve.

What a mess TA.  A full independent review is the only solution.

12 Days of Christmas member wish list - 

Wish 1 - Published National Series for Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available.

Wish 2 - TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body. 

Wish 3 - TA allows all members to vote at the TA AGM.

Wish 4 - TA Coach Education is developed properly (with the intention of developing coaching skill, not a TA fundraiser) and Home Coached athletes are no longer poached and forced into the failing TA HP Training Centres

Wish 5 - published results of the AIS led sham ‘refresh review’

Wish 6 - Triathlon Australia to obtain a full sport sponsor requiring a real national racing series to also be established. 

Question 109 - 19 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome back to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

For those wishes you may have missed, members provide the overall list at the end of each post for TA to reference.

With 6 Days to go until Christmas, the sixth wish from members, is for Triathlon Australia to find the sport some sponsorship.  This will only come through bringing the sport together, developing athlete heroes and promoting them properly through a National Race series.  Given TA released its 2022 Performance Calendar 2 days ago, and Age Group athletes were sent a newsletter asking if they are ready to win an Australian Championship in a different list of races - members can see sponsorship of the sport is a long way off while TA keep segregating the sport.

For this interested, the 2022 Performance Calendar here - 

https://www.triathlon.org.au/Events/Find_An_Event/2022_Performance_Calendar.htm

It is quite obvious not only a full sport sponsorship is screwed, but so are the athlete pathways…..and as Victorians say - TA’s future is in more shit than a Werribee Duck.

In an amazing coincidence, the future of our Sport - the Junior and Youth race series commences in Werribee.  The athletes then athletes have to travel to Devonport, over to NZ not once, but twice, and then to the Gold Coast.  How are the Parents to pay for all this travel - particularly when the TA National Performance Director doesn’t provide any financial assistance to the athletes.

The Para Athletes are given an even worse deal.  Two events.  What the actual f..k TA?  Members cannot even believe TA think that is ok.  Why are Para athletes further disadvantaged??  

At the Elite level, where we have our top athletes preparing for the Commonwealth games we have only 4 events - Devonport, two event in NZ and a Gold Coast Super Sprint event.  Remembering the Australian Sprint Championships were named as an automatic qualifier for the Commonwealth Games if an athlete won the event.  Amazingly this event is left off the calendar for the elites.  So no one can automatically qualify for the Commonwealth Games.  FFS. This means the Chair of Selectors (Miles Stewart CEO and the National Performance Director, Justin Drew) can just select ‘as they see fit’.  That is absurd TA, what an absolute mess.  Yet another disastrous selection period for the world to laugh at Australian Triathlon again. 

Triathlon Australia - what on earth are all your HP staff doing?

As a lazy afterthought, TA has offered a link to ‘further professional racing opportunities’ and athletes can enter whatever they like, TA really don’t give a toss.

Triathlon Australia, You have separated the elites, and development athletes from the age group athletes, so much their series are so far apart that there is next to zero commercial worth to any ‘full sport’ sponsor to  back our sport. With a series in each state and therefore events running Nationally - can’t TA see that if someone ( …anyone at TA who cares) can identify specific races in each state, a National series can be set up quite easily?  

Go out and get a major sponsor…..and suddenly we have a National series involving the whole sport.

How is Triathlon Australia not able to do this?

What a mess TA.  A full independent review is the only solution.

12 Days of Christmas member wish list - 

Wish 1 - Published National Series for Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available.

Wish 2 - TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body. 

Wish 3 - TA allows all members to vote at the TA AGM.

Wish 4 - TA Coach Education is developed properly (with the intention of developing coaching skill, not a TA fundraiser) and Home Coached athletes are no longer poached and forced into the failing TA HP Training Centres

Wish 5 - published results of the AIS led sham ‘refresh review’

Question 108 - 18 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome back to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

For those wishes you may have missed, members provide the overall list at the end of each post for TA to reference.

With 7 Days to go until Christmas, the fifth wish from members, is forTriathlon Australia to publish the results of the AIS led ‘Refresh Review’, which was due initially at the end of November. The review was announced as an 'exciting process' where 'The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Triathlon Australia are jointly undertaking a comprehensive review of triathlon’s Olympic and Paralympic high performance programs, with the aim of resetting for future success.'

From the outset, members could see this ‘review’ was going to be a shitshow. The steering panel is a list of those individuals who also need reviewing from TA, there were no published terms of reference and all members know it is more than the High Performance program that is failing at Triathlon Australia….

The TA President at the time stated - 'Importantly, these reviews will be undertaken by independent expert facilitators who have worked across a wide variety of sports, ensuring all participants have the confidence and support to provide robust feedback. ‘

In case you hadn’t realised, as TA and AIS , a review by the very people responsible for the mess is not independent and confirmation by them that everything is OK is a sham.

TA with the initial results due at the end of November, now due at the end of the year - is this going to be one of those review’s TA runs internally, proclaims success and carries on driving the sport into the ground? Members would like the results by Christmas - just a month overdue….thats pretty good for TA who are always late, always sloppy, can't organise a decent national race series, retain membership or get a major sponsor….(the list goes on forever)

TA here is some robust feedback - why is everything you do such a mess, such a disaster, such a failure?

It is quite obvious TA needs a full independent review - not the little white wash the AIS led review is helping you with.

12 Days of Christmas member wish list -

Wish 1 - Published National Series for Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available.

Wish 2 - TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body.

Wish 3 - TA allows all members to vote at the TA AGM.

Wish 4 - TA Coach Education is developed properly (with the intention of developing coaching skill, not a TA fundraiser) and Home Coached athletes are no longer poached and forced into the failing TA HP Training Centres

Question 107 - 17 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome back to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

For those wishes you may have missed, members provide the overall list at the end of each post for TA to reference.

With 8 Days to go until Christmas, the fourth wish from members is for TA to properly support Coaching.

There are two areas to this request for TA Coaches.  

The First is around the TA Coaching Framework - or addressing the lack of it.  Members would like a coaching framework that as a bare minimum is safe at every level, actually develops ‘triathlon’ coaches rather than simply provides an income stream for TA and is fit for purpose. Developing content specifically would be a big step for Triathlon Australia, rather than plagiarising others… 

The Second area Members would like TA Coaching supported is in the dirty area of the TA HP team poaching athletes.  Currently Triathlon Australia is hell bent on forcing athletes away from their home coaches and into centralised coaching ‘Performance Centres’.  The purpose of this is to, members assume, address TA’s strategic pillar of ‘Winning when it matters’…

The problem is the centralised coaching centres are a big part of the failed broken HP structures that need to be removed (along with the National Performance Director and his useless entourage).

Triathlon Australia - home coaches matter.  Home coaches identify, nurture, develop and keep the talented athletes in the sport of Triathlon.  When athletes are told to leave home coaches, they are told to go to TA Performance centres with TA recognised HP coaches (the athletes are not told TA limits HP Coaching Accreditation) and then TA persuades, pressures and bullies the athletes with claims they will provide the athlete with athlete categorisation, team selections, World Triathlon race starts and preferential financial treatment.  Appalling TA - your Triathlon Australia centralised coaching structures are too rigid, and are failing dismally.

Triathlon Australia, why is everything such a mess?

Triathlon Australia, in the interests of the sports future, please can you support and allow our great home grown triathlon Coaches to coach as they see fit so our athletes are able to develop in a culture where they can perform to the best of their ability?   

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review. 

12 Days of Christmas member wish list - 

Wish 1 - Published National Series for Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available.

Wish 2 - TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body. 

Wish 3 - TA allows all members to vote at the TA AGM.

Question 106 - 16 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome back to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

For those wishes you may have missed, members provide the overall list at the end of each post for TA to reference.

With 9 Days to go until Christmas, the third wish from members is for TA to allow all members to have the ability to vote at AGMs.

Members saw the contrived result on 22 November, and given they were left out of the process of voting, members have been waiting to see who one earth was voted onto the TA Board of Directors.  The TA AGM was 22 November,  yet still the TA website has not been updated.  Will the TA website ever be updated?  The 2020/2021 Annual Report referred to the TA website upgrade.  How about just keeping it up to date for members.  Surely someone at TA can do this - the TA CEO is after all one of the few CEO’s in a NSO who has his own dedicated PA

Triathlon Australia, why is everything such a mess?

Triathlon Australia, please can you allow members to have a vote at the AGM?

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review. 

12 Days of Christmas member wish list - 

Wish 1 - Published National Series for Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available.

Wish 2 - TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body. 

Question 105 - 15 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome back to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

For those wishes you may have missed, members provide the overall list at the end of each post for TA to reference.

With 10 Days to go until Christmas, the second wish from members is for TA to publish a Member Protection Policy (MPP) written to protect members as apposed to the governing body. 

Triathlon Australia your record on this is appalling and is directly reflected in the number of members leaving the sport each year.

Triathlon Australia, when will you look after members?

Triathlon Australia, please can you publish this MPP do this before Christmas?

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review. 

12 Days of Christmas member wish list - 

Wish 1 - Published National Series for Age Group, Pathways and particularly Elite as they have a Commonwealth Games in July with no selection races available

Question 104 - 14 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Merry Christmas from Members, and welcome to the Members 12 Day Christmas countdown wish list.

Members are able to submit their wishes and they will be published for Triathlon Australia to read and address their strategic goal of ‘having more people involved more often in more places’.

With 11 Days to go until Christmas, the first wish from members is to see a National Series. It would be fantastic if Triathlon Australia could publish just one sensible series - the Junior and Youth series only has 2 races on mainland Australia (with only one confirmed) and two in NZ. With no financial support from TA HP, parents and athletes are wondering how they will get to the races. The Age Group athletes, when they do finally qualify would like TA to avoid slugging them with over the top Team travel expenses.

The ultimate race series urgently required is the elite race series. There is a Commonwealth Games in July, we have a poorly written published Selection Document naming selection events, but no dates, no locations, no nothing.

Triathlon Australia how can Athletes and Coaches possibly prepare?

Triathlon Australia, please can you publish the elite racing calendar before Christmas?

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 103 - 13 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members wonder why they became members of Triathlon Australia and as we all know, membership has reduced by more than 25% over the past 5 years.

There is no real national race series, no pathway athlete support (Para athletes are further disadvantaged over Able athletes for some reason), Age Group athletes are slugged with over the top team travel expenses.

There is no real coaching development or support (apart from a few stupid questionnaires sent to selected coaches). Is it true Triathlon Australia is so low on coach accreditation number they are forcing Pathway to do the Foundation Coaching course to inflate the coaching figures while on training camps???

Seriously Triathlon Australia. Why are the athletes targeted again??

Athletes at this level have almost no ability to compete overseas, because the National performance Director limits up and coming athletes starts. What on earth is the logic used in limiting athlete racing experience?? How absurd TA!

Triathlon Australia why are you failing at everything?

There is talk of the creation of a new Triathlon federation for Australia on the horizon, such is the discontent at the grass roots level.

Triathlon Australia - What a mess. What a disgrace. What a joke.

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

Question 102 - 12 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members were wondering if you could have someone from your staff of 19 employed in the TA High Performance Program to publish the domestic racing calendar for elite triathletes for the summer.

Is there a calendar or does Triathlon Australia want to throw on some races last minute and have certain athletes finish in certain finish places, then use discretion as the National performance Director ‘sees fit’ and the Commonwealth Games Team will be discretely, absurdly selected?

Triathlon Australia, to quote a current athlete ‘I cannot believe they deny they did that’

How can athletes perform if there are no races?

How can athletes and coaches prepare if there are not races?

A selection policy and no races - Triathlon Australia, what a mess

Question 101 - 11 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are wondering, where TA will be over the weekend while most U23 Athletes will be in Canberra racing the Australian Grand Prix Triathlon series.

This series is provides our youth, junior, U23Elite athletes the chance to race a variety of exciting formats, race for points and very importantly race for money. The athletes will race over multiple different race formats and the final will be the Championship event, the Consolidator.

This series is put on by Corey Bacon - someone who cared about developing our sport and its athletes. (see all events here)

Not one staff at TA provided support for this series - why?

Triathlon Australia - when will your program embrace development pathways, and support race organisers developing youth, Junior and U23 athletes?

While the TA HP Pathways program fails this group and fails the future of Australian triathlon how can he remain in his position?

When will Triathlon Australia stop ignoring the future?

Triathlon Australia is is so obvious your National Performance Director and his useless entourage need to go so development athletes are able to develop and progress without his negative, restrictive program.

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

Question 100 - 10 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Why do you bother to even publish your Member Protection Policy when there are so many members protection claims dismissed and ignored?

On 30 September I called on the Triathlon Australia Member Protection Policy (MPP) regarding a meme that had been created about me with only information that Triathlon Australia could have provided the individual. As a victorian, my MPP claim goes to Triathlon Victoria.

Unfortunately Triathlon Victorian appear to have the same rot, given the number of members in Victoria have had their MPP claims dismissed in a similar fashion.

You can decide for yourself below.

Triathlon Victoria Email to me

Hi Emma,

I refer to your letters of:

• 9 November 2021 regarding changes to the TA constitution; and

• 15 November 2021 regarding the TV Member Protection Policy.

TA constitution

As you noted, I was not President of TV in September 2021. However, I understand that there was a meeting held on 14 September. I also understand that changes to the constitution were appropriately passed.

Our view on the changes is that they were minor and helped clarify TA director roles and the nominations process, in line with current practices. The constitution can be viewed on the TA website. For future changes, we take on board the feedback that a notification to all individual TA members may be appropriate.

Member Protection Policy

You asked what investigation procedure we conducted. As per our letter of 5 October, we requested a check of all TA membership phone numbers to try to identify the sender. We considered this appropriate to this case. Upon coming up with no matches, and receiving nothing further on the sender’s identity from you, we closed the review. The detail in 4.1 of the member protection policy is designed for situations where parties can be identified. We do not condone derogatory references to mental illness, but we can not take steps without being able to identify a respondent.

As a very small organisation with volunteer directors, I recognise that our turnaround on written correspondence may be slow.

I remain open to a call or meeting any time.

Deborah Friedlander
President

Triathlon Victoria

president@vic.triathlon.org.au

My Reply

Dear Deborah,

You email below is pathetic at best, hopeless in general.  An excellent example of the apathy that resides in Triathlon Victoria (TV) and has seen 5 staff leave in recent times.

Your email reply ignores my original MPP 30 September and response from 5 October from TV Director Grant Cosgriff.  Why suddenly are you replying - would Grant prefer you do his dirty work?

You note today your role commenced in September, so let me get this right so far - 

• September you claim a meeting took place that didn’t (members have email confirmation)

• October you do not reply to my MPP Claim, but now suddenly you do - why?

• November you mislead the entire TA AGM on 22 November in claiming the motion by TWA for a full independent review of TA is not required because there are currently 2 reviews of TA in place - one with the AIS and one with Sport Integrity. While you are correct in stating the AIS is undertaking a high performance review, your public claim that Sport Integrity is undertaking a review of Triathlon Australia is totally incorrect. How on earth can you stand up in an AGM and simply mislead the entire sport in that way? Did someone put you up to it? Did you make a mistake? Or was it pure incompetence on your behalf?

• December you send this pathetic email which shows an absolute disregard for the MPP and fails to follow the policy.

Deborah, I expect your intentions are good.  I expect you have taken on the President position at TV to ‘get some board experience’ as so many use sport for.  If you want a future in sport, may I suggest you actually do the right thing by members and the sport and not bow to an agenda of TV, and instead show some real leadership.

The sport appreciates the time of volunteers, but it is also important to note that no one should use the fact they are a volunteer as an excuse to further contribute to the decline of a once great sport, the destruction of athletes careers, the abuse of member protection and oversee appalling governance practices.

I will take the matter to the next available level.  You are wasting everyone’s time.

Regards,

Emma

What a joke. Triathlon Australia, you need a full independent review. It is quite obvious.

Question 99 - 9 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members were reading through the Athlete Categorisation Framework….there is a reference to ‘Grit’.

How will triathlon Australia measure this required ‘Grit”?

Appendix 1 has a single time for a swim and run, with no progression. Is an athlete to show a single level of grit?

A pathway athlete cannot possibly present with the same long term passion and persistence that is required over time for the pursuit of a long term goal that an older athlete should present with.

Is TA just so unsure of what is required, that it has simply thrown a bunch of ideas together (much like its strategic plan) with no measurable objectives for athletes and coaches to aim for.

Triathlon Australia will the National Performance Director (NPD) just apply his well used rule measure grit ‘as he sees fit’, with no accountability or need to justify his decision with anyone - including the athlete? The National Performance Director should should detail the measures of grit (if he understands the concept).

Grit is also strongly linked with positive psychology, but as TA in general and the NPD in particular is all about suppressing an athlete, bullying, overriding athlete decisions and the like the development of grit in an individual who is part of the TA NPD all but guarantees suppression of grit.

Triathlon Australia, your NPD needs to go, along with his useless entourage. To quote a current athlete 'the current TA HP program is shit and the world is laughing at us all’

What a mess Triathlon Australia.

Question 98 - 8 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

It appears your website is riddled with errors. At the TA AGM, the TA CEO stuck to his script and told those present -

‘It has without doubt been another testing year for the sport, but I feel confident that with the team we have in place, we are well positioned to emerge from the challenges of the pandemic and grow the sport of Triathlon in Australia to new heights.’

Members were then provided with a wish list, with no measurable KPI’s (as TA specialises in) the last being -

‘Brand & Marketing Strategy - investment in digital capability (website)’

Yes TA you need a website. You have needed this for years and years. Prior to commencing this long overdue project, can TA please correct the mistakes and ensure athletes are properly recognised.

Earlier this month, Lauren Parker was left off the 70.3 WC list.

Yesterday members pointed out you have omitted Emma Snowsill from the SAHOF entries.

Today members advise TA has left off Felicity Sheedy-Ryan, the Bronze Medal winner in the Elite Women’s Duathlon in 2010.

Triathlon Australia - how do you screw so many simple things up? How do you all have so much confidence in your ability to ‘grow the sport of triathlon in Australia to new heights’ when you cannot event keep a results schedule up to date and correct?

Triathlon Australia - it was a worldwide pandemic….the only pandemic localised to Triathlon in Australia is the pandemic of rot that resides in TA.

Stop blaming Covid, TA has been in decline for years.

It is quite obvious TA needs a full independent review.

Question 97 - 7 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members cannot believe you have done it again….

The TA annual report 2020-2021, there is an honour roll.

Under the Heading Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) - the highest accolade in Australian Sport, you have omitted Emma Snowsill.. Arguably our greatest triathlete ever.

To Quote SAHOF - 

‘Emma Snowsill OAM was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame on October 10 2019 as an Athlete Member for the sport of triathlon. Upon her retirement in 2014 she held the honour of being the highest award-winning woman in the sport’s history, having won Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medals, three world championships, as well as 12 International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Cups and 23 podium finishes.’

Triathlon Australia, why is there such little regard for athletes  - current and past.  How hard is it for Triathlon Australia to keep a record of its history accurately?

It is quite obvious Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

Question 96 - 6 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Could Triathlon Australia advise when they will fully adopt the Sport Integrity Framework?

On page 11 of the CEO ‘Message’ in the 2020/2021 TA Annual Report there was a small reference to the fact that the - 

‘important work continues with Sport Integrity Australia on the adoption of the National Integrity Framework that has been established to protect the safety and wellbeing of our athletes and members’

Page 14 of the Annual Report then states the TA Board (help us all if the Board is involved)

‘Five out of the six policies that make up the national integrity framework, with the final policy and (full framework) expected to be finalised in 2021/2022’

Members ask TA - Are other NSO’s struggling to accept the same sixth policy that TA finds a challenge to accept? 

If TA believes believes it is in the best interest of members, athletes and the sport of triathlon to hold off on aligning with this 6th policy, TA should  make it public to members, if not the absolute details, then certainly the substance of the issue that is in dispute between Sport integrity Australia and TA.  If the members agree with TA, then TA will be authorised to continue to argue with SIA for an alteration or deletion of the policy.  If the members disagree with TA, then quite simply TA should withdraw it position and accept the Sport Integrity Australia policy.  This of course, would require TA to be transparent.

Could TA please advise members what is the delay in TA adopting the full framework?  Is TA dragging its feet to reduce the remit of Sport Integrity on investigating the problems at TA?  Why doesn’t TA provide details to members and the triathlon community as to which policy TA refuses to adopt?

Triathlon Australia, it is quite obvious a full independent review is required.  

Question 95 - 5 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members believe Triathlon Australia coaches would be better off reaccrediting through Cycling Australia, Swimming Australia and Athletics Australia, given the appalling TA Coach accreditation and education.

Given that Triathlon Australia simply suspend a member for not agreeing with them as they did in the case of me (Emma Carney), why would anyone become a Triathlon Australia accredited coach?

Some messages from Triathlon Australia accredited coaches -

‘I Just paid $100 for my Athletics Australia membership which includes insurance and I can pick up the phone and talk to a coaching manager immediately during business hours.

I pay a crazy amount for TA and no support with TA coaching support staff working from home and no direct way of contact other than admin staff ‘can email him to contact you’ he doesnt reply, because we all know TA use a call waiting system that goes around the country before anyone picks up. Good luck having him return your call…I have had no returned calls months later.

Athletics Australia have courses listed all over for 2022 and doing a great job with support of existing coaches.

TA are doing an awful job.’

Another comment from a coach -

‘As a Triathlon Australia coach we are required to coach ‘Triathlon Australia members’ to ensure that we are covered by insurance both for us and the athlete. However there is no portal set up or support for us to check for our athletes are in fact members other than taking their word for it and an athlete waiver. Membership cards are no longer issued. Why? What is the alternative?

This is an easy way for TA to gain more members through assisting coaches with this compliance.

Instead they make it harder and harder for us coaches.

Given Triathlon Australia have no care for members, coaching or member protection, I have absolutely no faith in the fact that IF something went wrong and I went down a legal path with a athlete that TA would be at all helpful in resolving the issues or their insurance actually covers anything. TA cannot even provide menial support let alone support through a legal process.

Have you seen what the rehab payment is for the insurance? It’s $380 a week is the most I believe if you can not work. Or something ridiculously low. Who can live on that after a major cycling accident?’

Triathlon Australia your coaching program is a disaster, along with everything else TA manages. Coaches accredited by TA would be better off walking away - it is extremely doubtful their accreditation is entirely valid.

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia need a full independent review.

Question 94 - 4 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have tried to remain constructive, but your 18 page Athlete categorisation document is a mess of contradictions that over complicates a very simple process of supporting athletes and providing opportunities for them.

What exactly are your 19 HP Staff doing at TA?

Page 5, TA adds a typical cloudy clause -

‘If an athlete’s eligibility for the program changes TA may end their categorisation at its sole discretion either as soon as practical after the athlete’s status has changed, or at the end of the TA Athlete Agreement (31st December each year). ‘

Translation - TA can throw you out anytime TA believes is 'practical'....

Then 7 pages later completely contradicts itself onpage 12 for example -

‘Athletes can only be added to, moved between levels, or deselected from the categorised athlete list at the defined annual review time, typically after conclusion of the international season and post- benchmark event review (generally Oct/Nov).’

Translation - TA can throw you out at a certain time. Probably, generally....(FFS)

This is in complete contradiction to Page 5 information

TA what the hell are athletes supposed to believe? Do you think TA - or someone in the staff of 19 HP ‘Experts’ could possibly put together a document that is clear, simple and welcoming for athletes.

TA it is quite obvious you need a full independent review.

Question 93 - 3 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Athlete categorisation framework is 18 pages of contradictions that over complicates a very simple process of supporting athletes and providing opportunities for them.

What exactly are your 19 HP Staff doing at TA?

On page 6 a footnote provides that an athlete may be involved if they

‘2 ‘Add value to the National Olympic Program’ could include but is not limited to possessing single discipline or other capabilities that enhance the DTE or contribute to National Team performance outcomes including the qualification of quota places for BMEs.

Transtlation - anyone can show up, as long as they are quicker at something.

This directly contradicts the Page 14 Appendix 1 - the Performance Standard requirement where

‘For prospective categorised athletes, the individual discipline performance standards are the set minimum standards required for athletes to apply to be Categorised. These can be demonstrated in either a sanctioned Swimming or Athletics meet, or a sanctioned triathlon. The standards are as follows: ‘

Transtlation - only those are allowed that can post an underage club swim or run time. No bike required. No progression required.

Members have already addressed the stupidity of the time standards for the swim and run, ignoring the bike and having no progression. How TA can ignore the bike and not investivate why in Tokyo 2/3 of the womens team were lapped out. Why are we ignoring the bike and therefore 48-50% of the race …..WTF TA.

Really TA - this failed before. A bad ideas is a bad idea forever.

With regard to times, does TA think that Swimming Australia is going to welcome triathletes to come along and have a bash in their sanctioned events?

If TA is adopting performance standards, Why are current categorised athletes not required to submit performance standards also ? TA announced in its Open letter 6 October

'we acknowledge some recent international results have not met expectations’

Please explain how categorisation can be accurate and representative if all categorised athletes are not subject to the same standards of assessment? The effect of the TA categorisation policy is that young and developing athletes will always be discriminated against by a set of rules and standards fail fail every test of reasonableness and common sense. Why are developing athletes always discriminated against? Why are athletes so unevenly supported by TA and why are some allowed to progress and others not in the sport of Triathlon

Triathlon Australia, your National Performance Director needs to resign, his program is a mess and his 19 staff dont appear to improving things at all.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 92 - 2 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have so many questions regarding the Athlete Categorisation framework, but today just a simple question.

Under section 2 - Eligibility, an athlete must under Item (e)

‘complete and sign the TA Athlete Agreement upon offer of categorisation;’

Can Triathlon Australia advise where athletes can find this document? If athletes are required to sign it, where can the athletes read it prior to applying? Does TA just expect athletes to sign a document without time to read or without obtaining legal advice? If the athlete’s legal advice is the athlete should not sign the document because it removes the athletes human rights, the restrictions on personal athlete sponsorship are too controlling and identifies other unreasonable clauses, what is the position of TA? Will TA withdraw the offer of categorisation or change the agreement so that it is fair and reasonable for the athlete? Will TA simply use standover tactics? Will TA bully athletes into signing the agreement?

Triathlon Australia - do athletes really have a choice in signing the document if they want to be categorised? Why is it so hidden? Is it because the document removed athletes basic human rights, encroaches on their ability to earn sponsorship income and controls their career?

Why is it that TA treats athletes with contempt? Doesn’t TA realise that without athletes there is no TA? Members are not renewing memberships, there are very few juniors joining the sport, the older athletes cannot perform to their potential under the TA bullying and TA are destroying the sport.

Triathlon Australia, your processes are appalling and the disparity of power of TA over athletes is appalling.

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 91 - 1 December via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

AUSCycling had their AGM Monday night.

Triathlon Australia Members would like Triathlon Australia to understand the difference in approach AUSCycling had compared to what Triathlon Australia dished out last week.

AUSCycling non voting members were provided the link the week prior to observe the AGM. TA members were provided this on the day, only a few hours prior to the AGM.

Everyone was told the format of the AGM by AUSCycling.

There were registered Club Voting delegates with personalised links to join the AGM.

There was an AUSCycling rep to contact if anyone had any technical issues.

Questions could be submitted from the floor via the chat from voting members, unlike the TA AGM where apparently ‘all questions had been answered’ prior to the AGM. No one knows when questions were addressed or what was answered.

AUSCycling CEO and President did not stick to a script, whisper behind paper (picture below) or make smart comments like ‘this will be interesting’ as the TA President did during the TA AGM Voting process.

There were even times AUS Cycling admitted to their mistakes and problems.

Triathlon Australia, members would also like to know when the unexpurgated TA AGM Minutes will be released and where members can listen to the recording of the AGM - members saw it was recorded, but members were not notified, so can TA please release the recording. Can TA also release an unexpurgated copy of the pre AGM meeting where decisions were voted, or if there was no video recording, issue the minutes of the pre AGM meeting for members to read.

Triathlon Australia, the way the AGM was conducted is appalling. What does TA have to hide?

On 6 October, in its open letter, under the heading - ‘Triathlon Australia is committed to ensuring best practice governance’

Triathlon Australia stated

‘Triathlon Australia is fully compliant with the Corporations Act and relevant accounting standards. TA’s governance structures are consistent with many national sporting organisations and its governance practices are reviewed by Sport Australia on an annual basis and have been recognised as exceeding the national standard among national sporting organisations.’

Triathlon Australia - you are kidding yourself. Members don't fall for this anymore. A full independent review is needed ASAP.

Question 90 - 30 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

What good is an athlete categorisation framework without an elite calendar of events?

The Commonwealth Games are in July.  What is the calendar of events the Athletes are required to qualify through.  How can athletes and coaches prepare for the selection races if TA will not publish them?  How will the new Athlete Categorisation framework fit in with Commonwealth Games selection?  Will those athletes in relationships with TA Coaches have preference for athlete categorisation, selection for WT race starts and selection for major events over an athlete that rejected advances from a TA Coach?  Will those athletes who leave their home base and go to a TA HP Centre Coach have preference over those athletes who remain with home coaches and their preferred daily training environment (DTE)?

Is it the intention of TA to select athletes to represent Australia at major events based upon the dubious categorisation framework or is it intended that athletes gain selection to races and to major events based upon specific selection races and World Triathlon rankings? 

Triathlon Australia, will you continue to manipulate selection despite an 18 page athlete categorisation document of nonsense?  When will Triathlon Australia remove the ability of the National Performance Director to make decisions ‘as he chooses’ and ignore athlete performances?

Can TA explain why it is a precondition for an athlete gaining categorisation that the athlete apply for categorisation and then has to satisfy the TA National Performance Director in a one-on-one interview (on the Gold Coast) that the athlete is worthy of being categorised.  Can TA explain why the 19 HP staff do not know which athletes, based upon performances (race results) is not the best guide to the ability of an athlete.  Do the 19 TA HP staff not understand that the athlete winning a race is the fastest in the race and DNF results or results consistently outside the top 20 is a clear indication of the ability of an athlete.  

Why do TA try to mess with athletes’ minds by making them apply for categorisation, together with all the other nonsense barriers that TA put in place. 

Triathlon Australia, the National Performance Director and his useless entourage all need to go.  

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

Question 89 - 29 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

TA has renewed its categorisation framework and members are surprised at what they are reading.

The document can be found here

Apparently the AIS has approved this framework. Member don’t think so TA, the AIS guidelines can be loosely aligned, but the content of the TA categorisation document should be removed immediately.

What members find most irritating is the document provides 18 pages of details around the performance requirements of athletes, yet all staff leading the TA HP program remain, despite obviously failing the athletes, Australian Triathlon and Australian Sport. Why are athletes held accountable and staff at TA are not?

In no particular order of importance, An example of a problem lies with appendix A.

This appendix has has been returned to the categorisation process, despite being a major failing of the TA HP program in the past. Members remind the TA National Performance Director (NPD) that stupidity is defined by continuing to make the same mistakes and expecting a different outcome.

Appendix A provides minimum target times required for athletes to achieve in order to be eligible to be considered. These cover the swim and run disciplines only and one time required. No progression, just one time. Absurd.

Members ask the obvious - why is the bike ignored? Why are there no standards for the bike discipline? Does TA NPD not understand the bike discipline makes up 48-50% of a Triathlon (both sprint and classic distance). Does TA not remember that 2/3 of the AUS Women’s Olympic Team in Tokyo were not able to complete the bike section of the race because they were lapped out? Does TA not even have the HP culture that constructively investigates problems and underperformance and addresses them? Is TA going to continue to ignore a section of the race - the largest section of the race - and just hope for a better outcome?

Furthermore, to have a single categorisation for Triathlon when there are 3 major triathlon disciplines at major events - Mixed Relay, Sprint and Classic Distance is just absurd. Members ask TA to imagine Swimming Australia, AUS Cycling or Athletics Australia having a single time qualification for sprint (Mixed Relay), Middle distance (Sprint distance tri) and Long distance (Classic distance tri) events in their categorisation process. The Swimming, Athletics and Cycling communities would be up in arms. How is it that the TA HP team think this is at all appropriate? The only people that think that is possible are people who do not understand the specific requirements of the sport of triathlon - exactly the qualifying standard it seems for a job in the TA HP program.

TA your NPD needs to resign, along with his useless entourage. Australian Triathletes deserve better.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review. Athletes first. Always.

Question 88 - 28 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Support those Supporting Triathlon.

Victorian Triathlon Performance Academy (VTPA).

More good people in Triathlon doing good things. A new performance based program for athletes working their way thru State to National representation, catering for Youth, Junior & U23’s. Privately run by dedicated Performance coaches and corporately, funded the Academy is helping athletes on their high performance journey.

Mission statement: Leave at the end not only a better athlete but a better person.

VTPA website information and website here.

Triathlon Australia - why dont you do something constructive and support home based triathlon programs rather than rip them apart?

The destruction of home based coach and athlete programs is another reason why Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Question 87 - 27 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have had a read of the 2020-2021 Annual Report and found the statements of the TA President and CEO do not accurately reflect the truth around the One Operating Model proposed by TA….

On page 6, the President wrote of

‘..the strategy has united the overwhelming majority of our members with a particular focus on unity, collaboration and inclusivity to ensure triathlon and multipart thrive nationally..’

And then page 7

‘It was with enormous optimism for what a new model could deliver to our sport that five STTA’s (Victoria, Tasmania, Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland) agreed to proceed towards a one operating model..’

The CEO wrote about the work done on P10

‘..in collaboration with all States and territories..’

Members have added the member numbers for each state that voted for the future operating model and came to a total of 8024 members.  Of the total membership numbers (15,874) this is 50.55% of TA members. 

Therefore, of those Members numbers in the 3 states who have voted a resounding NO, (7850) make up 49.45% of total member numbers.

Triathlon Australia - This is hardly an overwhelming mandate for the huge change and shift in power to the failing existing leadership. Given the majority of members were not provided the opportunity to vote, the data has not been validated and the fact that members heard at the TA AGM on 22 November that Triathlon Western Australia (TWA) have been threatened to lose funding for showing a difference of opinion to Triathlon Australia it is quite obvious the One Management Operating model hardly provides ‘collaboration with all States and territories’ as the CEO States or ‘enormous optimism for what a new model could deliver’ as the President claims. 

The glaringly obvious question is that given that TWA has stated when they show a difference of opinion with TA the reaction from TA includes threats to withdraw funding, bullying, intimidation, correspondence flows removed and blocked emails.  Members ask how many other STTA’s caved in under similar threats and voted as directed by TA.  

This raises a very serious question of the integrity of governance at TA and leads to all sorts of questions regarding what conduct and discussions between TA and STTA’s were made leading to this outcome. All will be revealed in due course with an independent review.

Triathlon Australia it is quite obvious a full independent review is required.  Member have little faith in anything TA is doing.

Members Request - 26 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Question 86 - 26 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are still concerned with the coaching space at TA.

Why is TA continually reducing the detail in the coaching space in the annual reports, is it because the figures are indefensible so TA no longer try?

To illustrate the lack of information now, members provide the information provided in the last 3 TA Annual Reports – 

Question 85 - 25 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have noticed TA is publishing less and less detail in Annual reports, so members assume TA prefer pictures over writing….?

Will the 2020-2021 Annual report be published soon?

To make things easier, members put an infographic together of the current position of TA. its not a pretty picture....

Membership down, coaching down, governance appalling.

What a mess TA.

It is quite obvious TA needs a full independent review.

Question 84 Part 2 - 24 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Triathlon Australia, following this mornings post (Q 84 below) Members have noticed TA have now added asterisk and marked those results from a Grand Final as ‘benchmark events’ on the TA website.

This is still not a world championship and therefore those results should not be in a world championship table.

The historical results should be just that - no one cares for selection policy rules and ‘benchmark’ events the National Performance Director and Chair of Selection (CEO) makes up.

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 84 - 24 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are surprised even your historical recording of the sport is incorrect.

On the website link to ‘Elite medal History’  here members scroll to the table ‘AUSTRALIANS AT  WT/ITU TRIATHLON (OLYMPIC DISTANCE) WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS’

There are a number of entries either missing or incorrect.  

Can Triathlon Australia please correct the following - 

• 2016 - No Able Women won a bronze world championship medal in Triathlon for Australia.

• 2018 - No Able Women won a gold world championship medal in Triathlon for Australia.

What Triathlon Australia have listed in these two instances are Grand Final placings.  The Grand Final is not the World Championships.  Surely Triathlon Australia know this?

Triathlon Australia - members are surprised you do not know the difference between a Grand Final result and a World Championship Result.

• In 2018 an entry is missing.  Jacob Birtwhistle won the Bronze medal in the World Triathlon World Championships.  Triathlon Australia do not have him on the table.  Why has Triathlon Australia omitted this?

• Also, in the table with the heading AUSTRALIANS AT IRONMAN AND 70.3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS please add Lauren Parker year 2021.  Why Does Triathlon Australia keep ignoring Lauren Parker??

Triathlon Australia this is a reflection of the sloppiness of the national Performance Director and his program that is in decline.  Members ask - were the results added to some tables to manipulate and claim funding through the AIS and Sport Australia?  Did the TA National Performance Director pretend results are better than they were?  Is this how TA received the bonus ‘medal incentive’ funding predicting a gold medal in Tokyo for the women?  

With the comment on 22 November AGM from TA  - 

‘Triathlon Australia is at its best financial position ever.  Thanks to government cash boosts and job keeper, Triathlon Australia didn’t record a $202k loss’

Did Triathlon Australia attain the AIS & Sport Australia government funding in good faith or were things ‘a little cloudy’ there too?

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.  

Question 83 - 23 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members found the TA AGM concerning. It was a whitewash and a lesson in denial from the TA President and CEO

All questions had been addressed prior to the AGM.

Triathlon Western Australia (TWA) tabled a motion for a full independent review of the culture, governance and High Performance program at TA. Because this was tabled by TWA, the AGM heard TWA have been bullied, threatened with decreased funding and TA sought legal advice to prevent the motion. TA lobbied all STTA”s to oppose the motion, blocked TWA from correspondence and limited information and emails to TWA as a consequence. To what end TA? You may be able to witewhash your AGM, but you cannot continue to do this. Members are not happy, the place in in financial ruin without Gov handouts and your High Performance program is a disaster. Very soon you will have no sport. Members even watched whispering behind paper (see image below).

TWA rightly pointed out that this behaviour of TA is not indicative of a healthy culture.

Triathlon Australia - it is quite clear a full independent review is required. Your presidents address tonight was a whitewash of all the problems, with sweeping statements glossing over the fact there were no details or KPI’s mentioned. Everything was accountable to nothing. The CEO stumbled through the Annual Report which apparently will now be released for members to read. Members understand this wasn’t released prior to the AGM because it is full of contrived statements attempting to conceal the fact that Triathlon in Australia is in its worst position ever and needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

Logic of the evening has to go to the following

‘Triathlon Australia is at its best financial position ever. Thanks to government cash boosts and job keeper, Triathlon Australia didn’t record a $202k loss’ - TA AGM

Triathlon Australia - a massive real operating loss, less members, lack of athlete support, no development pathways, bullying and intimidation of STTA’s - are you satisfied that Triathlon will not collapse because of your current apathy and denial?

Without taxpayer funded Government grants TA would not be a viable ongoing concern.

Triathlon Australia - what a mess.

Question 82 - 22 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members would like the Athlete Agreements reviewed, because they are appalling.

At the present time athletes are required sign the TA Athlete Agreement, if they wish to represent Australia in International Sport Competition. The new direct athlete funding ‘dAIS’ requires athletes to sign NSO Athlete Agreements, but does the AIS know at the agreeements are so appalling athletes careers are being manipulated by them? It is doubtful the AIS would.

Why does the Triathlon Australia athlete agreement require athletes to submit personal sponsorship contracts to the National Performance Director prior to them signing agreements? Why does the National Performance Director require athletes to show him any contract above $30k, when Triathlon Australia itself can only raise $30k in sponsorship for a whole year? Does the NPD realise he forcing athletes to breach sponsorship contracts of any value by forcing an athlete to breach the non disclosure clause that is usually part of an athlete / sponsor contract and in doing so put the athlete’s sponsorship and reputation at risk.

Why does the National Performance director believe he can veto an athletes sponsors without reason and without compensation for loss of income to the athlete? Why does the National Performance Director believe he can distribute athlete funding as he sees fit and not be accountable for the level of support he gives to athletes? Where is the transparency in that process?

Why does the NPD believe he can override an athlete sponsorship agreement and force an athlete to use non sponsor equipment.

An Athlete’s ultimate life goal is to represent Australia in International Sport Competition and the real or implied threat of non-selection for not signing an unfair athlete agreement is an abuse of power over an athlete by TA. It is unfair, it is unreasonable and it should not happen.

Triathlon Australia your athlete agreements need reviewing along with everything else at Triathlon Australia. The TA National Performance Director overseeing the terrible decline of the High performance program at Triathlon Australia must go.

Athletes First. Always.

Question 81 - 21 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are wondering where the Annual Report is. Tomorrow is the TA AGM….

No one has received a link to the AGM either. Has TA forgotten to distribute this to members?

Members are also wondering when will Triathlon Australia membership numbers be published?

Membership numbers are rumoured to have fallen by more than 20% in 2020-2021. Is this true?

It seems TA have over paid for a new membership system that is losing members at a greater rate than any other time in the history of Triathlon in Australia. Now Triathlon Australia has an ‘opt in’ membership system, and members consciously decide to rejoin each year, it is expected this will only highlight just how bad the declining membership problem at Triathlon Australia really is.....

BTW the TA website desperately needs to get up to speed with the new membership system. Apparently the new website has been put in front of the TA Board of Directors for years and no one has made any decisions on it...typical TA apathy…

In the Annual report last year, the CEO Message contained the bold promise around ‘critical projects’ and stated -

‘This will include the roll out of our new database system, this will be in conjunction with a new participation and membership strategy to better facilitate the needs of our members and provide a blueprint of our growth’.

Members ask - what has this growth been? Given the murmurings, it has been an even steeper decline. How could the CEO have misread the views of members so badly?

Members noted the in the penultimate paragraph of the TA President Report in the 2019-2020 (the last annual report TA published) -

‘…It is our responsibility to deliver the best possible structures, programs and support, for our members now and generations to come’.

Members were wondering with such statements, how quite so much is so wrong at Triathlon Australia.

What exactly are the Board of Directors doing when TA is such a mess and when members keep walking away?

Do the Board members just think the problems will go away?

Do they challenge TA Executives decisions and outcomes?

Does anyone care?

How are Board Directors renominating to the TA Board Positions – when they are part of the current problems?

How is any Board Director still there?

Triathlon Australia - it is obvious you need a full independent review.

Question 80 - 20 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are still appalled at the coaching space.  Is Triathlon Australia aware of the alarming decline of the coaching network in Triathlon in Australia? 

To illustrate the mess, members ask TA to turn to their own reported figures. 

The last TA annual report has the total accredited coaches – 

This shows a 22% decline in accredited coaches in a single year. This was partially a result of a coach reaccreditation process being brought in. The breakdown of the different coaching levels gives us:

According to TA figures therefore, there were only 441 coaches accredited to coach unsupervised (development level or above) and roughly a third who were unable to coach independently. When we compare this to the numbers prior to the foundation course being launched we see the following:

Using the same metric to calculate the numbers of coaches being able to operate unsupervised (development level or above) we can see a total of 721 accredited coaches at this level. 

So, between the years of 2017-18, prior to the introduction of the foundation coach level, TA have effected a decline in the numbers of coaches able to coach independently of 39%.

Triathlon Australia – do you understand what this has on the impact on the sport of Triathlon in Australia?  Without coaching the sport stops.

Members ask - has TA deliberately decimated coaching to focus on the rigid centralised High Performance strategy?  Or have TA just focussed on the TA failing High Performance strategy to the detriment of developing a coaching network, and therefore decimated youth, junior and U23 pathways?

Is Triathlon Australia even aware of the mess it has got the coaching space into?  It doesn’t seem to  - there are two Board Directors re-nominating at the AGM on Monday to remain on the TA Board Executive having overseen such a disaster???

Triathlon Australia – it is quite obvious you need a full independent review

Question 79 - 19 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Today an open letter was sent to the CEO, President, Board of Directors and National Performance Director regarding my invalid suspension.

The Triathlon Australia High Performance team have used this invalid suspension of me to attempt to intimidate an athlete of mine.

An extract -

'...a member of the ‘Senior Leadership’ staff in the Triathlon Australia High Performance program with the title ‘Performance Programs Manager’ sent one of my athletes, an email saying they would no longer email me and only email the athlete directly because of Triathlon Australia’s purported suspension of my membership. My athlete was then reassured ‘this will not affect you personally’.

This type of intimidation is unacceptable.

'...I require the Triathlon Australia Board of Directors to declare that the suspension wasn’t made according to the rules and is withdrawn.'

Read full letter here.

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Question 78 - 18 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are appalled with the coaching space at TA.

Members can see you have decimated the coaching space and yet pretend the Triathlon Australia coaching courses are a world class system. The courses themselves are lacking substantial content and the coaching courses are effectively a rort to help recoup money from falling membership. Coaching accreditation in Triathlon in Australia is failing on a scale that is scarcely believable. Triathlon Australia care so little, they left the National position unfilled for over 12 months.

A foundation coach course costs $350 + GST with a recommended wait time of approximately 6 months to then undertake the development level. The development level then has a recommended cost of $700 + GST, with 2 separate weekends spread out over 2 months, and repeats much of the foundation course both in online and practical content. TA are effectively creating a waiting period of 8 months for a coach to be able to start coaching properly, have created a barrier to regional engagement and club growth, and are charging a combined total of $1050 + GST for the privilege.

If you live in a regional area add flights to and from the course location (because Triathlon Australia staff dont travel out of their way to run courses in regional areas) and the accommodation costs....is Triathlon Australia serious?? Is Triathlon Australia trying to cover the fall in revenue through the fall in membership fees by making coaching so expensive?

Triathlon Australia, how do you expect growth in the sport when you decimate coaching and athlete pathways?

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 77 - 17 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Today an open letter was sent to the TA CEO, President and Board Directors.

On 6 October I was alleged to have been suspended as a member of TA, I have heard nothing since nor prior. This contradicts the TA member Protection Policy (MPP).

An extract -

‘…..members believe TA therefore acted in a unilateral authoritarian manner which highlights the go to behaviour of TA generally as a failing National Sporting Organisation (NSO). Members are concerned that TA’s inability to follow their own process is an example of how the athletes, coaches, technical officials, staff and members as a whole are treated and a demonstration of why Triathlon in Australia is in such a mess.  Without fair and transparent processes, and the trust they will be followed, the sport of Triathlon will only end up in the position it now finds itself in – absolute decline.’

Read full letter here.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 76 - 16 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Members would like to know if Triathlon Australia will release the AGM Agenda as other National Sporting Organisations do - it is on Monday...?

Why is there no transparency at Triathlon Australia?

Question 75 - 15 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Following on from yesterdays coaching questions, it seems there are even more problems in coaching - is there anything that Triathlon Australia is overseeing well (other than staff employment numbers)….

Members would like to know why the scope of practice for the foundation coach requires the coach to be supervised. This means if a coach is to enter the sport of triathlon, they must pay a fee and spend 2 days learning from the TA coach ‘experts’ then walk away without the ability to coach, because they are required to be supervised by a coach who is development level or above.

Triathlon Australia - how is this going to allow development of triathlon coaches in our regional areas? Swimming doesn’t require entry level coaches to be supervised, why is this a requirement in Triathlon?

Why doesn’t Triathlon Australia run coaches courses properly - and educate the coaches, so they can coach? Is it really that hard to run a good coaching program?

Why does Triathlon Australia not support coaches and athlete development?

It is so obvious Triathlon in Australia needs saving from triathlon Australia.

Question 74 - 14 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Coaches were surprised recently to receive an update from Triathlon Australia. Attached request for involvement in a survey.

Triathlon Australia are after information on ‘who is coaching who, what is your coaching environment and what you are charging for it…’. TA apparently wanted to better understand where to run coaching courses, if at all, which ones and for who”

Coaches - and the sport of Triathlon in Australia - would like to provide some open advice to Triathlon Australia coach development. Yes - TA does need to offer coaching courses, please provide them to as many individuals who want to become coaches and all levels.

With regard to what coaches are earning - why does TA need to know this? Given members are not provided details on the staff salaries of the 19 High Performance staff at TA, why do coaches need to provide their private coaching fees? Does TA want to encroach on this area of Triathlon too?

Triathlon Australia has just set up a new membership portal, and now admits no one at TA knows how many triathlon coaches there are, where they are, nor know if those coaches believe they need additional education? The two essential elements of a High Performance program are athletes and coaches. There is no effective pathway program for athletes and now TA is effectively stating there is no pathway program for coaches.

To provide Triathlon Australia a comparison, attached is what AUS Cycling offers.

TA - it rather puts the TA effort to shame.

Triathlon Australia, without coach education, development and growth, how on earth do you think the athletes will develop.

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

A reminder… 13 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

A reminder sent to Triathlon Victoria President for a reply to correspondence. The Triathlon Victoria has remained silent since members asked for clarification on conflicting advice.....

It seems Triathlon Victoria may be as murky in its governance at Triathlon Australia?

Is that why they are in agreement with the One Management Model?

Full details on 9 November correspondence question scroll down..

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independend review. The rot from TA is seeping into some STTA's

Dear Deborah,

Can you please provide Members with the courtesy of a response to my email reply below.

Kind Regards,

Emma Carney

Begin forwarded message:

From: Emma Carney <emma@emmacarney.com>

Subject: Re: Response: Open Letter to Triathlon Victoria Board Directors regarding TA Constitution amendment

Date: 9 November 2021 at 12:18:25 pm AEDT

To: Deborah Friedlander <president@vic.triathlon.org.au>

Dear Deborah,

Thank you for your reply, although it doesn't clarify things for members. For several reasons -

You were not Tri Vic president at that time

An email has been shown to members which clarifies there was in fact no meeting held by TA in September 2021. Are you referring to a meeting with Triathlon Victoria only?

Can you please confirm the date of the special general meeting in September 2021 required for the amendment to be accepted according to the Companies Act.

Further, if Triathlon Victoria did approve an amendment to the TA Constitution, not via Special General Meeting instead just via email, when is Triathlon Victoria going to advise members of the details of the change to the constitution, why it was agreed and how it affects members?

After all Triathlon Australia and Triathlon Victoria are member based organisations.

Also why also did Triathlon Victoria agree to this amendment via email, when a Special General Meeting is required by Company Law?

Kind Regards,

Emma Carney

Question 73 - 13 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Normally October is the month the Triathlon Australia Annual Report is released.

The TA AGM will be held 22 November - just under 10 days away.

What is the delay in the Annual Report being released to the Triathlon Community?

When will TA provide the Annual Report to members?

Question 72 - 12 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

You have repeatedly mentioned publicly you will undertake a High Performance Review with the AIS.

Apparently the results will be out late November...is that this November? 2021?

Members have already commented on the inadequacy of this review given the ‘steering committee’ comprises of those who have overseen the program decline, and the glaringly obvious fact that the decline of the High Performance program is one of many areas that needs a full independent review at Triathlon Australia.

Nevertheless, members ask what are the terms of reference of the review?

It is obvious that any internal review made by the same people responsible for the awful issues facing TA is invalid, but when the terms of reference are not published it just turns the whole Steering Committee revise into a total farce.

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review, not an internal coverup.

Question 71, part 2 - 11 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitte

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Further to this mornings question, Triathlon Australia members have asked -

Why was Brendan Sexton (National Talent Development Coach in charge of Pathways) in Abu Dhabi last weekend instead of Round 1 of the Billigence Pathway Championship Series in NSW or Round 1 of the SA Pathways series??

Members do not understand why - when the National Performance Director refuses to allow U23 and developing athletes to start WTCS events - the National Talent Development Coach would be required at a WTCS event when a pathways event is on in Australia?

Triathlon Australia, how do you expect to develop talent when you refuse to support junior, youth and U23 athletes?

Question 71 - 11 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

The same question that was asked 2 days ago, Members would like to again ask…

Why was the TA Staff member with the title ‘National Talent Development Coach’ on 5 November at the WTCS Abu Dhabi, given the TA NPD refused all development athletes a start in the race.

The Junior World Championships were on 5-6 November starting a day after the Abu Dhabi WTCS, but Triathlon Australia sent no athletes. Why is this - zero Australian athletes to a junior world championships?? How on earth is this ever ok in a High Performance Program?

Triathlon Australia why are you not developing our Australian triathlon talent?

Triathlon Australia - why is your HP Program so bad? Why is the TA National Performance Director - and his useless entourage - not held accountable for the program failings?

TA, in your 6 October TA Open letter, paragraph 10 your Board Directors claimed 'The AIS funds Triathlon Australia to deliver high performance programs. Funds are invested to provide maximum benefit against the agreed projects and are diligently acquitted. Detailed proposals are presented to the AIS and, once approved, interim checkpoints and audits confirm compliance with government funding terms. ‘

Members ask - does the AIS approve of staff junkets over athletes racing? This year 2022 no athletes at the junior world championships, one female athlete at the U23 World Championships, all U23 Athletes refused starts in WTCS events, pathways in Australia decimated, still no clear qualification process for the Commonwealth Games only 8 months away…just such an appalling program.

How on earth is the AIS approving this at all?

Members are appalled TA, absolutely appalled.

Question 70 - 10 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are absolutely sick of the TA National Performance Director and his program. Not only is he destroying talent pathways, forcing athletes to sign athlete agreements that have an appalling disparity in power of TA over athletes, ruining athlete racing opportunities, destroying home based coach relationships and forcing athletes into a centralised failing coaching structure, but he is also forcing some of our greatest talents to abandon Australia all together.

Take Kenji Nener for example. Kenji has been the best placed Australian in every event he has contested this year - Tokyo Olympics, Superleague, WTCS….everything - the only problem for Australian sports fans is that the Triathlon Australia National Performance Director removed him from the HP program, removed all support and left him completely unsupported - all because he broke his foot on a rock exiting the water in a race and had to take a few weeks out. Kenji now races for Japan - his mothers homeland.

Triathlon Australia - why are athletes scrutinised so heavily and abandoned, yet the TA National Performance Director along with his useless entourage can completely destroy the Triathlon pathways in Australia and none are held accountable?

Triathlon Australia, it is so obvious TA needs a full independent review. This week the entire Dutch Executive Board resigned because of the sports failings. Why do TA Board Directors and staff believe they do not need to be held accountable for the decline of Triathlon in Australia?

Triathlon in Australia - and triathletes - need saving from Triathlon Australia.

Some correspondence…. - 9 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Members will remember open letter sent to Triathlon Victoria yesterday (https://www.emmacarney.com/open-letter)

Today a reply was received. The reply below....with mine beneath

Triathlon Victoria Reply.

On 9 Nov 2021, at 11:06 am, Deborah Friedlander <president@vic.triathlon.org.au> wrote:

Dear Emma,

Thanks for your letter yesterday.

I confirm that Triathlon Victoria was called to and attended a General Meeting in September 2021.

Feel free to contact me on the number below.

Regards,

Deborah Friedlander

President

Triathlon Victoria

0427 293 490

president@vic.triathlon.org.au

My Reply -

Dear Deborah,

Thank you for your reply, although it doesn't clarify things for members. For several reasons -

• You were not Tri Vic president at that time

• An email has been shown to members which clarifies there was in fact no meeting held by TA in September 2021. Are you referring to a meeting with Triathlon Victoria only?

Can you please confirm the date of the special general meeting in September 2021 required for the amendment to be accepted according to the Companies Act.

Further, if Triathlon Victoria did approve an amendment to the TA Constitution, not via Special General Meeting instead just via email, when is Triathlon Victoria going to advise members of the details of the change to the constitution, why it was agreed and how it affects members?

After all Triathlon Australia and Triathlon Victoria are member based organisations.

Also why also did Triathlon Victoria agree to this amendment via email, when a Special General Meeting is required by Company Law?

Kind Regards,

Emma Carney

It seems not just Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.....

Question 69 - 9 November via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members would like to know why the TA Staff member with the title ‘National Talent Development Coach’ was in Abu Dhabi, given the TA National Performance Director refused all development athletes a start in the race.

The Junior World Championships were on this weekend too, why was the National Talent Development Coach not in Quarteira, Portugal with a full junior team developing our Australian talent?

The World Duathlon Championship were also in Aviles, Spain on the weekend. Zero Australians…Why?

Another Triathlon Australia funded coach was in Abu Dhabi WTCS celebrating his Athletes win on socials too (see attached). Why is TA spending money funding coaches to WTCS events to only have them supporting athletes to better results than Australian athletes? Members would like to know why the funding isn't spent on getting young talented or more Australian athletes to the races? What on earth is wrong with Triathlon Australia and its High Performance program?

Were the two Australian coaches just in Abu Dhabi because their spouses were racing? Is it a partner funded program or a high performance program at Triathlon Australia?

Does Triathlon Australia even care about the failing High Performance Program? Why is the National Performance Director not held accountable for his failings?

Triathlon Australia, your National Performance Director - along with his useless entourage - needs to go.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 68 - 8 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

It has been noticed today that TA have provided individual members access to the TA AGM.

All members can register here.

Triathlon Australia, will this information also be emailed to all members?

Question 67 - 8 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Today an open letter was sent to STTA's, regarding the TA Constitution amendments.

An Extract -

'Members first asked Triathlon Australia on 26 October and have raised the question a number of times since, regarding the latest amendment noted as ‘September 2021’ on the cover page of the TA Constitution. '

and

'Members have not received any information or reply from Triathlon Australia, but in the meantime have reviewed, in accordance with (IAW), the Triathlon Australia Constitution, The Companies Act 2001 (Commonwealth) and The Associations Incorporations Acts of the ACT, NT, SA, Tas, Vic and WA.

Members have studied each of those references in detail, and have established….:'

Read full letter here.

Has Triathlon Australia breached the Companies Act?

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review. The place is rotten to the core.

Question 66 - 7 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members would like you to provide updated information on the TA website

The link and information regarding the Age Group Team selections for the 2022 World Championships needs clarification.  The Page can be found here Here

Triathlon Australia provides the following out of date statement - 

‘The Australian Government has a current ban on international travel for all Australian citizens and this ban may be in place for some time.’

Can Triathlon Australia please take the time to update information for members - after all without members Triathlon Australia would not exist.  Triathlon Australia will need to adjust the selection policy here -

While Triathlon Australia are reviewing the Age Group team information, Members would like Triathlon Australia to know that TA Age Group team members do not want to pay for staff to attend these events, they would prefer TA used the funding received from Sport Australia to support the Age Group Athletes properly.  While TA call this the ‘Team Management Fee’, Age Group athletes are not a source of funding for TA staff.  

Triathlon Australia - without members you will not exist.

It is quite obvious Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

High Performance culture requires… posted 6 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members would like to provide the failing National Performance Director an outline of a High Performance culture.

Firstly athletes need the opportunity to race. Race often and race the best. Triathlon Australia your National Performance Director needs to allow emerging and the few pathway athletes that are left following his decimation of the HP program to race top level races and stop blocking them.

This is close to becoming a Restriction of Trade issue.

Members would also like the National Performance Director to understand the a High Performance Culture requires the need to -

Define, pursue and celebrate mastery

Invest in endeavour

Explore underperformance

Reject mediocrity

Triathlon Australia, your National Performance Director and his useless entourage is so mediocre they all need to resign. The tax payer funded train wreck needs to stop. A country does not lose talent, but poor athlete care can destroy it. Athletes can no longer perform to their best.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Some Perspective - 6 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Today members would like the TA President to have some perspective, some reality wouldn’t go astray either…

Dear Triathlon Australia President,

Members noticed you posted on your socials a picture and claim that  when you became TA President in 2018 there were no women representatives with the STTA and you have now turned that around.

Members would like you to have some perspective. You are not the first female leader.

From 2011 -2015 there was a very strong woman as TA CEO - Anne Gripper.  During Anne’s 5 years tenure as TA CEO, the TA membership increased from 9000 to over 21500. The sport had an integrity and ethics committee, and was not in decline.

Since Anne Gripper has departed from TA as CEO, memberships have fallen by over 5% a year and now sit at around 14500. 

Michelle, leadership is not simply a title.  It requires results.  There is no success in leadership just by simply being appointed as a female.  You represent everyone in your position.  The best people need to be appointed.  

Triathlon Australia is currently in the worst state it has even been in.  It can be concluded, Male or Female you will go down as residing as President of TA during one of the worst periods of leadership at TA.

Quite an achievement.

Question 65 - 5 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Member have a question regarding the direction of the TA High Performance Program.

At the end of October 3 U23 Athletes (2 Male and 1 Female) raced two Korean World Triathlon World Cups. Two athletes were on debut, and all 3 athletes raced well.

At a time when Triathlon Australia has decimated the development pathways, and only 1 female athlete was taken to the 2021 World Championships and zero to the junior World Championships. Members ask - why were these 3 athletes not invited to race the Abu Dhabi WTCS this weekend - just for experience.

These 3 athletes had already paid to fund themselves overseas, at a time when it is very expensive to travel (and members have been through the absurd lack of support TA provides developing athletes) and they were already overseas.

Triathlon Australia - is the National Performance Director going to continue to deny athletes starts in major events? Is The program going to continue to destroy all new talent emerging?

Members do not want to continue to see the National Performance Director and his useless entourage continue to destroy athlete pathways.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 64, (but really Q 53 asked again) - 5 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Triathlon Australia,

While you publicly congratulate Australian athlete Jonathan Goerlach on his appointment to the World Triathlon Elite Athlete Committee, can you also please take note of the process.

World Triathlon provided athletes with notice of the upcoming elections, athletes could nominate to stand, athletes nominated were announced, all athletes were then encouraged to login and vote. Athletes nominated were announced by World Triathlon here.

This brings us back to question 53 of member questions to Triathlon Australia.

If you recall, members asked -

Question 53 - on 27 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members were wondering if the Elite Athletes Commission is run as intended - for the benefit of Elite Athletes..

Under section 36 of the TA Constitution, Triathlon Australia is required to establish and maintain a delegate body known at the ‘Elite Athletes Commission (EAC)’. The EAC Terms of reference can be found here

(The document needs an edit - the last line, page 2 ITU should now read ‘World Triathlon’. This name changed occurred over a year ago. Obviously this document is not widely read or highly regarded by anyone at TA.)

Is it common knowledge to athletes who is currently on the EAC?

Members cannot see the names listed on the TA website. The constitution is extremely vague - no timings or detail, nominations to be made in the manner prescribed by the commission itself.

The terms of reference for the EAC also provide that the

‘EAC will be coordinated and supported by the TA NPD? .

How do athletes have any ability to voice their concerns if the very person who is running the HP program is also dealing with their concerns? Where is the independence in that process?

Item 36.2 (d) provides that every Elite athlete has a vote as to who sits on the Commission.

Are Athletes aware of this?

Have all athletes been given the right to vote?

In the constitution there should be 3 new members voted on this year.

Has TA made this known to Athletes? Will the EAC have the required balance - able, para, male, female and former elite athletes?

Triathlon Australia Members do hope you are involving the EAC correctly, allowing athletes to voice they concerns, vote freely and run their own EAC without any standover tactics from the NPD or CEO.

Why is it Triathlon Australia that your processes have no transparency and they are always murky and unclear?

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

Question 64, Open Letter - 5 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have concerns regarding the TA AGM voting process.

An extract -

‘Triathlon Australia, your Board Director nomination process is appalling. It lacks transparency and does not meet current best governance practices in Australian Sport. The result will not be a reflection of member preferences due to the complete inadequacies of the entire process.’

‘Triathlon Australia, your processes are embarrassingly murky, insufficient and provide zero transparency to members.  It is quite obvious Triathlon in Australia needs saving from those overseeing the governance of Triathlon Australia.  Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review - TA is failing the sport of Triathlon, its members and Australian Sport.

Read Members open letter here.

Triathlon Australia Correspondence. AGM Board Nominations - 4 November Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

So a reply from Triathlon Australia.

Apparently, all above board. Everything fine, members can contact their STTA's for any information regarding the TA AGM voting, but the STTA can ignore you if they like. See email below.

Triathlon Australia - how many elephants do you need in the roon at the TA AGM?

TA Email -

Dear Emma

All papers relating to voting are provided only to voting delegates – the STTAs. As they contain confidential personal information of candidates, it would be inappropriate to provide those more broadly and they are therefore not shared publicly. This was provided to them in accordance with the requirements under both the Corporations Act and the TA Constitution with all legal requirements adhered to.

STTAs are empowered through the constitution of each STTA to act on behalf of their members and as such it is up to them to determine if they require consultation on any matters including elections.

I will note your desire to register for the AGM. Details will be provided once we have all the registered delegate details received as per the notice of meeting.

Kind regards,

Lori Organ

Executive Assistant

Triathlon Australia - this process is not transparent and not designed for the benefit of members. Why does Triathlon Australia not have a transparent process regarding the appointment of Board Directors?

Question 63 - 4 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding the upcoming TA AGM and Board Director positions (see details below on leaked list).

Members are trying to find the process of voting for Board Directors in the upcoming AGM. There are so many questions and the silence from TA is only making the process murkier...

• Is voting confidential by each STTA?

• Where is the info on voting?

• Are votes made for 3 nominees only or all?

• It is preferential voting?

• Is it online voting?

• Are votes made in advance?

• How can votes be made when the CV’s of each nominee are not published?

• Who is on the Nominations Committee? This was recently added to the constitution and It has clearly already been formed and is operating. Why are the names not on the TA website?

• When will TA publish the by-laws on the TA website?

• Why wont TA publish the process?

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Keep signng the petition.

Triathlon Australia AGM Agenda Item 10 - Board Nominations TA don’t want you to know. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Well the Australian Triathlon Community is alive and well. Thank you to someone in my STTA...

Below agenda Item 10 of TA AGM.

Members are still baffled as to how votes can be made when there are no CV's distributed for each nominee?

To register your votes, contact your clubs to nominate. Your club needs to notify your STTA (unless you are a TWA member - there you can vote direct to TWA). BUT dont forget, TA made a change to the TA Constitution in September and created a nomination committee, so your vote will have to get past that too...

To all Triathlon Clubs - has your STTA distributed this list to you to distribute to members? if not, why not?

TA AGM Item 10

Agenda Item 10 Election of Elected Directors

At the 2021 Annual General Meeting the following positions become vacant:

1. Elected Director – the position being vacated by Natalie Edwards at the end of her two year term.

2. Elected Director – the position being vacated by Nicole Donegan at the end of her two year term.

3. Elected Director – the position being vacated by David Tucker at the end of his two year term.

Nominations for these positions received by the due date Sunday 10 October 2021 and in accordance with the rules of the Constitution of Triathlon Australia Ltd are as follows:

Nominations for Elected Director:

- Mark Browne

- Emma Carney

- Simon Clarke

- Nicole Donegan

- David Joyce

- Barry Lipp

- Brian McGovern

- Craig Meagher

- Eddie Moore

- Nickie Scriven

- Mark Sinderberry

- David Tucker

- Thomas Warren

Correspondence 3 November Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Some correspondence with TA...an email received regarding my nomination to the TA Board and my reply.

TA email first -

On 3 Nov 2021, at 5:18 pm, Lori Organ wrote:

Dear Emma,

Thank you for your nomination for a Triathlon Australia (TA) Elected Director position. The election of TA Directors will take place at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday 22 November 2021 via Microsoft Teams Videoconference. There are three Elected Director positions to be filled by the voting delegate from each of the STTAs. The Elected Directors will each be appointed for a term of two years to the Board of TA.

The process does not require you to be in attendance at the meeting as candidates do not present themselves nor are they required to speak. However we certainly encourage all candidates to attend if available. Should you be successfully elected, there is a short informal board meeting held directly after the AGM so you can meet the board etc. These details will be provided if applicable.

Triathlon Australia is pleased with the response and quality of candidates, in total thirteen nominations were received. The Triathlon Australia Nominations Committee has now completed the assessment process on behalf of the board.

Thank you again for your interest in Triathlon Australia.

Kind regards,

Lori Organ

Executive Assistant

My Reply -

Dear Lori,

Your email of 5.18pm today entitled 'Triathlon Australia Elected Director position’ provides many questions.

My nomination to the TA Board was at the request of TA Members. Therefore, as a voice for members I respond in an open and transparent manner.

Your email today notified me I am one of 13 nominees received by Triathlon Australia. As the STTA’s are to vote on these nominees according to member preferences, where will Triathlon Australia publish the nominees and their CV’s so members can inform the STTA’s of their preference?

With the process only 19 Days away it will need to be a timely process. When will TA provide the details of each nominee?

Your email today also suggested I login to the TA AGM Videoconference. Can you please provide details on this login process.

Regards,

Emma Carney

Sport Australia Hall of Fame | World Champion

e: emma@emmacarney.com

w: www.emmacarney.com

i: @emmaecarney

Question 62 - 3 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are still grappling with the TA 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. It is full of impressive motherhood statements, but no measurable targets or defined goals

Under the heading respond, recover thrive 2021-2025, Triathlon Australia states it will –

» Provide vision and direction to the Australian triathlon and multisport community;

» Ensure the successful and sustainable future of triathlon and multisport;

» Guide the future growth and capacity of Australian triathlon and multisport;

» Encourage coordination, cooperation and collaboration amongst the triathlon and multisport community;

» Maximise the relevance, visibility and impact of triathlon and multisport;

» Assist the triathlon and multisport community to understand the plan, believe in it and live it!

Members were wondering where they can find the measurable targets Triathlon Australia have regarding these strategic aims?

There is a comment from TA -

'Over the next four years, we will be using a range of internal and external measurements to monitor our progress against the proof points, and the key performance indicators set out within our annual operational plans.’

Where can members find details of these internal and external measures and details of the proof points?

It is interesting Triathlon Western Australia was the only STTA to not agree to the strategic plan (well done again TWA on putting members first).

On page 8 Triathlon Australia provides the statement -

‘When we see more people, enjoying more triathlon and multisport experiences, in more places, we will know we have got it right!’

Triathlon Australia, if this is your KPI - it is quite obvious you have everything wrong.

The Triathlon Australia CEO, President and entire Board Executive need to resign.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 61 - 2 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have noticed yesterday, in response to the Open letter to STTA’s, the full financial accounts of 2019-20 and 2020-21 have been added to the TA website.

*document can be found here.

While TA have done this in silence, can TA please provide answers to members questions from the Open Letter? Does the resident Lawyer and Chartered Accountant who are TA Board Directors have any response on behalf of TA regarding the lack of transparency of the TA 2020-21 Financial Accounts?

Today, members have a question around the Strategic Pillar ‘Winning when it Matters’. (TA Strategic Plan 2021-2025)

Strategic Pillar 2 -

WINNING WHEN IT MATTERS

‘What it Takes to Win’

2.1 Pathway and Identification

Identify, develop and transition potential high performance triathletes into the triathlon High Performance program

2.2 National 2024–2028 High Performance Strategy

Guide Triathlon Australia’s High Performance investment and activities for all major games in the period including forward to the 2024–28 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games Cycle.

Why does TA have the proof points -

1. A consistently delivered talent development system underpinned by the ‘what it takes to win’ modelling and evidence.

2. An evidence-based national High Performance system in place, which aligns with the ‘what it takes to win’ modelling and evidence.

3. Achievement of pinnacle event performance targets (Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games).

At a time when TA sent 1 female athlete to U23 WC and Zero male and female athletes to upcoming Junior WC. How does this align with 2.1 above?

Does TA have the ‘what it takes’ to win ‘modelling and evidence’ it is relying upon to underpin this approach for members, coaches and athletes to read?

Triathlon Australia how do you get so many things so wrong?

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 60 - 1 November 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Today an open letter was sent to STTA's asking them all (because some will) to table member request for an independent review of TA at the upcoming TA AGM.

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

It is time Triathlon Australia were held accountable for what they have done to triathlon in Australia.

Read letter here - https://www.emmacarney.com/open-letter

Question 59 - 31 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Along with integrity (definition provided yesterday) members have a definition Triathlon Australia need to also learn - Transparency.

Transparency '..... operating is such a way it is easy for others to see what actions are performed. Implies openness, communication and accountability.'

Transparency is vital to good Governance of our sport.

Please start being transparent is all areas including selection, governance, processes and all conduct regarding our sport.

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia.

Keep signing the petition.

Question 58 - 30 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have provided a definition of integrity today because it is quite obvious it is lacking at TA.

Integrity is also 'doing the right thing when no one is watching'. Please do this Triathlon Australia.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Keep signing and sharing the petition.

Question 57 - 29 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members ask - Why is TA dragging its feet on signing onto the Sport integrity Australia (SIA) Framework?

Does TA think it can continue to disrespect members, athletes, event organisers and the Triathlon community as a whole?

Does TA think there is no need for transparency in the sport of Triathlon in Australia?

Does TA think there is no need for integrity in the sport of Triathlon in Australia and it will amend the TA constitution as often as the CEO and Board Directors feel they need to?

Equestrian Australia has signed onto the SIA framework, and the comments from the federal sports minister indicate sports like Triathlon Australia need this desperately.

They include -

Minister for Sport, Richard Colbeck, welcomed the decision and congratulated Equestrian Australia for signing up to the independent National Integrity Framework.

“The National Integrity Framework, established earlier this year by the Australian Government, is a vital tool to ensure all sporting participants are treated with respect,” Minister Colbeck said.

“It marks an important step for participants in any sporting organisation - offering confidence and a reassurance that matters will be handled independently and fairly. This is a great step forward for Equestrian.”

It has been developed to provide sports with a best practice suite of policies that will meet any possible future compliance standards.

Read full press release here.

Triathlon - members ask when will Triathlon Australia sign on to the SIA Framework?

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review. The place is rotten to the core.

Question 56 - 29 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are becoming increasingly frustrated on your inability to send out press releases for athletes or promote upcoming events for event organisers.

To name a few, this weekend Australian athletes are racing the World Triathlon World Cup event in Tonyeong. It would be nice if TA could do an event preview without members prompting.

In Australia events are returning, and it would be good if Triathlon Australia showed some interest in promoting upcoming events. Showcase what is on offer for the dwindling members.

Some examples this weekend TA have failed to promote -

In the ACT, The Stromlo Duathlon (and the ACT Duathlon Championship) is on. This is a big event for our pathway athletes. In Townsville there is another event for our pathway athletes - the Riverway Triathlon. How could Triathlon Australia forget, as its the last weekend in October, the Noosa Triathlon is on. One of the few iconic races that remains.

Members find it frustrating that recently, TA promote an indoor triathlon showing 10 people in a gym but can’t show support for real events that support development pathways and events which are ironic to our sport in Australia.

Does TA have any interest in events which are opportunities for developing athletes to race and for members to enjoy Triathlon? Considering TA HP funding is driven by gold medals are not racing opportunities important to Triathlon Australia?

With membership falling by over 5% every year, is it not important to actually advertise and promote events - ALL EVENTS - not just those TA have a private vested interest in?

TA why does one particular organiser event receive promotion from TA and others are completely ignored? How does this align with the TA strategic plan of more ‘events for more people’?

Yet another example as to why TA needs a full independent review..

Question 55 - 28 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members asked an open question (for reference Q52 on 26 October) regarding the TA constitution. Members have noticed the Triathlon Australia Constitution was amended again last month - September 2021.

The document can be found here.

TA has remained silent, refusing the reply with the details of the changes but fortunately members are astute and have some questions.

Members have noticed changes at the beginning of the document, some definitions added for ‘elected director’ and ‘nominations committee’. Definition of ‘interested director’ has been removed.

Members understand Triathlon Australia Board Directors are called ‘Interested Directors’ on the TA website. What is the reason for this change?

Also members would like to know the reason for including a new committee in section -

’26.4 Nominations Committee

(a) A Nominations Committee shall be formed, the role of which shall include the task of assessing all candidates for Elected Director and Appointed Director positions (including casual vacancies). The Nominations Committee shall have the power to determine that a candidate is not appropriate for further consideration by the Company, the Directors or the Members but only if the decision of the Nominations Committee is unanimous. (b) The complete and specific duties, functions and rules of the Nominations Committee are set out in the By-Laws’.

Members cannot find the By-Laws on the TA website for this new committee. The powers of the Nominations Committee are very extensive. Does TA have them available for members?

Can TA please advise who is on the Nominations Committee? The process of creating this committee?

Can TA provide the details for members, and also please distribute details of all changes to the STTA’s to distribute to members.

Triathlon Australia, as the TA AGM is upcoming, members do hope you are not attempting to influence the process of electing new TA Board Directors by creating and stacking a new nominations committee.

TA Needs a full independent review. The place is rotten to the core. Every process is murky and lacks transparency.

Keep sharing the petition https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Question 54 - 27 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

This evening (27 October) at the Triathlon Victoria AGM, TA President Michelle Cooper was asked from the floor about how TA was responding to member concerns put forward by me (Emma Carney).

The TA President Michelle Cooper responded by saying She’s continually reached out to me and her door will be always open.

As this was made in an open forum, my response is in an open forum -

Michelle Cooper, on 6 October I received 2 Lawyers letter from TA, one informing me there would be no correspondence from TA and my membership is suspended. The other was a cease and desist. This was the second cease and desist letter. The only emails to meet were sent on 6 & 9 August after ignoring concerns for years and once SIA had commenced reviewing their remit on TA. To meet was inappropriate.

I welcome you wishing to make public statements, because you, the TA Board and TA Executives have been largely silent regarding all the issues of concern of the rapidly declining member base, but please do not attempt to convince members you are reaching out to me when the reality is quite the opposite.

It is important that all the issues raised are athlete and member issues. It is important that Athletes be supported in an athlete centric culture and members treated with respect and inclusion. Presently, the TA executive provide the opposite and athletes can no longer performa to the best of their ability in the toxic HP culture and members are displaying their dissatisfaction by leaving the sport at a rate exceeding 5% annually. These are the people in Triathlon you should be reaching out to, not spreading your inaccuracies to.

Michelle Cooper, your response is untrue, and as it was in an open forum my response is please stop failing TA members and resign.

Question 53 - 27 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members were wondering if the Elite Athletes Commission is run as intended - for the benefit of Elite Athletes..

Under section 36 of the TA Constitution, Triathlon Australia is required to establish and maintain a delegate body known at the ‘Elite Athletes Commission (EAC)’. The EAC Terms of reference can be found here

(The document needs an edit - the last line, page 2 ITU should now read ‘World Triathlon’. This name changed occurred over a year ago. Obviously this document is not widely read or highly regarded by anyone at TA.)

Is it common knowledge to athletes who is currently on the EAC?

Members cannot see the names listed on the TA website. The constitution is extremely vague - no timings or detail, nominations to be made in the manner prescribed by the commission itself.

The terms of reference for the EAC also provide that the

‘EAC will be coordinated and supported by the TA NPD? .

How do athletes have any ability to voice their concerns if the very person who is running the HP program is also dealing with their concerns? Where is the independence in that process?

Item 36.2 (d) provides that every Elite athlete has a vote as to who sits on the Commission.

Are Athletes aware of this?

Have all athletes been given the right to vote?

In the constitution there should be 3 new members voted on this year.

Has TA made this known to Athletes? Will the EAC have the required balance - able, para, male, female and former elite athletes?

Triathlon Australia Members do hope you are involving the EAC correctly, allowing athletes to voice they concerns, vote freely and run their own EAC without any standover tactics from the NPD or CEO.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Question 52 - 26 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have noticed the Triathlon Australia Constitution was amended again last month - September 2021.

The document can be found here

No detail have been provided to members, just a note on the front cover page. Nothing to provide details on what was amended just that it has been amended September 2021.

Members ask -

What were the secret amendments made to the Triathlon Australia constitution in September 2021?

No members have been notified on what was altered.

What was the process?

What were the changes?

Surely members are to be provided details and consulted?

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Keep sharing the petition. Alomst 10% of members are pushing for a full independent review of Triathlon Australia.

Question 51 - 25 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Todays Open letter to Triathlon Australia Board Directors.

‘You all should be ashamed of your involvement in the absolute decline of our once great Sport.  

This is all so clearly illustrated in the TA 2021 Financial statements.  Once again, TA has reported declining membership.  In 2020/21 TA membership fell by another by 6.1% to 15,874.  

TA membership was 21,592 in 2015/16 and now sits at 15,874 - that is a decline in membership of 26.5% and 5,718 previously loyal members have been lost to the sport of triathlon.  

More than one quarter of all TA members have chosen to walk away from Triathlon.’  

Read full open letter here.

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from the Triathlon Australia Board Directors.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 50 - 24 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are still grappling with the contents on the TA 2021 Financial Statements, particularly that Triathlon Australia sponsorship in the 2020-2021 period was only $30,000. ( p25 ‘Segment reporting Income - commercial income’ and p19 ‘revenue sponsorship’ $30,000 down from $177,909 in 2020).

Members were wondering, while TA is obviously so appalling at gaining and holding sponsorship, why does the TA National Performance Director  distribute Athlete Agreements to athletes that have a clause forcing athletes to have approval for their private sponsors stating the following -

‘Athletes must seek approval in writing from the NPD 6 weeks in advance of the event and clearly demonstrate that an alternative suit manufacturer provides a minimum of $30,000 in cash as part of a sponsorship arrangement.’ 

Is TA serious?  Does TA really think they the NPD can veto Athletes private sponsorship arrangements?  If TA is unable to raise more than $30,000 in sponsorship, why is it ok for TA to destroy this amount of sponsorship of an athlete? Why does TA think it has the right to refuse an athletes ability to earn an income more successfully than TA?

If TA were successful then their sponsorship income would be substantial.  What TA fails to understand is that Corporate sponsorship dollars reach many hundreds of Millions of dollars annually in Australian Sport.  These dollars are spent by Corporates who want to be associated with success - not a failing organisation.  TA is a failure, so it cannot and will not attract sponsorship dollars.  TA should not then drag athletes down into their failures and affect their ability to earn sponsorship dollars. 

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Question 49 part 2 - 23 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Following members question 48 Part 1 yesterday (22 October) regarding Athlete Categorisation and the confusion surrounding the document, members have another question.

Para Athletes have concerns around how TA have edited the selection panel to now include the NPD, the TA CEO and the National Manager Paratriathlon (the TA Chief Medical officer is no longer involved).

The list of Key High Performance Staff on the TA website does not have a ‘National Manager Paratriathlon’. (See below)

Triathlon Australia - does this mean Para athletes cannot be classified? Or does this mean Triathlon Australia needs to employ yet another HP staff member so there are now 20 HP Staff members??

Triathlon Australia, why is the Para program more of a mess than the Able program? Can Triathlon Australia please treat Para athletes with respect.

Triathlon Australia, needs a full independent review.

Question 49 - 23 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have the Annual Financial Statements of Triathlon Australia for the year ended 30 June 2021.  There were Approved by Board of Directors and signed by the President of TA and Auditor on 21 September 2021.  

As expected, due to the impact of COVID-19, many figures were down on 2020 comparatives.   And for most of the items in TA’s financial statements that is true.

What members cannot believe, particularly given the TA CEO made a statement that staff would be stood down in the Covid Period, is that TA Staff salaries expense increased yet again.  

Specifically by $251,216 (or 7% on 2020 figures).  

TA Staff salaries now engulf 66% of TA’s total revenue ($3.637m / $5.477m), up from 52% in 2020 ($3.386m / $6.481m in 2020) and even higher than 2019 figures of 43% ($3.034m / $7.126m) 

Alternatively, there is a worse picture if you look at staff salaries as a % of TA’s total expenses which were 69% ($3.637m / $5.301m), up from 57% in 2020 ($3.386 / $5.958 in 2020) and higher than 2019 figures of 43% ($3,034 / $7,098) 

Triathlon Australia in a time when everything fell, why on earth are staff costs increasing?  

Can TA advise given the increase in Salaries (and presumably staff numbers), how did all this money assist the athletes at the Tokyo Olympics and the Edmonton World Championships?  

Why are the development pathways and development athletes left without reasonable or adequate support?

What are all the staff doing?  

Are the staff effective? Measured by the number of medals won, the answer would have to be a resounding ‘no”.

What is the obsession at TA with appointing more and more staff?

Members are concerned with the real problem here is that salaries and wages continue to spiral out of control whilst income reduce by 15%.  So income fell while salaries and wages increased.  The purpose of TA is not to employ people.  The purpose of TA is to administer the sport of triathlon in Australia for the benefit of Members, Athletes (Able and Para) and Australian Sport.  When Salaries and Wages costs spiral out of control, as they are at TA and income is declining it will become unsustainable for TA to maintain member services, provide athletes with adequate funding to compete at events and have less funding available to develop junior pathways.  The AIS and Sport Australia funding will fall away as the High Performance results continue to decline and what then?  Members are walking away.  TA have ruined the future of the Sport.

The decline is extremely concerning.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Triathlon in Australia needs saving from Triathlon Australia. 

Question 48 part 2 - 22 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are amazed you cannot keep up with the pre race press releases.

How does Triathlon Australia think anyone will know about our sport, events and our athletes if the National Sporting Organisation doesn’t even bother to make a pre race announcement?

Members would like TA to know tomorrow 23 October is the 2021 World Triathlon Cup Haeundae in Korea.

This event is debuting on the World Triathlon circuit and there are some young Australian athletes racing - which is quite amazing given two are not categorised by Triathlon Australia, therefore not supported. A shout out to their supporters - Thank you!

There are 2 Australian men racing - Luke Bate & Max Stapley. There are 3 Australian women racing Charlotte McShane, Emma Jackson and Emma Hogan.

Both races can be viewed on Triathlon Live, with the men Elite Men scheduled for Saturday, October 23, 2021 12:30 PM AEDT and the Elite Women Scheduled for Saturday, October 23, 2021 10:30 AM AEDT

It would be nice if TA could provide some support for Athletes.

Full event info here 

Question 48 part 1 - 22 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members return to the Athlete Categorisation process, because they have notice TA have edited the website page and the categorisation document without announcement or notification to the Triathlon Community. Members understand TA have managed to remove an athlete who just had their best performance of their career and there are also two U23 athletes in Korea about race World Triathon events who are not categorised. Apart from the athlete omissions and continure lack of support, the changes to the document provide more confusion to the already confusing document. (Doc can be found here - https://www.triathlon.org.au/.../Triathlon+Australia...)

Members understand the categorisation process provides athletes with a level of support. This is decided entirely for Able athlete by the National Performance Director (NPD) and TA CEO (who is chair of selection - members have already raised this conflict of interest). Para Athletes should note TA have edited the selection panel for them to now include the NPD, the TA CEO and the National Manager Paratriathlon (the TA Chief Medical officer is no longer involved).

Categorisation is made according to the athlete categorisation policy -

‘Without in any way limiting the discretion of the Selection Panel, the Selection Panel may consider any matter in relation to any athlete under consideration for discretionary nomination. In exercising the discretion, the Selection Panel need not consider any particular matter and need not apply any weighting to any matter it does consider’.

TA where on earth do you find lawyers that write such appalling clauses?

In the document, it there is a statement ‘The TA Athlete Agreement period runs from January 1st to December 31st each year. Athletes can only be added to the categorised athlete list, moved between levels, or deselected at defined review times’.

Triathlon Australia then noted the ‘defined review times as -

‘Athletes will be added to the list, or de-selected from the list or have their Categorisation re-assessed on two occasions:

• After conclusion of the international season and post-benchmark event review (generally Oct/Nov).

• Pre-International season (generally April/May)’.

Member ask, how is a ‘defined review time’ then referred to as ‘generally’?

Generally can be defines at ‘most cases’ or ‘in general terms; without regard to particulars’

Furthermore, given the recent edits to the document and website were made outside these periods, does Triathlon Australia mean to say ‘generally not’?

Triathlon Australia, can you please provide some exact dates for athletes to work towards.

Can you please provide clarity in your categorisation process.

Triathlon Australia are the clauses written so the National Performance Director can continue to avoid transparency and accountability?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review. The entire place is rotten to the core.

Question 47 - 21 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Member are still grappling with the contents of the 6 October Open Letter entitled ‘Triathlon Members and the Triathlon Community’.

The full response to this letter is here

In the section ‘Allegations of inflated staff expenditure and misuse of AIS funding’

TA made the statement -

‘We embrace regular reviews in the interests of continuous improvement.’

Given this statement, can TA please advise when there will be a full independent review of Triathlon Australia as members request?

Was this letter just filled with motherhood statements in an attempt to have TA look like it cares?

Was the statement included in error, or was TA just taking the piss?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Question 46 - 20 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have another question regarding your 6 October Open Letter to ‘Triathlon Members and the Triathlon Community’

In the section ‘Allegations of inflated staff expenditure and misuse of AIS funding’

TA stated ‘Travel costs are a significant part of any high performance budget and the figures quoted of $1m relate to the pre-COVID-19 year of 2019-2020 where only activities from March onwards were affected. This therefore represents an appropriate spend for that period.’

Firstly, a correction, the audited figure in the TA annual report is over $1m being $1,127,333.

Members ask - Can you please provide details on how an 8 month spend, predominantly through the domestic period of travel (because the March - June 30 period would normally be overseas travel had Covid not affected the season) possibly exceed $1.1m?

What proportion is spent on athletes? How much on staff? Members did see the TA CEO, President and family enjoying the Lausanne, Switzerland Grand Final Event in 2019 - was that part of the ‘significant travel cost associated with a High Performance program?’…

Can Triathlon Australia please provide some more details on this ‘appropriate’ spend?

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Question 45 - 19 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

On 6 October, you wrote an open letter entitled ‘Triathlon Australia’s Open letter to Triathlon Members and the Triathlon Community’

Members responded in full here - https://www.emmacarney.com/membersresponse

Under section 2 of the TA Open Letter was a heading

‘Allegations of inflated staff expenditure and misuse of AIS funding’

TA wrote ‘The percentage of high performance government grant funding spent on high performance salaries has consistently remained at approximately 30-35% for the last 10 years.’

Members are puzzled as to where TA attained these figures.

When presenting financial ratios and calculations, members have made reference to the exact numbers used, which can be reconciled back to the TA’s financial statements for any given year.

TA make references to ratios that differ, yet have never referenced precise numbers that can be verified.

Why is that?

Members ask TA to again have a look at the Triathlon Australia Audited accounts refer to a previously published example,

In 2012, total revenue for Triathlon Australia was $ 3,812,852 with total salaries at $ 636,668 so 17% of Triathlon Australia total revenue was allocated to salaries. Therefore 83% of total revenue could be used to develop and support athletes, members and the sport as a whole.

In 2020 Triathlon Australia total revenue was $6,481,101 with total salaries at $3,386,116, so 52% of Triathlon Australia total revenue was allocated to salaries. Therefore less than half of total revenue is available to develop and support athletes, members and the sport as a whole.

Alternatively, we can look at –

In 2012, Triathlon Australia received $1,850,000 from Sport Australia for High performance, and 34% of this amount was spent on Triathlon Australia salaries.

In 2020 (last year) Triathlon Australia received $3,647,286 from Sport Australia for High performance, and 93% of this amount was spent on Triathlon Australia salaries. So, if any is left for athletes there would be less than 10% available.

In 2021 Triathlon Australia received $5,157,954 and all members are waiting to see what % of this is spent on wages, given Able athletes, both U23 Athletes and many elites are not being fully funded to travel in 2021 while most Para athletes cannot travel at all due to costs in 2021.

Triathlon Australia, why dont you make your points using facts?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and indepedent review. Now.

Question 44 - 18 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members refer to your ‘High Performance Key Staff’ list on your website.

This is possibly the worst performing HP staff list in Australian sport.

This HP group is providing a culture, lead by the National Performance Director, that is lacking in Athlete Safeguarding and full of bullying, stand over tactics, abuse. This is creating an appalling disparity of power of TA over athletes and coaches. It has become so bad that athletes now are unable to perform to their full ability and junior development and pathways has dropped away alarmingly. Coaches are also unable to coach with no clear dates, race series or sensible athlete performance requirements set by TA.

With less than 20% of women on the full staff list , the lack of equality is also out of date and another failure of the High Performance Program at TA.

Triathlon Australia is a National Sporting organisation, it is not a coaching organisation. Triathlon Australia’s purpose is to provide support and opportunity to Australian triathletes, not force them into rigid centralised coaching programs that are not world class. Triathlon Australia should leave Australians talented Triathlon coaches and athletes to grow the sport in their home based environment and allow them to perform.

To quote a current athlete the NPD ‘..runs a shit program and the world is laughing at us all…’

Triathlon Australia your High Performance program is a failure and your National Performance Director needs to go.

Today an open letter was sent to Triathlon Australia's national Performance Director.

You can read the letter here

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Question 43 - 17 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have previously raised issues regarding the writing of TA Athlete Agreements and Selection policies.  Today members have some questions regarding the 2 Documents entitled ‘2022 Australian Commonwealth Games Team Triathlon Australian Nomination Criteria’. 

This can be found here for Able Athletes - 

https://www.triathlon.org.au/Assets/Triathlon+Australia+Digital+Assets/High+Performance/Selection+Policies/2022+Commwealth+Games+Nomination+Criteria.pdf

Here for Para Athletes - 

https://www.triathlon.org.au/Assets/Triathlon+Australia+Digital+Assets/High+Performance/Selection+Policies/2022+Commonwealth+Games+Para+Nomination+Criteria.pdf

Question 1 - 

The two documents have the exact same title.  Why? Is this to add to confusion? The grammar of the title is also wrong.  This is downright embarrassing.

Question 2 Part A

The Able Athlete policy provides a definition defined in clause 14.14 “TA qualification Period means 1 May 2021 to 1 May 2022’

Members have scrolled to the bottom of the document and can see it was released by TA on 18 May 2021.  

Why are athletes notified AFTER the commencement of qualification periods that they are subject to qualification?

Question 2 Part B

Where can the Para Athletes find the commencement date for the qualification period?  TA seem to have completely omitted this vital detail.  Will TA just randomly start a process without athletes knowing?  TA, please stop treating Para Athletes with contempt and provide the same detail as Able athletes.

Question 3 - 

Clause 14.15 in the Able Athlete Policy and 12.13 on the Para Athlete policy provides a definition of the Triathlon Australia Elite Selection Committee as ’TAESC means the Triathlon Australia Elite Selection Committee.  This committee has been appointed by the TA Board, to administer and implement this criteria.  The names of each of the members of the TAESC will be published on the TA website’

Triathlon Australia, where can members find the TAESC listed on the TA website as the document clauses state?

Question 4 - 

Clause 5.2 Provides of the Able Athlete policy an automatic qualification to selection as ‘Win the 2022 National Elite Sprint Distance Championships’.

When members go to the TA website to look for ‘Australian Championships’, the TA website refers to the National sprint as 16/Jan 2022 - the 2XU series St Kilda Race.  The 2XU website refers only to National Age Group Championships. 

Can Triathlon Australia please provide the date and location of the Commonwealth Games trials event, so athletes and coaches can prepare.  Where can the information be found?  When will Triathlon Australia let athletes and coaches know the date they need to perform?

Members ask you notify all Athletes and Coaches on the amendments you need to make to provide a clear selection document.  Triathlon Australia you also owe Able Athletes 18 extra days of the qualification period because you were 18 days late in releasing this document.

Triathlon Australia even your selection documents provide confusion.  You are failing at everything.  The Triathlon Australia National Performance Director (along with his useless entourage) is hopeless and all need to go.  

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Question 42 - 16 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have another question regarding development pathways.

Why is Triathlon Australia ignoring development pathways in our sport?

Members are concerned about the lack of pathway, support and development of Junior, Youth and U23 provided by Triathlon Australia.

In the ‘AIS High Performance Investment Guidelines’, the AIS states it will maintain perspective and long term discipline (when allocating funding). According to Principle 2, the AIS will:

“develop an investment allocation that provides balance across success in both current and future cycles within affordability constraints.”

When considering the ‘future cycles of a sport, then development athletes would be key.

Why then are opportunities, support and funding so poor for Australian Junior, Youth and U23 Athletes?

Triathlon Australia, given the AIS focus above, it is clear there should be funding allocation to development athletes. Why is this not done?

Triathlon Australia you you are failing in everything you do.

Question 41 - 15 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are concerned you do not understand Junior Athlete development.

On the Triathlon Australia website, you have a ‘Performance Calendar’ with ‘Racing opportunities for Junior (16-19) and Youth (14-15) as part of the Australian Performance Racing Calendar’.

Triathlon Australia provides 5 races in this pathway. Two are in New Zealand, one is yet to be confirmed, one in Tasmania and the last in Runaway Bay QLD.

Members were wondering firstly, given Triathlon Australia does not fund or support junior athletes, how does Triathlon Australia except the junior athletes to get to these races? There is only one confirmed on mainland Australia.

It gets worse..

Triathlon Australia then has a link to ‘further racing opportunities’. This takes athletes in this development age bracket to a list of events which has 2 full ironman Races, a 70.3 race and 3 races that may or may not be organised, but the date has passed, so it is certain they wont happen??

Members were wondering, given Triathlon Australia has 18 staff listed on the High Performance Staff page, what is everyone doing? Why does no one bother with junior development? and Why is everyone so out of touch with reality and what junior athletes should be racing?

The Triathlon Australia National Performance Director is a disaster, a failure and completely incompetent. He needs to go, along with his useless entourage.

Triathlon Australia you are failing in everything you do.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Keep signing the petition.

Question 40 - 14 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are curious. Why does Triathlon Australia not have any coaching courses available on its website?

Is coach development not a priority for Triathlon Australia?

The entire world can move coaching courses to an online version during the Covid Period, but does Triathlon Australia just stop coach education and growth? - too hard basket?

Then again, with a coach resource article on your site entitled - ‘Recovery: Why doing nothing is the secret to training and racing success’ - maybe hold off on spreading your education knowledge.

Triathlon Australia you are failing in everything.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Question 39 - 13 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members wanted to check you were keeping your word.

On 6 October, Emma Carney received a letter to say

‘Any further posts or communications by or from you (Emma Carney) will not be responded to and will simply be sent to SIA (Sport integrity Australia).’

It should be noted, Emma Carney was already keeping Sport Integrity updated, but two reminders cant hurt….

Members wanted to ensure Triathlon Australia did in fact pass on the following posts and communication from Emma Carney to Sport integrity Australia since this 6 October letter. These have been the following -

Posted to Facebook, Instagram Stories and Twitter and website, emmacarney.com

1 - 6 October 2 Threatening Legal Letters from 2 separate Triathlon Australia lawyers to Emma Carney

2 - 6 October 1 Threatening Legal Letter from Triathlon Australia to Rod Cedaro asking him to not agree with Emma Carney (and 1300 Members who dared sign a petition to say they agreed with Emma Carney)

3 - 7 October a question from Triathlon Australia Members to TA President asking for clarification on her TA Annual report statements that contradict with her actions

4 - 8 October a REAL Lawyers letter. My response to items 1 & 2 above.

5 - 8 October a News Corp article, printed Nationally ‘Carney targets triathlon administration with ‘serious complaints’

6 - 8 October a statement from Emma Carney thanking everyone for remaining with the sport of Triathlon despite Triathlon Australia appalling member protection, athlete safeguarding and general failings.

8 - 9 October Members response to Triathlon Australia Open letter dated 6 October. The TA 6 October open letter was published by Triathlon Australia and distributed in the same means Emma Carney has published questions for members which Triathlon Australia found so offensive. Talk about hypocritical (https://www.emmacarney.com/membersresponse)

9 - 9 October a News Corp article, printed Nationally ‘Deep Dive into Medal Failure’

10 - 10 October a News Corp full page printed Nationally with the articles ‘Shock Tokyo Race Fix Claims’, ‘The Carney Spat’, Emma Carney Opinion piece and Triathlon Australia response. There was also an online poll regarding reader opinion following the article. Interesting….you may need to threaten and sue Australian sports readers.

11 - 10 October Open letter to all TA Board Directors to respond to the Tokyo Race Fixing claims article. The comments from a TA ‘spokesperson’ muddy the waters further.

12 - October 10 an insidethegames.biz article (largest publication regarding Olympic Sport News) ‘Race-Fixing claims add to Triathlon Australia crisis after Tokyo 2020 failure’ (https://www.insidethegames.biz/.../triathlon-australia-in...).

13 - 11 October a News Corp quote highlight from an Article, printed Nationally providing evidence that TA coaches are bullied by TA and intimidation is rife in the culture at TA (which TA denies).

14 - 11 October a News Corp Article, printed Nationally quoting Emma Carney calling for a full and independent review of TA

15 - 12 October members provided Triathlon Australia with the definition of Match-Fixing.

LinkedIn

16 - 10 October comment on AIS post launching their ‘BeHeard’ program encouraging current and former athletes to speak up about athlete issues. Emma Carney’s comments was -It is all very well to encourage athletes to 'be heard' but I have spoken up about Triathlon Australia failings and have legal threats from Triathlon Australia to shut up 'or else' and membership suspensions so my current athletes are now being targeted. The AIS is aware this is going on, but silence. Where is the AIS support in that?’

17 - 12 October Emma Carney comment on her profile regarding the issues above

18 - 12 October a repeat statement from Emma Carney thanking everyone for remaining with the sport of Triathlon despite Triathlon Australia appalling member protection, athlete safeguarding and general failings.

Change.org

19 - several updates to the 1300 members who have signed the petition.

Triathlon Australia, please advise if Sport Integrity has all the above. Members do hope so.

Triathlon Australia, members would also like to ask, if Triathlon Australia has Emma Carney under suspension, and given Triathlon Australia are also under SIA investigation, should not the entire Board Of Directors, The TA CEO, The President and the National Performance Director (along with his useless entourage) also be suspended?

TA Needs a full and independent review, urgently. Triathlon Australia is rotten to the core.

Keep signing the petition https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Question 38 - 12 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Today members just provide a definition of a sporting sin.

MATCH-FIXING

Match-fixing is when someone influences the course or result of a sports event.

They do this to gain advantage for themselves or for others, and to remove the uncertainty normally associated with sport.

Match-fixing can be done by athletes, teams, agents, support staff, referees and officials or venue staff.

It can happen in any of the following deliberate ways:

• fixing the result

• fixing the points spread

• an athlete’s under-performance,

• an athlete’s withdrawal (also known as ‘tanking’ or ‘manipulation’ and ‘experimenting’)

• an official’s deliberate misapplication of the rules

• interference with the play or playing surface

• abuse of inside information to place a bet

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Every Triathlon Nation should be calling for it.

Question 37 - 7 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Todays question is to Triathlon Australia President.

Members are constantly confused by the statements made by the TA President, because they appear to be in complete contrast to what she is actually achieving.

For example in a past Annual report, the President wrote -

‘The focus on athlete health and wellbeing has been a centre piece of much discussion and project work..’

And

‘We want to hear directly from our members..’

Dear President,

What is Triathlon Australia discussing with regard to athletes - how to silence them through forcing them to sign appalling Athlete Agreements?

With regard to members, they asked for a full and independent review of Triathlon Australia.

Why is this call not answered? What is there to hide?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Members will reply to Triathlon Australia's Open letter and are currently reviewing it, because members concurr with Triathlon Australia. Members believe 'a robust discussion' is vital for good governance but they also like transparency with regard to discussions.

Athletes First. Always.

Keep signing the petition

Question 36 - 6 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Todays question is to TA CEO.

Members are concerned the TA CEO made statements at the time he was appointed to his role as TA CEO, possibly to attain the role, and then not delivered on them at all.

For example, a line from his BIO in an early TA Annual Report was -

He "...remains actively involved with triathlons and his foremost priority is to help raise the level of junior talent in Australia”

Members are not sure which part is more untrue.

Members ask - How is the TA CEO going with his foremost priority? Furthermore, what has the TA CEO done to raise the level of junior talent in Australia in the past 6 years?

One thing making a statement about your foremost priority and a completely different thing delivering on it - delivering requires effort.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Question 35 - 5 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Today members have a question regarding Para Athlete support and classification.  Two appalling situations where Para athletes are treated so poorly, Triathlon Australia should be investigated for these two issues alone.

The issues remain with the athlete classification process - the sole way any elite athlete can be supported by Triathlon Australia.  As noted in the policy, Athlete Categorisation is - 

‘The TA Athlete Agreement will detail the level of support that athletes will receive. This support will be delivered in partnership between TA, the AIS and State Institutes/Academies of Sport (SIS/SAS) as and where available. It should be noted the provision of services to athletes is subject to available resources. Membership of a certain category does not automatically entitle an athlete to receive support, and athletes within the same category may not receive the same level of support.’

…so nothing is really detailed, because the details are missing from the Athlete Agreements….The ‘available resources’ we all know is spent on staff, because 97% of funding is spent on staff salaries (see graph below)

The exceptionally appalling, out of date and inconsistent athlete classification process as overseen by the TA CEO, National performance Director (NPD) and the ‘National Manager Paratriathlon’, is leading to athletes missing out on racing internationally, just because TA are so slow and out of date with their Para classification too.  So Para athletes are let down by the TA Classification, then can also lose out because TA does not argue their case for international Para race classification. 

Members ask why does TA not fight for Australian athlete classifications and why so sloppy with the classification process, when athletes careers rely on it?  If an athlete is not supported by TA, they cannot be internationally classified to race.

The neglect of classification of Para athletes is a major problem of the TA High Performances program, and so too is Athlete care and wellbeing.  What is the TA Athlete Wellbeing lead doing about this major problem?

For example, in 2018, a 2 Time World Para Champion had an accident at the World para Championships, while representing Australia. The accident finished his race. TA never contacted this athlete, all they did was remove him from athlete categorisation and cut all support. TA has never bothered to see how this athlete is. Never checked to see how they are. Well Triathlon Australia, he has had more than 3 further surgeries as a result of the accident and is not dealing with things well.

Triathlon Australia - why do you treat athletes with such contempt?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Question 34 - 4 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Today members are trying to understand the economic impact COVID has had on Triathlon Australia. 

In the most recent (19/20) financial statements available on your website, members note that you added over $522k to your retained earnings (ie profits).  This is nearly $500k more than the previous years, almost a 19x increase.

Members also remember that you stood down staff as per your statement on 29 April 2020…..

“Triathlon Australia today announced it will be implementing partial staff stand downs due to the economic impact of COVID-19. They come into effect from May 1 until June 30 at which time they will be reviewed in line with further developments and government announcements.”

No details were provided, no CEO’s took pay cuts.  In fact nothing was confirmed.  Just a statement was provided by TA. You can read the announcement here.

How many staff were stood down over this 2 month period of 2019/20? If TA were operating on skeleton staff for 2 months (ie 17% of the year) does this mean that your actual salary cost may have been even higher for 19/20?

TA, during this period received all their Sport Australia/AIS funding up front, along with membership fees. Then didn’t have to spend anything. or should it be didn’t have full years salaries costs in 2019/20.

What COVID support payments TA receive in 2019/2020,(eg, Jobkeeper)? This was another detail missing from the audited accounts.  What Government financial support has TA received this year,2020/2021. Members also ask which staff were stood down to save costs as TA stated they would? 

In addition to this, why did TA stand down staff when they were on track to add over $500,000 to their reserves last year (as shown in the TA audited accounts)?  If iTA was a listed company shareholders would be very happy. 

TA isn’t a listed company though - instead TA have members (not shareholders) to look after. Has TA provided any of your athletes financial support during COVID (both in 19/20 and in 20/21)?  Prize money is a source of income for many of these athletes and with no races and borders shut this income-steam would have been shut down to them.  Athletes are also being forced to pay their own way to World Championships and Major events.  Why isn’t this reserve used to help athletes?  

Why no comment from the TA CEO regarding the staff stand downs in his CEO report in the annual report?  Were there any to report on? Not a word was mentioned….why the silence?  How can TA retain so much money for itself while race organisers, athletes and members struggle?  

Members agree the accounts don’t stack up.  Members request TA provide more detail as other National Sporting Federations (NSO) do.

Why the lack of transparency TA?  

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Question 33 - 3 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia.

Today members have a question for the Triathlon Australia national Performance Director (NPD) - possibly the worst NPD in Australian Sport.

Athlete categorisation is required for athletes to receive support from TA. The Categorisation is done by the TA CEO (members have already raised the conflict of interest problem here) and NPD for able athletes and TA adds the one more HP staff members to screw up the Para Categorisation Process.

Members have already raised questions regarding the lack of Para support, and the lack of transparency on Classification (see pic attached). Athlete agreements that athletes are forced to sign inform athletes that the NPD will decide the level of support of each categorised athlete and athletes in the same categorisation level may receive different support amounts.

Really? What is the point on the lack of transparency? Is it to make sure athletes are even more confused? Keep them guessing? Make them think ‘If I do as I am told I will have more support?”

The TA Ceo recently sat the Elite Athlete Commission down and said members are wrong, TA has '45 classified athletes'. Yes you do TA CEO 35 Able, 10 Para. BUT.....The list was last updated June 2018. The TA list of categorised athletes (published on the TA website) contains a footnote advising ‘…April 2021 is the next categorisation review…’ Yes, that right, April 2021.

To the TA NPD you couldn’t be bothered updating the list? There are retired athletes on the list - some retired for over 12 months.

The list is outdated, it is incorrect. What are the 19 people working in the TA HPP actually doing?

To the TA NPD please leave. You are ruining athletes careers. You are requiring them to sign agreements that takes away their basic human rights. You are a bully, you are a failure. You have created such an appalling culture athletes can no longer perform. To quote a current athlete, you run a ’shit program and the world is laughing at us all’.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Question 32 - 2 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Todays question is to Triathlon Australia President.

What odd socials you post.

Firstly, you recently claimed to have ‘volunteered’ 1500 hours to Triathlon, and now a working document (pictured below) claiming overwork.

Given we are repeatedly told of the commitment and work toll, members are concerned perhaps there is no passion for the sports improvement?

As President of Triathlon Australia, it is the Presidents role to ensure the sport is overseen with absolute care for its growth now and into the future.

President, give yourself - give us all - a break, and please resign.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Update - 1 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

No response from Triathlon Australia yet, but some further feedback of mutterings from a member sent to me.

Apparently Triathlon Australia provided an update for Technical officials (TO's) recently. Member open questions were discussed.

Apparently Triathlon Australia is informing everyone that all questions and information are inaccurate and misguided. And...

• TA are fully participating in reviews and assessments with the relevant sports governing bodies.

• It is sad that many of the posts are personally attacking volunteers and staff.

• TA has reached out on numerous occasions but no response.

• TA does not believe in publicly attacking people.

• TA hopes that this toxic tirade will end soon and people take the help and support offered to them.

Members response to above is.

• All questions are argued on fact

• Volunteers MUST understand their actions directly affect and ruin athletes careers, and are destroying out sport.

• Members have not been notified of the commencement of any reviews as yet - what are they?

• Triathlon Australia should not engage in gaslighting and accusing anyone who questions their discraceful governance of the sport of triathlon as mental health. Mentral health is a very serious issue in our community and it should not be used flippantly.

• Emma Carney has been contacted by Triathlon Australia on the following occasions -

  • 1 - President asked for an understanding of the Governance problems once Sport Integrity had notified TA they were to commence gathering information. TA up to that point had ignored ALL requests - this is over several years of conversation and red flagging problems

  • 2 - Triathlon Australia CEO and president sent Emma Carney a 'cease and desist' letter infoming me they will sue if I (and anyone else) continued to point to TA failings

  • 3 - A letter was sent from TA Wellbeing manager - see attached. (Note - The AIS CEO instructed Emma Carney to pull the letter down, because members became so irate.

Emma Carney was surprised the AIS CEO did not care she and all TA members who had an opinion - had been threatened to be sued. No reply to that of course).

Members would like Triathlon Australia to know. Soon Emma Carney will step back. Emma will allow athletes to speak. They have needed time to finish races, compete as best they can with very poor suppport from TA.

Triathlon Australia, you are a failure, members demand a full and independent review and if you continue to accuse Emma Carney of poor mental health you will be sued for defamation and the proceeds will go to a mental health charity.

Keep signing the petition.

Question 31 - Asked 1 October 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

TA Members request that all TA Board Directors take their professional, legal and moral obligations seriously.

Todays Open letter is to Nicole Donegan, Triathlon Australia Board Director.

Members have had a look at your bio on the website, and like that you enjoy triathlons. Members do too. Is this the sole reason you attained your position?

Members have also read that you are serving your third term on the TA Board. Given the continued devastating decline of the sport during your tenure, members suggest you step down.

Members appreciate you are a volunteer, but when decisions you are involved in are destroying athletes careers, you really must ask yourself - should I really be here? Do I want to be a part of this?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Read letter below -

1 October

Open Letter to Nicole Donegan, Triathlon Australia Board Director

Dear Nicole,

Via Email:
Michelle Cooper, Triathlon Australia President
All State and Territory Triathlon Associations (STTA’s) 

I write on behalf of Triathlon Australia (TA) members.

Members have had a look at your bio on the website, and like that you enjoy triathlons.  Members do too.  Is this the sole reason you attained your position?  Members have also read that you are serving your third term on the TA Board.  Given the continued devastating decline of the sport during your tenure, members suggest you step down.  Members appreciate you are a volunteer, but when decisions you are involved in are destroying athletes careers, you really must ask yourself  - should I really be here?  Do I want to be a part of this?

Members are wondering if you (and your fellow Board Directors) are aware Sport Australia (who are, along with the AIS the major financial contributor to TA) provides TA with a document entitled ‘Governance Principles’.  This document provides Sporting organisations with a guide to helping -

‘…sporting organisations to deliver more positive sport experiences more regularly.’

Members are concerned Triathlon Australia have interpreted this to mean the sport executives and staff are to receive larger salaries, have TA pay for their MBA’s or provide free trips to events.  

The positive Sport experiences Sport Australia is referring to are for MEMBERS not staff.  The positive outcomes are for the Sport itself.

In this detailed document, Sport Australia clearly says GOVERNANCE IS: 

• The ‘brain’—the thinking and monitoring part of an organsiation

• Leadership in terms of purpose, strategy and values

• The structures and processes for decision-making in an organisation

• Ongoing, deliberate and proactive

• A set of checks and balances for managing risks

• A method for evaluating organisational performance

And that GOVERNANCE IS NOT 

• The ‘body’—the doing and running of an organisation

• A recognition of long-term service to a sport

• An organisation’s day-to-day and week-to-week activities

• A secondary, sporadic thing to be done when time permits

• A reactive process when things go wrong

• Box-ticking to receive funding

The document also provides the Governance Principles, did you know there are 9?  They are - 

• Principle 1: The spirit of the game— values-driven culture and behaviours 

• Principle 2: The team—aligned sport through collaborative governance 

• Principle 3: The game plan—a clear vision that informs strategy 

• Principle 4: The players—a diverse board to enable considered decision-making 

• Principle 5: The rulebook—documents that outline duties, powers, roles and responsibilities 

• Principle 6: The playbook—board processes which ensure accountability and transparency 

• Principle 7: The defence—a system which protects the organisation 

• Principle 8: The best and fairest—a system for ensuring integrity 

• Principle 9: The scorecard—embedded systems of internal review to foster continuous improvement

Members are sure you are aware of this document.  The TA President has repeatedly claimed to ‘follow all the Sport Australia Governance requirements.’

Members were wondering then why Triathlon Australia is in such disarray.  Do you all disagree with the document.  After all TA does appear to do a lot of ‘box ticking to receive funding’, which Sport Australia specifically asks TA NOT to do…

Co-existing with the governance mess, the TA High performance program is a failing program providing a culture where athletes of the sport are treated without respect or dignity and are subjected to bullying, discrimination, harassment and abuse.  World Class performances in this culture are becoming increasingly difficult for the athletes.  Opportunities to perform are also being reduced as the funding is allocated into the wrong areas.  Age Group athletes are also over charged and left feeling taken advantage of by their own sport.

While the sport is declining, Government funding provided to triathlon Australia has increased substantially.  The allocation of this funding has increased in the areas of administration and employee benefits with no demonstrable positive outcome in athletic performance.  In fact during this time athletic performance has declined significantly, despite the enormous increase in funding and additional staff numbers.  There has been a growth in money reserves at Triathlon Australia, which raises the question as to the correct allocation of Government Funding and whether this is according to its purpose.

As you are a ‘keen triathlete’, members thought perhaps a focus on athlete concerns may resonate with you.  Some of these include – 

·       The decline of international results.

·       Failing National Performance Director, his staff and program.

·       Triathlon Australia High Performance Program Problems, particularly bullying, standover tactics and stripping of athletes’ basic human rights.

·       An appalling disparity in power of staff over athletes.

·       Funding Trends and Allocation focussing on staff not athletes.

·       Triathlon Australia lack of governance transparency with regard to financial reporting.

·       Athlete Safeguarding Concerns.

·       Triathlon Australia High Performance Program Integrity Concerns.

·       Triathlon Australia High Performance Staff Ethical Concerns.

·       Triathlon Australia Athlete pathway concerns.

·       Triathlon Australia Gender Inequality.

·       Triathlon Australia centralised coaching skill concerns.

·       A lack of racing opportunities for all level of athlete

To be honest Nicole, members are quite sick of the silence from Triathlon Australia.  Sport integrity has now taken over 5 weeks to sift through the complaints.  Members want a full independent review.  Our elite athletes deserve so much better.  Why are they being bullied into signing appalling athlete agreements with clauses that wouldn’t stand up in court anyway?  Why is Triathlon Australia using standover tactics?   Why is money spend on so many ‘experts’ in high performance with such poor results?  Why are age group athletes charged exorbitant fees to race for Australia? Why is the President flown to races and then competes?  Why is TA paying for the CEO to complete an MBA?  

TA is NOT a coaching organisation – it is the custodian of our sport.  TA has a role in providing opportunities and support to its members.  TA is not a junket for the senior staff.

Have you noticed that during your term on the Board that TA is in a far bigger mess than when you started? Does it worry you that members are now deserting TA in droves? Is the lack of transparency in TA financial reports - the information provided to members – a concern to you at all? Do you even care that the High Performance program is a shambles?

Members read on your bio you want to watch the Ironman World Championships in Kona.  Is that because there are so few races in Australia? Why has Triathlon Australia destroyed the racing calendar?  What is the purpose of destroying the most important aspect of opportunity and involvement – the races?

Members do not know what you have achieved after three terms on the board and would like you to resign - and on departing, please call for a full independent review.

Regards,

Emma Carney

Question 30 - Asked 30 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

There are a number of members who have concerns with regard to your Member Protection Policy. Sport Integrity are sifting through these concerns.

Today Triathlon Victoria will be sent an open letter from me (a TA member) asking them to initiate investigations under the your Member Protection Policy.

Members will be interested to see the policy working to support its members as it was designed to do, and not simply be a document presented by TA as a facade of care.

Members ask - why does Triathlon Australia ignore so many member protection claims?

May this post remind members they can and should use the Triathlon Australia Members protection policy if they believe they have been subject to any similar issues. They should also open any old issues that Triathlon Australia has ignored in the past.

Read Open letter below.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Keep signing and sharing the petition.

30 September

Open Letter – Member Protection Policy investigation request

Dear Triathlon Victoria,

Via Email

Grant Cosgriff, Triathlon Victoria CEO

Please distribute this letter to all Triathlon Victoria Board Directors

I would like to submit a member protection complaint and draw upon the Triathlon Victoria member protection policy (which is the Triathlon Australia Policy) as instructed is the procedure on the Triathlon Victoria website.

As my State Triathlon Association, I request Triathlon Victoria (and Triathlon Australia) fully investigate the creator of this meme, by initiating a member protection investigation according to your stated policies.

Attached to this letter is the meme (page 2) which has details and content that only an individual within Triathlon Australia can provide.  The details are so precise, the individual has to be very close to the TA CEO and TA President or both. Possibly a previous and recently left TA Board Director.

Concerns I have are the following -  

1.     This is a possible data breach. How does the individual know I haven’t let any members submit Triathlon Australia Board Director nominations to Triathlon Australia yet?  This is a blatant data breach and should result in disciplinary action in itself regardless of the content.

2.     This is a member protection issue. Whilst I have publicly stated I cannot be bullied in this fashion, it is still bullying behaviour and in retaliation to my efforts to request an independent review of Triathlon Australia. One action is not equal of the other. Whilst no-one can question my strength and determination, this may not be the same for someone else and if they are prepared to send this, knowing that it was likely to go public, what else are they prepared to say and do to others behind the scenes? I am a fully paid up Triathlon Australia member and should be afforded the same member protections as others and demand as such.

3.     Given the nature of the meme and its bullying nature, is the author in any area of influence within the triathlon community? Do they have access to vulnerable adults or children, do they have any influence in the governance of the sport?  Separate to the first two points, Triathlon Australia need to investigate this to ensure that a person with questionable decision making is not able to exert any influence over any vulnerable members of the community.

If no action is taken then Triathlon Victoria and Triathlon Australia are implicitly endorsing this behaviour and demonstrating that my – and members - comments around the lack of transparency, integrity, bullying and intimidating practices rotting Triathlon Australia and leaking into our STTA’s are true.

Attached Meme below 

Sincerely, 

Emma Carney

Phone number used to communicate meme 0434 894 324.

Question 29 - Asked 29 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have a number of concerns around TA as an organisation, its bullying culture, lack of transparency, lack of accountability, poor member protection and failing athlete safeguarding.

Members today sent an open letter to Triathlon Australia CEO, Miles Stewart.

Read letter below.

29 September 2021

Open letter to Miles Stewart, Triathlon Australia CEO

Dear Miles,

Via Email:

Miles Stewart, Triathlon Australia CEO
Michelle Cooper, Triathlon Australia President
All State and Territory Triathlon Associations (STTA’s) 

I write to you on behalf of Triathlon Australia (TA) members.

Members have a number of concerns around TA as an organisation, its bullying culture, lack of transparency, lack of accountability, poor member protection and failing athlete safeguarding.  

Members would like to know what you have achieved over the past 6 years in your role as Triathlon Australia CEO.

Regards,

Emma Carney

Semi Update - 28 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

No real update, but perhaps some trolling from Triathlon Australia. The genius sent through on phone number 0434 894 324. Probably shouldn't troll without a blocked number.

Anyway a few corrections -

• Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review

• Emma Carney will never work at TA, never wants to.

• Emma Carney has presented facts on behalf of members submitting facts.

• Nominations for the TA Board will be from members, not Emma Carney.

• Emma Carney is female.

• Emma Carney is left handed.

• Emma Carney has dark hair.

• Emma Carney wears a helmet on her bike.

• Emma Carney doesn't ride shit bikes, have her seat that low or ride in jeans and T-Shirt.

• Emma Carney cannot be bullied.

• Trolling is illegal.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Keep signing the petition.

Question 28 - Asked 28 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Today an open letter was sent to the TA President. Members believe the TA President is failing in her role, as are all TA Directors.

Members have a number of concerns around TA as an organisation, its lack of transparency, accountability, member protection and athlete safeguarding. As President of TA, it is her role to ensure the sport is overseen with absolute care for its growth now and into the future.

When is the TA Board going to take its legal, professional and moral obligations seriously and actually take an oversight role to keep TA’s CEO and NPD in order, or better still remove them?

Read open letter below.

28 September 2021

Open letter to Michelle Cooper, Triathlon Australia President

Dear Michelle,

Via Email:
Michelle Cooper, Triathlon Australia President
All State and Territory Triathlon Associations (STTA’s) 

I write to you on behalf of Triathlon Australia (TA) members.

Members have a number of concerns around TA as an organisation, its lack of transparency, accountability, member protection and athlete safeguarding.  As President of TA, it is your role to ensure the sport is overseen with absolute care for its growth now and into the future.  

Members believe you are failing in this role, as are all TA Directors.

Members would like to make the following points and ask you respond – after all that is the ultimate purpose of your role.  

TA currently has a Strategic Plan 2021-2025, with three pillars identified.  Members would like to address each pillar and understand how ‘success’ is measured at TA, because every strategic pillar identified by TA is misaligned with reality.

One of TA’s Strategic Priorities is listed as:

‘Working in Harmony’

 “Working in Harmony, working together through aligned structures, systems and behaviours, to grow an industry-leading national sports business”.

Members are intrigued by the objective of TA‘…to grow an industry leading national sports business…

There are numerous definitions of Industry, but all seem to focus upon the following:   A group of productive enterprises or organizations that produce or supply goods, services, or sources of income. In economics, industries are generally classified as primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary; secondary industries are further classified as heavy and light.

Likewise there are many definitions of Business, but the following is common amongst definitions:   ’ A business is an entity that seeks to profit from a product or service. An entity that seeks to profit is a business, whether or not it succeeds in obtaining profits. The three main categories of business are service, manufacturing, and retail.; 

Or, another definition of business can be: ‘A business is defined as an organization or enterprising entity engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional activities.  The term "business" also refers to the organized efforts and activities of individuals to produce and sell goods and services for profit.’ 

Members would like you, all Board Directors, and TA CEO to know - there is and is no ‘industry’ of TA or around the World.  TA set NOT set up as a business to make a profit or sell a service.  There are no shareholders in TA, there is no distribution of profits or a need to generate large reserves.  There is a need for TA to be financially secure, so that the sport can develop and grow, but reserves larger than are necessary to support the sport of triathlon in Australia are quite unnecessary. 

It is important that the TA Strategic Plan recognises that TA is the custodian of triathlon in Australia for the International Triathlon governing body – World Triathlon.  It is also important that TA needs to acknowledge that without members and athletes there is no need for TA to exist.  In essence therefore the most important people involved in Triathlon in Australia are the members.  It is not possible to grow the sport of triathlon in Australia without increasing the number of members.  It doesn’t appear you understand this very simple principle that applies to TA.  

You have presided over what is the most dramatic decline in TA Membership in the history of TA in Australia, at a time when funding of Triathlon by Sport Australia and the AIS has never been so high.  Losing members is a very clear and very public statement of disharmony.  It is also quite clear from your strategic plan you don’t even understand the significance of this.

To add to the member discontent, another area this ‘Working in Harmony’ strategic pillar is failing dismally. This is with regard to member protection – both athletes and coaches.  Athletes and coaches of all levels, junior, Youth, U23, Elite, Able, Para and Age Group - many have a story to tell of bullying, harassment, neglect and unfair treatment suffered at the hands of TA, especially TA’s CEO and National Performance Director (NPD).  

TA’s NPD is a failure.  With the worst results on record, will the TA National Performance Director be removed?  Is there any accountability?  In failing to hold staff accountable, the entire TA executive is a failure.

You need to resign, the TA Board Directors need to resign, the CEO needs to resign, the HPD needs to resign, the executive need to resign.  You all need to go and new people are needed, people with open minds, people who understand the role and purpose of TA, people who believe in transparency, integrity, do not agree with and will not accept bullying need to be any part of running TA, or in a few years new people will be the founding members of a new national governing body for Australian Triathlon when TA inevitably will be closed down, or quite simply collapse.  

Moving onto the second of 3 pillars, of TA’s Strategic Priorities identified – 

‘Winning when it matters’ - “Performance driven, athlete focussed, optimised and supported programs”

Members are unsure of which strategic pillar is more misaligned with reality, the ‘working in harmony’ or this ‘winning when it matters’.  In fact both are just ‘Motherhood Statements’ containing no substance whatsoever.  They are nothing more that ‘it would be nice if that could ever happen, but really we have no vision for achieving these motherhood statements, no specific timeline for their achievement and what is equally important no plan regarding just how those statements could ever be fulfilled – because we just don’t know how to achieve those dreams.’

Members would like to point out that a country does not suddenly lose talent, but a regime governing a sport can ruin an athletes’ career.  

With this fact in mind, Members have the following suggestions on how TA can provide the support and opportunities to allow athletes to perform again as Australian Athletes can.

• In achieving an effective HP Pathway is to actually have a Pathway.  TA has been employing a Pathway Manager for the last 16 months, when are we going to see a Pathway;

• Simply employing new TA Athlete Pathway Leads around the country will achieve nothing, because the NPD overseeing the entire program is already a failure.  More staff, same leader…same result.  Failure.  Repeat tomorrow what failed today and tomorrow is a guaranteed failure.

• As was noted in the NTA information booklet, circa 2012/13, and referred to previously, investment in Juniors and pre-elite development is critical to future success.  TA cannot continue to ignore its Juniors and expect long term success.

• ·Offer more race opportunities.  Elite Australia athletes are lucky to see perhaps 6 races a season.  Did you know in Europe, between the ETU / Continental Cups, French Grand Prix, German Bundesliga, and each countries’ National Championships, there are over 50 races athletes could choose from in any full season.  All of these races are available for Australian Development athletes to race, BUT TA refuses to fund development athletes, refuses them starts, refuses them development opportunities.  What an absurd approach.  Ignore the future.  Was this designed by the failing NPD and the TA CEO, and then approved by the TA Board Directors?

• How about spending more on athletes and less on staff.  TA’s expenditure of staff is 57% of total expenses, compared with leading countries such as France, GBR and USA who each spend between 13% and 35%.

• Michelle, you are overseeing this train wreck.  You have a privileged role of caring for Triathlon in Australia now and into the future.  What you are currently overseeing is appalling.

Moving onto the third of 3 pillars, of TA’s Strategic Priorities identified - 

‘A sport for everyone’

Making triathlon and multisport easier to access, more relevant and more rewarding for more people of all backgrounds, ages, genders, sexual orientations and ability levels.  

This is yet another Motherhood Statement.

Members ask - What does this mean?  Members did struggle through the accompanying ‘Proof Points’ in the Strategic Plan, but were really left none the wiser.  

Does this statement really mean – ‘A sport for everyone, as long as everyone does what TA says and doesn’t have an opinion on anything?’

Again, members ask - how will TA know when it has achieved this?  What are the measurables in this strategic goal of TA?

Members’ also noticed the Behavioural Framework contained within TA’s strategic plan.  In particular, the framework lists five behaviours that define TA’s character and guide how TA behaves.  I want to draw your attention to 1 particular behaviour – ‘Accountability’

Members are a little tired of the lack of accountability, lack or transparency and lack of integrity shown by TA.  Some examples (and remember this list in not exhaustive) -  

• Slow progress on One-Management Model – what is the current state, and when will members receive details on the structure?  What is the secrecy?

• Declining membership revenue – members are aware TA have restructured memberships to try to boost numbers, because they have been in decline for years.  Will TA report membership numbers and revenue with transparency?

• Accounting and figures lack of transparency.  Audited accounts missing notations and cross reference numbers.  Why is this?  Why the increasing lack of detail of reporting in recent years?

• Increasing staff expenses – 97% of AIS and Sport Australia funding to Staff salaries…Members understand the TA CEO has had his MBA funded by TA, why was over $1.1m spent on travel and accommodation in a lockdown year?  What was the money spent on and for what purpose.

• The Financial Statement included $233, 058 described as ‘Other Expenses’.  Almost a quarter of a million dollars of members funds with no adequate explanation.  Just how does TA spend that much of members funds and not have a reasonable description of what the expenditure related to?

• No clarity to members on roles and responsibilities of TA staff - what do all 18 staff in HP actually do?  Why does the CEO have a PA – is this necessary? Small to medium size sport CEO’s don’t require this.

• Company Secretary failures - why aren’t the by-laws published?

• High performance results – why is the NPD not removed?  He is a failure.  Athletes have voiced their lack of confidence in his failing program.

• Olympic Selections (team and reserve/s) – why was the top ranked female not selected.? Why select older athletes and not allow younger males the experience?

• General administration (including errors in policy documents, website not up to date, media reports patchy and not covering everything for members)

• Athlete agreements stripping all athletes of basic human rights. Widespread athlete abuse, bullying

• TA standing over coaches and bullying their athletes.

• Categorisation - retired athletes still on the list.  Proven athletes not Categorised.  Categorised athletes not racing but being funded. Retired athletes categorised.  Why so few Para athletes supported?  Out of date constantly.

• Lack of communication to members - no feedback on the member survey undertaken 18 months ago

• Not adopting the National Integrity Framework

• Cancelling the Townsville Multi Sport World Championships over a year before the event 

• Appalling member protection policy record

• TA Board Directors failing dismally in their responsibilities of – 

  • Oversight of the development of appropriate policies within which the organisation should operate

  • Appoint and evaluate the performance of the CEO – is this done ever?

  • Engage and communicate with stakeholders in triathlon and broader sport community

  • Identify … risks/threats for triathlon and sport generally

• Apparent ‘reviews’ being planned while no transparency of who has called for the review, no published terms of reference, no commencement date, no complement date, no public announcement, and the review board has the TA CEO, yourself, Board members and a select few handpicked TA supporters.  This type of review is a coverup.

When is the TA Board going to take its legal, professional and moral obligations seriously and actually take an oversight role to keep TA’s CEO and NPD in order, or better still remove them.  It appears they are the cause of much of this disharmony from members?  Is the CEO calling the shots?  Is the bullying staff, coaches and athletes complain of also at the executive level?  Many members are saying ‘the fish rots from the head’.  Are you part of the rot Michelle? Are you causing the rot?

How does the TA executive know when they have achieved their strategic objectives?  There is no way of measuring this.  This vital detail is omitted again.  Again, no accountability.

Michelle, your tenure as TA president will go down as the most appalling in the history of Triathlon in Australia.  That is quite a feat.  If you had any regard for TA, its members and the future of the sport you would resign, and call for a full independent review from the Federal Sports Ministers Office.  Given the absolute failings of the sport of Triathlon under your tenure, the lasting memory your name will only provide to the sport is potentially the only President to be removed from office.  Members are Triathlon Australia, without their support TA and those in positions of leadership are nothing.

Do the honourable thing by the sport of Triathlon and resign.

Sincerely,

Emma Carney

Update (more coverups from TA)- 27 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

No reply to Member questions, but there has been some discussion (read - standover tactics) where the Elite Athlete Commission (EAC) - the group who are the voice of Athletes at TA - that Triathlon Australia will conduct a review of athlete feedback.

Triathlon Australia has ‘told’ the EAC, only categorised athletes will be involved (so the ignored athletes can be further ignored), there are no indication of who has called for the review, no published terms of reference, no commencement date, but all will be done by the end of November.

The review will be a questionnaire and the review panel will include TA CEO, TA President, TA Board Directors, the STTA’s in favour of the TA Future Operating Model ‘One Management’.

What a joke.

Triathlon Australia, members would like to remind you what Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck said in response to concerns -

‘Sports administrators also have a responsibility to provide appropriate governance and support for all athletes and staff, ensuring they are treated appropriately.’

Triathlon Australia, you need a full independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Keep signing the petition - https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Question 27 - Asked 27 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are saddened you have not taken the time for a single acknowledgement to the career and the retirement of one of your most accomplished athletes in recent times.

Gillian Backhouse last week wrote -

‘Dear Triathlon, What a ride it’s been but it’s time to say goodbye. A dream that began 21 years ago when a 9 year old girl was so inspired by the Sydney Olympics has come to an end. For 14 years I have loved this sport, and love it I still do. I have travelled the world, met and worked with so many wonderful people, achieved things I never in a million years thought I would. It has been truly special and I cannot thank enough everyone who has had even the smallest part to play this in this journey.’

Triathlon Australia it takes nothing to show kindness and respect to athletes. Why have you ignored this retirement? How hard is it to actually acknowledge your athletes careers, show respect, say ‘Thank You’?

Triathlon Australia, Members would like to remind you what Gillian achieved - World Triathlon 72 Starts, 17 Podiums, 7 Wins - amongst all her domestic race starts. Gillian was part of the Commonwealth Games GOLD medal winning mixed Team Relay on the Gold Coast.

Off the field, Gillian was also an active member of the Triathlon Australia Elite Athlete Commission - a position members understand Gillian fought hard for athletes rights.

Congratulations on your career Gillian. You have always remained understated, modest and humble. You raced with the highest of integrity and remained your own person. Thank you for all you have given to the sport of Triathlon. The Australian triathlon community is very grateful.

Athletes First. Always.

 Question 26 - Asked 26 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have a quick question today, as it is Sunday members would rather be out Training.

To the TA National Performance Director (NPD) because he has so much power over athletes he is currently abusing, and to the TA CEO - because the CEO is Chair of selection…

Members understand that TA forces athletes to sign athlete agreements. These are written in such a way that to qualify to represent Australia every athlete must sign away all basic human rights and if, for one moment an athlete challenges any decision of TA or the HP Program an athlete can be forced to refund all past TA financial support AND endure punitive punishment such as being forced to engage in community service work? These agreements also allow the NPD to allocate funding as he (and the CEO) feels, with no reason to justify any decision of support. Why does the NPD director spent 97% of Sport Australia and AIS funding on staff and not athletes, then expect Athletes to pay for travel costs because 'there is no money'.

Hopeless - lets do what we want with government funding, with no accountability and no transparency…

Members were wondering, given that both the NPD and the TA CEO have failed dismally, could they refund their salary payments? Could the CEO refund members on the MBA he is completing that some members believe TA is paying for? Would they like to be forced to do community service instead?

Members ask, while all athletes currently left in the NPD hopeless program, have been forced to sign these agreements, has the Wellbeing Manager been OK with this stripping of basic human rights on athletes? Are the TA Board Directors all ok with these athlete agreements? Why does no one at TA care for athletes?

Again members ask - Why does TA treat athletes with such distain?

To the TA National Performance Director, you are a bully, your program is failing, you ignore Para athletes and you have one of the worst performing HP programs in the country. Please resign.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Keep sharing the petition. https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

 Question 2, 25 - Asked 25 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members couldn’t help noticing your social posts yesterday congratulating two women with the following -

‘Congratulations ….These two ladies are among 28 coaches from 20 different sports participating in the inaugural AIS Elevate Women Coach program. We can't wait to continue following their coaching journey!’

Members were curious.

Is it a coincidence one lucky coach is a Triathlon Queensland Board Member - the Triathlon federation most closely aligned and supporting the Triathlon Australia future Operating model 'One Management '?

While the other lucky coach is from Western Australia - the STTA who has openly stated they will not support the One Management model?

Is Triathlon Australia favouring STTA’s in support and also trying to win over another STTA’s support? Is this in the best interests of Triathlon?

Ladies members are proud of you, but don’t allow Triathlon Australia use the false promoting of the advancement of Women to disguise their hidden agenda.

Another question members are sure the TA CEO and President will conveniently ignore.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

 Question 1, 25 - Asked 25 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Triathlon Australia Members request that all TA Executives take their professional, legal and moral obligations seriously.

Open letter sent to David Tucker, Triathlon Australia Board Director.

David, members ask, why is there such a toxic culture in Triathlon Australia? Why are athletes treated with distain, development pathways in disarray, why are age group athletes over charged and left with no race series anymore? Why doesn't Triathlon Australia have a sponsor - this is your area of apparent 'expertise'..why are the TA Board Directors so silent - are they bullied too?

Triathlon Australia, members ask, do members need to write open letters to every board executive member individually for them to take their roles seriously?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review. Triathlon Board Directors must step down. All have failed.

Read open letter below.

25 September 2021

Open Letter to David Tucker, Triathlon Australia Board Director 

Dear David,

Via Email:
Michelle Cooper, Triathlon Australia President
All State and Territory Triathlon Associations (STTA’s) 

I write on behalf of Triathlon Australia (TA) members.

The skills, knowledge and experience that you can bring to the TA Board of Directors are not readily apparent from your bio on the TA website.  There is the nebulous description of ‘…having held senior sports marketing with Nike in Australia and the UK…', selling Manchester United merchandise and then joining the now defunct and Football Federation Australia as head of commercial, before joining an online sports merchandise business and ‘….forming…’ a ‘…sports consultancy business…’.  All that during a 20 year career working in the sports industry.

Members believe there is no mention of leadership, no mention of strategic thinking and no mention of very much really.  A lot of selling stuff for others, and being told what to think and do… Is this how it is on the TA Board Executive – do what the CEO says, be bullied by the President?

It would be fair to say that anyone can sell Manchester United Football shirts, shorts, caps, socks and the like.  Because – Manchester win, and the club management focus on success both on and off the field.  Just as TA Board Directors should.

Managers note, with your involvement with Football Federation Australia well, this was never particularly successful, has typically struggled to attract valuable sponsors and valuable TV rights (which apparently was your area of expertise at FFA).  When looking for a more revealing bio of your skills and achievements members couldn’t even find a sports consultancy business TCA through a simple google search…puzzling.  

David, what is not clear to members, is 

·       What specific skills you have bought to TA as a Board member?

·       What leadership qualities do you possess that you can then strongly debate with your fellow Board members to effect change?

·       What is your position on advocating for and on behalf of members - do you endorse the bullying culture of TA? 

·       Do you advocate transparency and high integrity on all issues? 

·       Do you believe that 93% of taxpayer funded Government grants provided to TA by the AIS/SA should be spent on the bloated bureaucracy of TA?

·       Do you endorse and approve the failed and broken HP program?

·       Do you believe that it is right there is no National Race Series?  There are no development pathways, juniors remain unsupported and athletes have no opportunities?

·       Do you agree that athlete contracts are written in such a way that to qualify to represent Australia every athlete must sign away all basic human rights and if, for one moment an athlete challenges any decision of TA or the HP Program an athlete can be forced to refund all past TA financial support AND endure punitive punishment such as being forced to engage in community service work?

·       Do you understand that TA only exists because there are members - it is a member based organisation - and if you do - why do you not, as a Board member, challenge the lack of transparency, the bullying, the toxic culture of TA and make sure it is stopped?

You worked for a company, Nike, that since its very beginnings in 1971 always supported the rights of athletes.  It is part of the ethos of Nike, yet you are now a TA Board Director of a member based sporting body that trashes members rights, has disregard for members opinions, will try to financially ruin members who have the temerity to challenge the culture of TA, impose a HP program that is failed and broken on athletes which inhibits their ability to be successful internationally as Australia’s world standing in triathlon continues to decline.  Did you not learn and understand from your time at Nike one of the fundamental reasons for their success was to always support the athletes because without athletes there is no sport, without members there is no TA? 

David the members would like to know what you stand for as a Board member, when, how and what you advocate for them, the members.

You have been silent during the call for an independent review of TA.  When considering your fellow TA Board Directors - Marlene Elliot works for an organisation that embraces regular independent enquiries, Stuart Corbishley is the Principal of a Sports law firm that advises on  ‘…governance and integrity matters…’, Nicole Donegan is the Principal of a strategy business advising on many areas including corporate member satisfaction, client and stakeholder research, corporate governance and strategic planning, but less is known of Alex Gosman other than he is a long term Canberra resident who now prefers Ocean swimming to triathlon and yourself, other than you have spent over 20 years in the sports industry .  

Most of your fellow TA Board members has espoused some fine words, but no demonstrable results are evident to members.  There is no evidence of such fine words from you in your bio – a pity and notable omission.  Nevertheless, it is integrity and accountability members seek, and you all equally lack these qualities.

What the members would like you to do is resign immediately and as you depart request the Federal Sports Minister initiate an independent review of TA.

Members thank you for your time, but your time is well and truly over.   

Regards, 

Emma Carney     

 Question 2, 24 - Asked 24 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have a second question for today, for the Triathlon Australia National Performance Director, because this individual is head of the HP Program at TA so is the ultimate decision maker and a man with excessive power over athletes.

To kick things off, and as we mentioned Power - members would like to know why the Triathlon Australia High Performance program has such a disparity in power. Why are athletes treated with distain and bullied and the High Performance staff are allowed to submit the athletes to this culture?

In Tokyo, why was Triathlon Australia instructing athletes to use unproven equipment in the Mixed Teams Relay. Members understand Triathlon Australia was provided with additional incentive funding for a silver medal TA promised it would in in Tokyo in the mixed teams relay. In the lead up to the relay planning, members understand Athletes were forced to walk away from personal equipment sponsors and forced to use certain bike equipment the National Performance Director required them to use. There is then the infamous ‘platform shoes’. (Pictured below). Members note all the TA key performance staff....could no-one see this was a terrible idea? Did no one say 'this hasnt worked yet, why use them in an Olympic final?' Why were they even considered suitable? Members say - what the actual F—K?

If the National Performance Director was so dedicated to improving athlete speed, why the hell wasn’t the best ranked Australian Women - Natalie VanCoevorden - selected for Tokyo? The best ranked is generally the fastest. No gimmick required. No bullshit. Proven. Race fit. Tested. Ready to go.

TA National performance Director, members are concerned that yourself and the Chair of Selection - TA CEO - took it upon themselves to leave Natalie Van Coevorden off the team, because she had the initiative, drive and passion to pursue top class racing during a world wide pandemic, dared to travel overseas, race the World Triathlon circuit and prepare herself for Tokyo, better than any other Australian triathlete. Some team members had not competed at the elite level for a whole year. What Natalie did was a testament to the drive, passion and courage required of an elite athlete in order to succeed.

Members understand TA, through your instruction, provided no support to Natalie, and then, despite her proving to be race fit, prepared and ready, you refused to select Natalie VanCoevorden for Tokyo for a reason or reasons that have never been justified. Members understand that because she dared to think for herself, race competitively and select races to race on the World circuit Natalie Van Coevorden was omitted from the team out of spite.

Members ask - is this the reason Natalie VanCoevorden was left off the Tokyo team - spite, or perhaps your Svengali example to all other triathletes to never challenge the authority of the TAESC - the TA National Performance Director and the CEO?

The only other possible reason is the National performance Director simply doesn’t care for results, just so long as his authority is not challenged.

This second reason is a possibility, because once the Olympics were over, members understand the TA National performance Director left Tokyo and went home.

Members are appalled. The Triathlon Australia National Performance Director didn’t even bother to remain in Tokyo to attend the Paralympics.

To the TA National Performance Director, members say - you are a failure. Your program stinks of bullying and intimidation. You have dried up pathways and triathlon development in this country, and your lack of support of Para athletes is utterly shameful.

You are destroying the ability of our High Performance athletes that are left to perform to the best of their ability, because you provide no transparency, integrity, support or opportunities in your useless program.

Please resign, along with your useless entourage. Triathlon has had enough.

 Question 24 - Asked 24 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Triathlon Australia Members request that all TA Executives take their professional, legal and moral obligations seriously.

Open letter sent to Alex Gosman, Triathlon Australia Board Director.

Triathlon Australia, members ask, do members need to write open letters to every board executive member individually for them to take their roles seriously?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review. Triathlon Board Directors must step down. All have failed.

Read open letter below.

24 September 2021

Open Letter to Alex Gosman, Triathlon Australia Board Director

Dear Alex,

Via Email: 

Michelle Cooper, Triathlon Australia President

All State and Territory Triathlon Associations (STTA’s) 

I write to you on behalf of Triathlon Australia members.

Your bio listed on the TA Website does not reveal very much about why you are a Board member of TA or what specific skills and knowledge you bring to Board of Directors of TA - granted you were once President of TACT for 3 years.  

Members wonder - was your Presidency during the period when the TACT membership peaked at more than 1,000 or was your Presidency during the period of decline in membership more than 17% (which is almost as terrible as the decline in TA Membership of 23% over the same period).

Other than a ‘3 year stint as President of TACT’, all members can obtain from your bio is that you were once an ‘…avid suburban triathlete…’ (whatever that means).  Now you claim you are more interested in Ocean swimming and coaching.  

Members find this change of interest from you very disappointing.  Why does your interest in Triathlon wane during the period you are a Triathlon Australia Board Director? 

Members believe it is very contradictory that you have a decreasing interest in Triathlon, yet remain a Triathlon Australia Board Director all at a time when Triathlon in Australia - 

·       Is losing members at over 5% a year, despite spending a fortune on a new membership portal that is failing to increase member revenue.

·       Has a failing high performance program with regard to international results, athlete safeguarding, pathways, development, support and opportunities, and Para athlete support

·       Is spending 93% of taxpayer grants received from the AIS and SA, provided to develop the sport, on a bloated, inefficient staff list. (Yes, that figure is 93%, which means just a miserable 7% is available for athletes.  That must be a World Record proportion of administration spending and misallocation of the purpose of specific grants – well done).

·       Is in a period when Triathlon Australia has an appalling –

o    Member Protection Policy

o    Culture where athletes are treated with distain and bullied while the High-Performance staff are allowed to submit the athletes to this culture

Your bio also makes reference to 30 years of ‘...extensive industry experience…..including leadership of several industry associations and executive positions...' with two companies, plus being an AFL umpire.  I suggest that many people who have been working 30 years would have similar achievements during their careers, but that does not necessarily make them qualify to be a Board Executive of an Olympic sport assuming the responsibility as custodian of the sport for the duration of their Board membership.

Members believe the specific skills you bring to the Board of TA are not readily evident to provide a reason for your position or appointment.  You are a Director during the worst period of governorship, integrity and results in the history of TA.  

Members would like to know is exactly what are you doing and what contribution are you making to the Board Directors discussions and decisions to effect changes at TA so that it becomes an efficient, focussed NSO, treating all members with respect and support, is athlete centric, no longer accepts the bullying standover culture, and removes the focus from staff to athletes with regard to funding.

The members do not know what you do at TA, have seen no evidence of you effectively working to achieve a positive change and ask that you resign immediately, but before departing request the Federal Sports Minister initiate an independent review of TA.  

Regards,

Emma Carney

Question 2, 23 - Asked 23 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia, members have a second question for today.

Members have noticed Australian Cycling have called for a full independent review of the failed handle bar incident at the Tokyo Olympics. That is the response of a responsible NSO, responding to the HP problems.

Members ask Triathlon Australia to cast their memories to the Tokyo Olympic Relay campaign. Members would like to investigate the ‘platform shoes’, which failed pre-Games tests leading into Tokyo. These shoes caused the First Australian athlete in the Mixed Team relay to miss the front bike pack and were then so inappropriate for the race and conditions that a few second T1 deficit blew out into a deficit of more than 30seconds by T2. Derailing the entire relay campaign for Australia.

Triathlon Australia, before you blame the athlete for this loss of time, members are also aware that athletes were required to break long term bike equipment sponsorship contracts, because the TA National Performance Director was bullying and forcing athletes to use equipment on their bikes only he approved. Why is Triathlon Australia so obsessed with maintaining such a disparity in power where athletes are treated with distain and bullied and the HP Director and his useless entourage are so able to continue to behave in this way.

Triathlon Australia - members would like to know if these platform shoes will be marked ‘never to return’. How much did these shoes cost the TA HP program - members understand it was another excessive waste of money.

Members would also like to know if the National Performance Director will also be marked never to return, along with his useless entourage.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review. (Not just an equipment failing review).

Triathlon Australia your National Performance Director must go (along with his useless entourage).

Keep sharing the petition - https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Question 1, 23 - Asked 23 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Triathlon Australia Members request that all TA Executives take their professional, legal and moral obligations seriously.

Open letter sent to Marlene Elliott, Triathlon Australia Board Director. Members note from Marlene’s BIO on the TA website that she is an Associate Director with VUCA Trusted Advisors, who are a boutique advisory firm providing governance, strategy, board performance review and executive search services.

So why is TA such a mess?

Triathlon Australia, members ask, do members need to write open letters to every board executive member individually for them to take their roles seriously?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Triathlon Board executive must step down.  All have failed.

Read open letter below -  

23 September 2021

Open Letter to Marlene Elliott, Triathlon Australia Board Director

Dear Marlene,

Via Email: 

Michelle Cooper, Triathlon Australia President

All State and Territory Triathlon Associations (STTA’s) 

VUCA 

I write to you on behalf of Triathlon Australia members.

Members note from your BIO on the TA website that you are an Associate Director with VUCA Trusted Advisors, who are a boutique advisory firm providing governance, strategy, board performance review and executive search services.

Members draw to your attention therefore to the following extracts from the VUCA website, and point out that what your firm advocates as traits of good corporate governance seems to be in complete contrast to the practices of TA.

Statement 1 (found on VUCA’s website):

“Good corporate practice means great boards undertake regular, independent and external reviews of their own performance.”

https://www.vuca.com.au/services/#Board

Member question.  

As the firm at which you are an Associate Director lists this as a characteristic of good corporate practice, can we assume therefore that, as TA will not agree to engaging an independent review.

The AIS is claiming it will review TA.  The AIS and Sport Australia (SA) are not independent – they are the Principal Partners of TA.  The AIS provides significant funding for the triathlon High Performance program. This Sport Australia partnership also provide dedicated funding to develop increased participation opportunities.  Clearly with such a close relationship the AIS/SA are unable to provide an independent review as those organisations are certainly not independent and the results of any review by the AIS will, as you would be well aware, fail to pass any test of governance and integrity and just as important, would fail the pub test.  

If, as members are certain you agree, based upon the ‘Statement 1’ above, where you clearly advocate regular independent and external reviews, why have you not insisted, along with other TA Board members with strong expertise in both governance and integrity that the members call for an independent review be both acknowledged and accepted and requested the Federal Minister for Sport initiate such and independent review forthwith.    

As an aside, members have pointed out the AIS has been recorded as the ‘Principle’ Partner on the TA website. Can you please advise (because members have no voice to do this) to correct the spelling to ‘Principal’ Partner.  Please also ask for members that TA thoroughly edit their website for spelling mistakes, as I am sure VUCA do.  

Statement 2 (found on VUCA’s website):

“To genuinely improve client experience, it is essential you seek client feedback to measure your performance to truly understand your clients, their expectations, challenges and future business needs.  The program (VUCU’s program) will … improve client experience … deepen relationships with stakeholders … increase client retention and growth …”

https://www.vuca.com.au/services/#External

Member question.  

Your organisation runs programs designed to improve client experience, yet TA does not appear to care whatsoever about what its clients (TA members) think.  In fact, TA’s constitution gives no voting rights or voice to its members.  Remember Marlene, without members, TA is nothing.  So Marlene, can you please tell members what the Board and Executive are doing to ‘improve client (member) experience’, what TA is doing to ‘deepen relationships with stakeholders (members)’ and what TA is doing to ensure ‘client retention and growth’, considering the membership numbers have declined materially for each of the last 4 years.  Please let me give you a clue to the first step TA should be taking – treat members with respect at all times. 

Furthermore, members note in its Annual Report for 2013, 2014 and 2015, TA published results of stakeholder satisfaction surveys undertaken presumably to help, as you say, … improve client experience … deepen relationships with stakeholders … increase client retention and growth.  Then, from 2016, no more.  Can you please explain to members why TA no longer sees the need to undertake such surveys, especially considering the importance that you and your own organisation places on improving client experiences?  Is TA not listening to you and VUCA’s advice?  It is interesting to note the TA Annual Reports show that immediately TA stopped listening to in 2016 the membership began to decline.  Can you please also confirm if that was the same year that the current TA CEO commenced in the role. 

 Statement 3 (found on VUCA’s website):

“Boards and individual directors have a vital role to play in continually improving, risk and strategy oversight of their organisation for long term sustainable growth. Critically the role extends to Boards providing ongoing and effective cultural stewardship.”  

So, can you please answer these questions for members Marlene - 

·       How effective would VUCA rate the cultural stewardship TA’s current Board is providing? 

·       What justification can you and the Board provide for overseeing and approving TA’s increase in staff expenses from 18% of total expenses in 2012 to 57% of total expenses in 2020? 

·       Can you please tell members how TA now spending more on staff than it does members will lead to ‘long term sustainable growth’?

Also, if a company’s Board and directors play a vital role in achieving continual growth, then considering the fact that the TA membership numbers have seen constant decline over the previous four years, does that mean TA’s current Board and directors are failing in this area too?  

·       Marlene, do you see a correlation between the decline in membership numbers and the fact TA no longer seeks members’ satisfaction levels?  

·       If you were advising your clients who had experienced a similar decline as this, at what point would your organisation (VUCA) suggest it may be time to let go of those underperforming directors and executives, immediately implement and independent external review and bring about a cultural change?  

Marlene, as does Natalie’s (your fellow Board Director at TA), your BIO appears quite impressive.  So are you actually practicing what your firm preaches and unfortunately being shut down by TA, or is what we see in your BIO all just hot air.

Members would like you and all TA Board Executives to take your legal, professional and moral obligations seriously and step down.  When stepping down make the responsible call for a full independent review of Triathlon Australia through the ministerial office.

Members would like to know why, when you strongly advocate that both:

·       “Good corporate practice means great boards undertake regular, independent and external reviews of their own performance”, 

·       “To genuinely improve client experience, it is essential you seek client feedback to measure your performance to truly understand your clients, their expectations, challenges and future business needs. 

Yet, you continue to be a Board member that does neither.  

Why do you do that?  

Do you engage in robust conversation, putting forward strong arguments and reasons? 

Why are the principles you advocate strongly on the VUCA website not being adopted by the TA Board members?  

You have fellow Board members who are experts in integrity and governance who the members believe would have a similar view as is espoused on the VUCA website.  

Why do you stay on a Board that will either not accept or listen to what you say or you remain silent on, despite your experience? 

Why do you remain silent when members are asking for an independent review of TA?

Why do you not hear and listen to members? 

Marlene, despite the quite inspiring words on the VUCA website actions will always be more effective and telling of any persons commitment to their true beliefs.

Marlene, you have failed the members of TA, it is time to leave, immediately. On the way out please do as you claim is necessary for good corporate practice and request the Sports Minister initiate an independent review of TA and cancel the cosy ‘review by the Principal Partner and major source of funding of TA – the AIS.  

Members believe you and those other Board members of TA that have expertise in Governance and Integrity would have similar views as you and you should join with them in calling for an independent review of TA as the final thing you do before resigning as a TA Board member.

Regards,

Emma Carney

Question 22 - Asked 22 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

All Triathlon Australia Members request that all TA Executives take their professional, legal and moral obligations seriously.
Open letter sent to Stuart Corbishley, Triathlon Australia Vice President..
Triathlon Australia, members ask, do members need to write open letters to every board executive member individually for them to take their roles seriously? Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review. Triathlon Board executive must step down. All have failed.

Athletes First. Always.

22 September 2021

Open Letter to Stuart Corbishley, Triathlon Australia Vice-President

Dear Stuart,

Via Email: 

Michelle Cooper, Triathlon Australia President

All State and Territory Triathlon Associations (STTA’s) 

I write to you on behalf of Triathlon Australia members.

Members have noticed that your bio on the TA website is impressive, but not as impressive as that on the Corbishley Sports Law website corbishleysportslaw.com.au.  The Corbishley Sports Law website boasts the following - ‘Our Principal’, with

"Stuart is an experienced sports lawyer and administrator who advises state, national and international governing bodies on a range of legal, commercial, governance and integrity matters. Stuart headed up the legal teams at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and at AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015, and was involved in establishing Cricket Australia’s men’s and women’s Big Bash Leagues, Netball Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball competition and Athletics Australia’s Nitro Athletics”.

What is of particular interest to members of TA, a small organisation compared with some of the impressive sporting bodies you have been associated with, is the statement - 

"Stuart is an experienced sports lawyer and administrator who advises…..on a range of legal, commercial, governance and integrity matters…”

Unfortunately, members note that as Vice President of Triathlon Australia (a position that desperately requires these skills), and ask, just what are you doing to ensure the areas of your speciality skills are being effectively utilised? 

Members are concerned about many issues at TA, that align exactly to your area of expertise and skills, namely legal, commercial and integrity matters.  Your role as a senior Director of TA, your level of engagement and you influence on the TA Board should be significant.  

What troubles so many members - and these should also alarm you, given your expertise - include the following (noting this is not an exhaustive list) -

·       The lack of transparency at TA, 

·       The lack of athlete safeguarding at TA, 

·       The abhorrent and disgraceful neglect of Para athlete pathways and support by TA,

·       The appalling lack of transparency with regard to Athlete Agreements, Selection Policies and Athlete Categorisation at TA,

·       The abuse of power over athletes, the forced loss of athlete human rights and the standover tactics used by HP staff over athletes, (As an expert in governance and integrity matters, members ask surely you cannot condone TA acting in such a manner……surely you cannot?),

·       Obvious Conflicts of Interests with regard to both the President and CEO (and probably others),

·       The lack of member protection at TA, 

·       The appalling bullying of athletes, members, staff and coaches at the hands of TA,

·       The failure of the High Performance (HP) program, in the vital area of athlete pathways, 

·       The failure of the HP program regarding two basic necessities for athletes - support and opportunities at TA, 

·       The failure of the HP program entirely in attaining world class results for the sport of Triathlon,

·       The excessive over expenditure on TA salaries and staff costs, 

·       The absurd financial costs to triathlon Australia such as the high travel costs when the possibility of travel due to a worldwide pandemic was impossible, 

·       The failure of disclosure in the TA financial statements, 

·       The implementation and high cost of a mew membership system which has failed, continued to see a 5% compound reduction in TA membership and revenue and left members overcharged is many instances,

·       The failure of TA to provide a race calendar inclusive of all members,

·       The failure of TA to respond to member concerns,

·       The failure of TA to adequately assess the CEO on a regular basis,

·       The complete failure of TA in the management of the sport with regard to the three strategic pillars identified in the TA Strategic Plan – member growth, member inclusion and World leading, ‘Winning when it matters’ HP program results,

·       The appalling lack of transparency with regard to TA financial statements, the massive overspending, the inability of members to attend the AGM, to vote and be fully informed of decisions being made by TA Executives and Board members, plus so may more issues, all of which you would be well aware in your elevated and lofty position as Vice president….

So many problems and so many more issues where TA are failing members, failing the Sport of Triathlon, failing Australian Sport and failing tax-payer funding.  Surely, a man of your experience, you do understand the importance of your role on the TA Executive Board?

Do you listen to members?  Do you care for Athletes?  

Without both, TA would not exist.  Athletes have no power in the current structure. Members have no say in the current structure.  All policies are written in TA’s favour.  Have you had your leadership hand in approving all this, as the Professional Lawyer on the TA Executive Board?  Have you turned a blind eye to the bullying?

Members and athletes should have a voice, all matters at TA should be transparent to members and athletes at all times and TA should work to the highest integrity levels at all times.  You and the current Board of Directors do not listen to members.  The numbers of members quitting TA every year illustrates you and your fellow Board of Directors do not listen, are not transparent and do not have their interests as a priority in a member’s based organisation.  

Sport and sport organisations continue to grow in Australia, yet TA continues to decline.

Stuart, members demand you apply the same quality of leadership that you have claimed to apply to other sporting organisations so that TA could benefit from all your apparent skills, knowledge and expertise.  Sadly, it seems despite rising to the senior executive role of Vice President at TA, the problems of TA and the disengagement with members because of all the issues previously mentioned it is time for you go.  

Do not tarnish the reputation you have established through your stellar career, instead maintain that reputation by calling for an independent review of TA as you go.  On doing this, you will demonstrate leadership and integrity to all members and the remaining Board members that are silently sitting on their hands endorsing the failed governance practices of TA.  You have a leadership role and you should exercise that for the benefit of all members and for a renewed future of TA.  

Ask yourself a simple question – am I part of the problem or part of the solution.  If you are unsure, remember the more than 5% compound loss of members year by year is the silent vote by past members of their loss of total lack of confidence in the TA Board, individually and collectively, the TA CEO, the TA President and TA senior staff.   Those members have turned their back on you all, may never return when you have finally gone and a restructured triathlon National Federation is in place.

Finally, yourself, the TA President, your fellow Executive Board members, the TA CEO, and leadership staff at TA have all demonstrated a quite amazing ability to disenfranchise both the membership and the athletes.  TA in its present form is beyond being saved.  Your role and those of your fellow Board Executive is one of custodian of the sport of triathlon.  Your time associated with triathlon, as with your fellow Board Executives, President, CEO and staff will be brief, but triathlon will endure, will remain a part of Australian sport forever - as all great Australian sports.   

There are just three possible ways all of you, and those in senior positions will be remembered at TA.  

1. A very small and select few will be remembered for their outstanding contribution to the sport

2.  A larger number will be remembered for really screwing things up and damaging triathlon

3. The vast majority of those custodians will just be forgotten because they were inept, faceless, made no positive contribution and were just a waste of time during their custodianship.

Ask yourself how you would like to be remembered and then act accordingly.

Regards,

Emma Carney 

Question 21 - Asked 21 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

All Triathlon Australia Members request that all TA Executives take their professional, legal and moral obligations seriously.
Open letter sent to Natalie Edwards (below) , TA Board Executive and Chartered Accountant.
Triathlon Australia, members ask, do members need to write open letters to every board executive member individually for them to take their roles seriously? Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review. Triathlon Board executive must step down. All have failed.

Athletes First. Always.

21 September 2021

Open Letter to Natalie Edwards, Triathlon Australia Board Executive

Dear Natalie,

Via Email: 

Michelle Cooper, Triathlon Australia President

All State and Territory Triathlon Associations (STTA’s) 

Members note in your Bio on the TA website you are a ‘qualified chartered accountant’.  You will no doubt therefore be familiar with the mandatory professional obligations imposed on all Chartered Accountants by the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board (APESB).  If not, members are happy to remind you of some of these requirements, and also raise a few questions concerning your views/compliance with such requirements.

Question regarding financial statements

Requirement 220.4

“When preparing or presenting information, a Member (you Natalie) shall:

R220.4(c) describe clearly the true nature of business transactions or activities, and (d) not omit anything with the intention of rendering the information misleading.”

Requirement 220.7

“When a Member (you Natalie) who intends to rely on the work of others (your reliance on TA reports) the member shall exercise professional judgement to determine what steps to take, if any, in order to fulfil the above responsibilities (to describe clearly the true nature of TA’s business transactions or activities).”

Members questions therefore of you Natalie are, as a Chartered Accountant who has a professional obligation to comply with the above requirements, what are you doing to ensure TA’s financial statements ‘describe clearly the true nature of business transactions or activities’, and what steps have you taken to ensure TA’s financial statements achieve this.  Whilst you personally may or may not have been involved in the preparation of TA’s accounts, as a director, you are responsible for these accounts.  The buck stops with you and the other TA Board members. 

And, before you say these financial statements are in accordance with the relevant requirements, as we’ve heard the same rhetoric before, the fact that members cannot determine from the financial statements the nature of the funding, including for what purpose it was spent, how much was spent on staff and staff travel, how much was on which particular athletes, etc. TA is wrong, and you are wrong.  TA’s financial statements do NOT ‘describe clearly the true nature of business transactions or activities.’

Question regarding TA’s review by either Sport Australia or the AIS

Natalie, this question is more around your views and actions as a Chartered Accountant to enforce the fundamental concept of independence when it comes to a future review of TA by either the AIS or Sport Australia (SA).

Part 4B of your professional obligations imposed by APES 110 (APES Board) state that:

“The concept of Independence is fundamental to compliance with the principles of integrity and objectivity”…. “There are some situations in which threats can only be addressed by declining or ending the specific Professional Activity”.  

Requirement 900.14

A Firm performing an Assurance engagement shall be independent.

Members comment.  Whilst the AIS or SA may not meet the definition of ‘A Firm’, the principle of this requirement is very much applicable.  Professional regulations state someone reviewing TA should be Independent.  Furthermore, if the person(s) from SA/AIS are also members of one of the three professional accounting bodies, they will not be permitted to review TA as they cannot comply with their professional obligations relating to independence.  

Natalie, members would sure hope therefore that you are strongly advocating for a full INDEPENDENT review because your ‘ethical obligations’ tell you that SA and AIS cannot perform an independent review of TA.

Requirement 920.4

“A Firm (for the sake of this question is SA/AIS) shall not have a close business relationship with an Assurance Client (TA, the recipient of SA/AIS’ review) … unless any Financial Interest is immaterial and the business relationship is insignificant to the client or its management.”

According to SA’s report, it provided TA with $3,647,286 in funding in 2020, representing 56% of TA’s total revenue.  According to TA’s website, the AIS and therefore Sport Australia (SA) is the principal sponsor of TA.  Natalie, how on earth can you, as a Chartered Accountant, feel that the AIS / SA can conduct an independent review of TA?

Before you say SA/AIS does not meet the definition of ‘A Firm’, let me stop you there by agreeing with you.  However, the principle (and Members know you take your ethical responsibilities seriously) remains unchanged.  Natalie, as a Chartered Accountant, members are sure you are well aware of and in support of the professional obligations around Independence, you will be in no doubt that SA/AIS cannot achieve an independent review of TA, and you will be fighting tooth and nail to pressure TA into arranging for a full independent review.

In closing, Members would like to make comment on the various committee’s within TA.

Your expertise as a Chartered accountant would obviously provide you with the skills to chair the Finance, Audit and Financial Risk Committee, overseeing all of the matters noted above.  What is surprising is unlike the normal procedure for any company TA does not list the chair, nor the members of each Board Committee.  Why do you permit this to occur?

There appear to be 4 Board Committees and one, the Equity, Diversity and inclusion advisory Group does not carry the word ‘Committee’.  The subject matter is important, and deserved of a committee.  Why isn’t it used?  The remaining two Committees are Elite Selection committee, which the members understand is chaired by the CEO and the other member is the HPD.  Do you really think the positions of the CEO and HPD makes for a transparent decision making committee? 
The other Committee is the Nomination Committee.  Perhaps you would be kind enough to explain to members the functions and make-up of the Nominations Committee and the make-up of the committee - and also for all TA Committees, after all, the members have a right to know.     

Members also understand the Elite Athlete Group is permitted access to Board Meetings and for the first time this is to occur.  Why has it taken until now for this to occur? Are athletes not important to the TA Board of Directors?

Members would like you and all TA Board Executives to take your legal, professional and moral obligations seriously and step down.  When stepping down make the responsible call for a full independent review of Triathlon Australia through the ministerial office.

Regards,

Emma Carney 

Question 20 - Asked 20 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Members have an intriguing question to be asked today - Why have the Triathlon Australia (TA) Board of Directors been so quiet?

Members have had a close look at the listed Bio’s of each current Board of Directors on the Triathlon Australia website, so all quotes are taken from Triathlon Australia approved documentation.

Members comments are -

‘TRIATHLON AUSTRALIA - Board of Interested Directors’ (good start - the title says they are at least ‘interested’)

President – Michelle Cooper

Michelle Cooper has a past association as a Director of Triathlon Queensland, an organisation that has publicly stated they agree with everything TA does – and received the most financial and other support from TA. Recently, Michelle posted on her socials that she has ‘volunteered’ over 1,500 hours to Triathlon. Members have questions regarding where they can find this tally? Members also wonder how much is this ‘volunteering’ is at members expense travelling to events? There has been many questions raised by members around a conflict of interest between Michelle’s ‘Award Winning’ triathlon coaching business, her triathlon coaching sponsors and her role as President of TA. All questions remain unanswered. Where can members find ‘conflict of interest’ statements and documentation? Members understand Michelle received a $3000 personal grant from Sport Australia to develop her Governance skills. Members are looking forward to seeing the benefit of that investment by Australian taxpayers.

Members believe Michelle has overseen the worst performing period for Triathlon Australia in Triathlon Australia history. Quite a feat Michelle.

Vice President – Stuart Corbishley

Described on the TA website as ‘…an experienced sports lawyer and administrator who advises state, national and international governing bodies on a range of legal, commercial, governance and integrity matters. As the resident Lawyer on the Board of Directors - members ask is it Stuart approving the shocking athlete agreements every athlete is forced to sign? Members are disgusted even junior athletes are required to sign them now. Such intimidation is not acceptable in our sport of Triathlon. Corbishley’s expertise in governance and integrity issues seem misaligned, given the lack of transparency, respect for members, the bullying of athletes, members and staff and other failings members have questioned. The bio notes his various roles, one of which was as head of the Commonwealth Games legal team at the Delhi 2010 Games. Members note the Commonwealth Games Association is a large financial supporter of TA. Members wonder - is this is a coincidence?

Natalie Edwards

Natalie Edwards has previously held the position as Director of Triathlon NSW, another STTA believed to be strongly in favour of the push by TA for the future operating model One Management. Or did she simply swap places with a long time TA board member as he slipped into her position on the board at Tri NSW? Natalie’s Bio provides little other information other than she is a Chartered Account and and ‘…a very active competitor across all distances….at age group level…’ Members admire her passion for Triathlon, but would prefer a passion for Triathlon Australia’s performance, not her own.

Nicole Donegan

Nicole is the Principal and Director of StrategyCo where she has ‘…advised extensively….in the areas of member satisfaction, client and stakeholder research, corporate governance, marketing, branding and strategic planning. A second TA Director, along with TA Vice-President Stuart Curbishley that members would expect would argue strongly for full transparency, respect for all members, be opposed to a bullying culture and would consistently insist upon high integrity on all issues at all times, both of whom, presumably, would therefore not oppose an independent review of TA. It is comforting for members to read in her bio Nicole has ‘…developed a great love of the sport …’ and ’…not a naturally fast athlete…’. Really? Members ask is this how TA Directors adapt ‘Athletes First. Always’..?

Alex Gosman

Alex Gosman is a past chair of Triathlon ACT and chair of the TA Future Model of Operations Committee and has 30 years ‘extensive industry experience’ whatever that means. Alex was an ‘…avid suburban triathlete…’, (what?) but ‘…is now more focused on Ocean swimming…’ (in Canberra?) and ‘…umpires Aussie Rules…’. Well, members see the correlation there - AFL umpires do a lot of backward running and TA members have seen TA go backward rapidly in the past few years.

David Tucker

David Tucker apparently is an expert in sponsorships and selling overpriced soccer kits after working in the sports industry for over 20 years. TA is badly in need of corporate sponsors and members know the TA Women’s race kits are all very ill fitting. These are two areas which David Tucker has had little positive impact despite claiming to be an expert in. David, members are wondering why?

Marlene Elliot

Marlene Elliot, a Director of the Commonwealth Games Association, (members note yet another connection to the Commonwealth Games funding on the TA board). Also Associate Director of a boutique (small) advisory firm providing advice on governance, strategy, board performance review and executive search. Apparently, Marlene is an expert ‘…in client/customer experience, analysis, and translation of feedback to increase retention…. Enable organisational change…’ Marlene also has ‘…Extensive experience working closely with CEO’s, executives and Boards, to increase performance, deliver on brand promise and achieve financial and strategic objectives, strong strategy, governance and marketing skills and capabilities…’ Interesting, yet another TA Director claiming outstanding expertise in Governance.

TA MEMBERS ARE BAFFLED -

The TA Board has been SILENT during the members call for an independent review. The bio’s of each Board Member strongly suggests each and every one of them is of high integrity, independent thinking and well skilled in their areas of expertise. All have spent years building substantial reputations, clearly have skills, should have integrity, they appear to possess leadership qualities, but all do not appear to support many TA Members, in demanding an independent review of TA. Why is that?

MEMBERS ASK AGAIN -

To TA Board of Directors - Why on earth dont you step down and ask the Federal Sports minister to call a full and independent review of Triathlon Australia?

Read an open letter calling for all to resign here.

Question 19 - Asked 19 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are puzzled….

Overnight the Hamburg leg of the World Triathlon Championship Series was raced - the highest level of racing in World Triathlon.

Many members stayed up to watch the event. This morning many Triathlon Australia Members looked up the results.

Members couldn’t help noticing that Natalie VanCoevorden was the best placed Australian in the women’s field.

Members looked at the recent results and Natalie VanCoevorden has been the best place Australian in pretty much every race of the season, most of last season too.

Members also noticed that Natalie VanCoevorden has the best world ranking of all Australian Women on the World Triathlon world rankings.

Members then thought about the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games….

Triathlon Australia, why the hell wasn’t Natalie VanCoevorden selected to race the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Triathlon for Australia when she is the best ranked triathlete in the world in the women and the most race fit leading into the Olympic Games? Natalie VanCoevorden has a World ranking in the top 20 in the world. The other girls selected for the 2020 Tokyo Olypmic Games instead of Natalie, have world rankings of 27, 67 and 122, plus the reserve TA took to Tokyo instead of Natalie has a world ranking of 90.

Members understand that if Natalie VanCoevorden did appeal her non selection for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (and members don’t know if she did because Triathlon Australia forces athletes to sign a document that gags them), the Triathlon Australia Athlete Appeal process provides clause 1,(b),(i), which reads as follows:

The sole ground of any are appeal is:

‘(i) That the Athlete's omission from the Team was as a result of a failure by TAESC to properly follow the process set out in this Policy’.

Then states at

Clause 5,(ii) ‘it is not bound by the rules of evidence and may inform itself as to any matter in such manner as it thinks fit; ‘

So basically, Natalie had no avenue of appeal, because Triathlon Australia could apply any decision they see fit to make selection. Then Triathlon Australia could justify any selection decision they see fit.

Triathlon Australia - how is this putting athletes first?

Triathlon Australia what is wrong with the Triathlon Australia Elite Selection Committee (TAESC)? Members have noticed the TA CEO is Chair of Selection, which seems an inappropriate role for a CEO to be involved in….

How was the selection of an Olympic Womens team in alignment with the TA strategic pillar of ‘Winning when it matters’ when the TAESC omit the best ranked athlete in the world?

Triathlon Australia, your High Performance Director must go, along with his useless entourage. Athletes need two things - support and opportunities. You High Performance program provides neither.

Athletes First. Always.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Keep sharing the petition. https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

World Triathlon Hamburg Results https://triathlon.org/.../2021_world_triathlon.../454265

Question 18 - Asked 18 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members are fuming.

Yesterday, on your website two race previews were posted. These are official press releases from Triathlon Australia. The news and race previews of this weekends events.

One official Triathlon Australia press release was entitled -

WORLD'S BEST TO MEET IN SOUTHWESTERN UTAH FOR 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

With the opening line -

‘Eight of Australia’s professional long course athletes will be lining up in St George, Utah this Saturday 18 September (11:00pm AEST) for the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships.’

Members read on.

Members read the press release twice, some read it a third time.

Nope nothing.

Triathlon Australia, why don’t you include our golden girl Lauren Parker in your press release for the 70.3 Ironman World Championship race preview? Our only medallist from Tokyo. Why doesn't Triathlon Australia support Para athletes properly?

What the actual F…K?

Triathlon Australia, members would like the TA Media Team, TA High Performance Director (and his useless entourage), TA CEO, TA President and TA Board Directors all to know that Lauren Parker will race the 70.3 Ironman World Championships in Utah at 7.12am local time (11.12pm AEST) and Lauren's race can be viewed - as you noted the able bodied athletes can be viewed - on the Facebook Watch via the IRONMAN Now channel this Saturday 18 September (IRONMAN now)

Triathlon Australia, don’t ever forget Lauren Parker again.

Lauren Parker will never be forgotten by Triathlon Australia Members, unlike the TA Media Team, TA High Performance team (and his useless entourage), TA CEO, TA President and TA Board Directors - who all will only be remembered as the most useless ever.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Keep signing the petition.

Athletes First. Always.

Question 17 - Asked 17 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members decided to review the audited financial statements of the powerhouses in World Triathlon. Members looked at the statements of France, GBR and USA and compared them with the once powerhouse, but now 'shit show' - Triathlon Australia.

• British Triathlon: 28% (£3,032,163 salaries /£10,710,551 total revenue);

• Triathlon France: 13% (862,942 Euro salaries / 6,291,553 Euro total revenue);

• USA Triathlon: 33% ($4,232,003 salaries / $12,514,095 total revenue);

• Triathlon Australia: 52% ($3,386,116 salaries /$6,481,101 total revenue);

Triathlon Australia, can you see the difference in National Federation priorities? Triathlon Australia why do you spend more than half of your total revenue on staff??

Members note that salaries are just one part of staff costs. This doesn’t take into account the other costs of staff. Many members have reported seeing large groups of staff at events. They all wear a crisp TA uniform, stay in nice hotels, flights (business class of course - economy is for members), hire cars (for themselves, not the athletes)….more costs. Members also hear TA is paying for the CEO's MBA. Is this true TA CEO?

On considering this, members have reviewed the audited the financial statements of the powerhouses in World Triathlon, looking at salaries as a % of total expenses. As expected, TA were the worst performing nation…blowing out at 57% total expenses going to staff.

• British Triathlon: 29% (salaries £3,032,163 / total expenses £10,162,585)

• Triathlon France: 13% (salaries 862,942 Euro / total expense 6,291,553);

• USA Triathlon: 31% (salaries $4,242,003 / total expenses $13,575,887.);

• Triathlon Australia: 57% (salaries $3,386,116 / total expenses $5,958,487)

Members again ask - Can you please explain why TA is spending so much on staff, in comparison to other countries, and also how spending more on TA staff than it is spending on Australian athletes is considered to be in line with TA’s current strategic policy of ‘Winning when it matters – athlete focused’?

Triathlon Australia, your Board of Directors should be ashamed of themselves overseeing this mess.

Athletes First. Always.

#triathlon

Question 16 - Asked 16 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Today’s question is from members, wondering what the Triathlon Australia CEO means….

There have been no replies from Triathlon Australia to any of the members questions, but…. apparently, members have heard this is because the Triathlon Australia CEO believes that he only needs to reply to clubs, due to the way the TA constitution is set up.

Yes, Triathlon Australia CEO, this was why members were wanting to know when the TA AGM will be next held, because they have only 21 days to receive the information, talk to their clubs (if they have one) and then have their STTA’s updated with concerns. Apart from Tri WA where, apparently they still recognise members as individuals and respond and represent their views…the rest of the members around Australia lost that luxury along the way. Why did they Triathlon Australia?

In an interesting move, members have ‘heard’ the TA CEO has made it clear that any member (not an entire club this time) can turn up to the TA office and collect the AGM minutes at any time. Members were wondering why TA cannot simply post them in their website like GBR do, World Triathlon do and other member based organisations. If the only way to attain the Triathlon Australia AGM minutes is to walk in, can Triathlon Australia please provide all members in lockdown with an essential worker certificate to attend Triathlon Australia offices. What if you don’t live nearby to drop in to Triathlon Australia??

While the TA CEO was offering no help to members with regard to AGM minutes, members have heard he has said that TA does not waste money on staff and that TA only has 8 employees. Members have also heard that apparently, the CEO salary is AIS approved and set according to the member base.

Members were wondering if the TA CEO’s salary is falling by over 5% every year as the membership base is?

Members are even more confused now. On the TA website there are staff listed on the HP page, and this number is greater than 8. Members can also see the TA CEO has a personal assistant (one of the few in Australian Sport) dedicated to just the CEO. Is this personalised staff expense required?

Members are aware the President volunteers her time, because she recently posted on her socials to claim her 1500 hour of volunteering in Triathlon Australia clicked over. Don’t worry TA President - members are counting every hour too….

Triathlon Australia President and CEO, when are you going to take members seriously? When are you going to provide the AGM dates, allow members to vote, provide minutes to members, and why do you think you can ignore Member concerns?

Please President and CEO of Triathlon Australia - admit it. Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review. Now.

Members are calling for one.

Just remember if you allow members to ask questions at the TA AGM this forum wouldn't be needed.

Keep sharing the petition -

Question 15 - Asked 15 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Members have a quick question today. it is a bit boring, because it is more of the same stuff. Funding being wasted....

Members understand Triathlon Australia was given around $1/2m over 2 years under the “Move it Aus” funding - which Triathlon Australia used for Indoor Triathlon.

Members were wondering how this was going, because apparently it was a failure and no new members were dragged in. Some member think 5 were added in NSW? Did you just employ more staff to run this?

Triathlon Australia, why don’t you look after current members properly? Why does Triathlon Australia keep looking for other things to do, rather than provide benefits for current members? This lack of care for current members is why Triathlon Australia membership is falling by 5% every year.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Keep sharing the petition - https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Question 14 - Asked 14 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Todays question is for our suffering Australian Youth, Junior and U23 Athletes and Parents...

Dear Triathlon Australia,

In allocating funding to sporting federations, the AIS applies it ‘AIS High Performance Investment Guidelines’. This document provides the AIS will:

“develop an investment allocation that provides balance across success in both current and future cycles within affordability constraints.”

Therefore, future development of the sport is a focus, which means todays Junior and U23 Athletes (Athletes is referring to Able and Para, because both are vital to the growth in our sport internationally) should receive AIS funding.

Members would like to know, when compared to other countries, why does Triathlon Australia not fully fund Junior and U23 Athletes? Below is a list of countries that do, in comparison with Triathlon Australia. Athletes from those countries have confirmed these funding facts. Triathlon Australia, you will note the USA, GBR and France all do and they are the sports powerhouses. Triathlon Australia do you remember when we were....

Triathlon Australia why do you not fully fund Youth, Junior and U23 Athletes? How is this in line with the AIS Funding allocation? How does TA think it is developing future champions when it is making it so difficult for young athletes?

Is there no funding left for Junior and U23 Athletes, because Triathlon Australia spend 93% of the funding allocation on staff salaries?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Keep sharing the petition - https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Athletes First. Always.

Question 13 - Asked 13 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Todays question from members is to the Triathlon Australia President.

Dear Triathlon Australia President,

A number of members have raised questions regarding your potential conflict of interest in your position as President of Triathlon Australia.

A number of members are concerned this may lead to a growing view that your position at Triathlon Australia may be benefiting you personally.

To quote a member question -

‘…if we can assume that these brands aren't aligning with her because of her stellar results (I've beaten her in an IRONMAN and I'm average) then is it because of her profile? And, if her profile comes not from her results or achievements but because of her role as TA President, isn't that incredibly troubling? ..’

Where can members find the conflict of interest information submitted by Board Directors at Triathlon Australia?

Are there any?

It is beginning to smell like a lot like George Orwell's book, Animal Farm at Triathlon Australia.....

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Keep sharing the petition - https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Athletes First. Always.

Question 12 - Asked 12 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

While some have enjoyed a race today (Sunshine Coast 70.3), and locked down triathlon fans have enjoyed watching the results, your members have a question.

Why was the Townsville 2022 World Multisport Championships cancelled over a year out?

Members have yet to be told the reasoning as to why these were cancelled.

Borders are on track to be opened in the first half of next year (2022) and the Townsville World Multisport Championships were due to be held in the second half of the 2022.

Was it just a simple case, of Traithlon Australia couldnt be bothered? Triathlon Australia dont think events are important? triathlon Australia don't think world class events are needed in Australia anymore (there are none in Australia now).

How are all athletes and members able to race affordable world class events if you do not provide opportunities?

Have Triathlon Australia considered that the fact that members are not looked after is the reason why membership is falling by over 5% each year?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Athletes First. Always.

Petition link https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Question 11 - Asked 11 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Just a quick question today, because I heard the Triathlon Australia President and Triathlon Australia Board Members are all ‘keen triathletes’ and Saturday would mean they need to get out and nail a solid brick session.

How did Triathlon Australia manage to spent over $1m on ‘Travel and Accommodation’ in a lockdown year? This figure was taken from Triathlon Australias audited accounts.

Limited racing, limited travel for the period....Who was travelling? It must cost a lot to send all that staff to 'things'. The athletes aren't fully funded, so who is?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Keep sharing the Petition - https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Athletes First. Always.

Question 10 - Asked 10 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Yesterday your members asked a question (which remain unanswered - as all so far are) regarding the ballooning spending on staff at since 2012 to 2020 (members are interested to see the blow out for 2021, as staff members are being recruited and added now).

Yesterday members were amazed that in 2012, Staff salaries consumed 34% of Sport Australia High Performance funding, while in 2020 Staff salaries consumed 93%.

This funding for High Performance Athletes doesn’t seem to be reaching the athletes, obviously it is going to staff. This doesn’t seem to align with Triathlon Australia strategic pillar of ‘winning when it matters’.

Members at Triathlon Australia are very concerned at the increase in salaries at Triathlon Australia is having on the development of the sport as a whole.

In 2012, total revenue for Triathlon Australia was $ 3,812,852 with total salaries at $ 636,668, so 17% of Triathlon Australia total revenue was allocated to salaries. Therefore 83% of total revenue could be used to develop and support athletes, members and the sport as a whole.

In 2020 Triathlon Australia total revenue was $6,481,101 with total salaries at $3,386,116, so 52% of Triathlon Australia total revenue was allocated to salaries. Therefore less than half of total revenue is available to develop and support athletes, members and the sport as a whole.

Can you please provide an explanation why Triathlon Australia has such an obsession with employing more staff over developing and supporting athletes, members and the sport as a whole?

Can you please explain how spending more money on staff at Triathlon Australia, is meeting your strategic pillars of ‘A sport for everyone’ and ‘Winning when it matters - Performance driven, athlete focused.’

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Keep sharing the petition -

Athletes First. Always.

Question 9 - Asked 9 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia

On reviewing the publicly available Sport Australia funding documents, your members have some questions regarding the ballooning staff costs over the past 10 years while Government funding has increased.

In 2012, Triathlon Australia received $1,850,000 from Sport Australia for High performance, and 34% of this amount was spent on Triathlon Australia salaries.

In 2020 (last year) Triathlon Australia received $3,647,286 from Sport Australia for High performance, and 93% of this amount was spent on Triathlon Australia wages. So, if any is left for athletes there would be less than 10% available.

In 2021 Triathlon Australia received $5,157,954 and all members are waiting to see what % of this is spent on salaries, given Able athletes, both U23 Athletes and many elites are not being fully funded to travel in 2021 while most Para athletes cannot travel at all due to costs in 2021.

Members are honestly appalled that despite Sport Australia finding to Triathlon Australia increasing by approximately $1.5m from 2020, Triathlon Australia still couldn't find enough in the budget this year to allow Para athletes travel and race for Tokyo and you couldn’t find money to properly fund junior and U23 Athletes to compete for Australia.

Can you explain to your members why the staff costs at Triathlon Australia are now so high, and athlete support is so low?

Can you explain to your members why staff is the priority and athletes are not, and how this is inline with your strategic pillar of ‘winning when it matters?’

Can you also please notify STTA’s of the AGM and how members can voice their concerns regarding the seemingly mis-allocations of government funding at TA.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Keep sharing the petition https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Athletes First. Always.

Question 8 - Asked 8 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Todays question to Triathlon Australia.

Triathlon Australia constantly assures members it is compliant with all legal obligations.

On 24 August, I wrote to Triathlon Australia CEO and President and requested a copy of all minutes for 2019 and 2020 as is provided for by Section 251B of the Corporations Act.

Under the Act TA has 14 days to provide these, which has not occurred.

Triathlon Australia, despite claiming to be, it appears you are NOT COMPLIANT with all your legislative requirements….

What is in these minutes that could be so damaging that you would be willing to break the law by not providing?

Triathlon Australia can you please distribute these minutes as requested.

Can you also confirm the date of the TA AGM. As a member I still have not been notified.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Keep sharing the petition.

Question 7 - Asked 7 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Today your members have a number of queries around your selection documents.

This may be the least transparent process in Triathlon Australia (very big call, but keep reading....). For athletes this is overseen by the Chair - TA CEO (hmmm, isn’t that a conflict of interest ??! Does the CEO need to also be a selector….) - and the Triathlon Australia Elite Selection Committee (TAESC) and, it is then approved by the TA President and Board.

The selection policy is what all athletes and coaches focus all their efforts for 52 weeks every year so that they can achieve peak performance to represent Australia in Triathlon for sustained success.

In every sport, the clarity of any selection process is critical for both athlete and coach to ensure peak performances can be achieved.

To be in the run for selection, Athletes must firstly achieve starts in particular races. To achieve starts in particular races Athletes must be categorised. Categorisation is done solely by the TA CEO (hmm, is this a conflict of interest again…does the CEO need to control selection??!) and HP Director for Able Athletes and the Para Head is added to the mix for Para athletes.

The categorisation document has the following statement -

‘Without in any way limiting the discretion of the Selection Panel, the Selection Panel may consider any matter in relation to any athlete under consideration for discretionary nomination. In exercising the discretion, the Selection Panel need not consider any particular matter and need not apply any weighting to any matter it does consider. ‘

Then, should an athlete wish to appeal any decision made with the above paragraph, they have to prove where TA failed in applying the above paragraph, as outlined by -

The Athlete Appeal process provides clause 1,(b),(i), which reads as follows:

The sole ground of any are appeal is:

‘(i) That the Athlete's omission from the Team was as a result of a failure by TAESC to properly follow the process set out in this Policy’.

Then states at

Clause 5,(ii) ‘it is not bound by the rules of evidence and may inform itself as to any matter in such manner as it thinks fit; ‘

Triathlon Australia, how on earth can Able and Para athletes attain categorisation, how can they get starts in races to win medals for Australia?

What is the purpose of not allowing athletes to race? What is the purpose of not allowing athletes to be categorised and supported?

Is the funding just provided to Triathlon Australia for staff?? See graph below (we are awaiting 2021 wages figures to be released, but expect a blowout).

How is this considered to be in line with in line with TA’s current strategic policy of ‘Winning when it matters – athlete focused’?

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

Keep sharing the Petition - https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Athletes First. Always.

Question 6 - Asked 6 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Triathlon is not all about Elites athletes, Triathlon is a sport which traditionally supported its members through Age Group racing and events.

The Age Group athletes provide the passion, the atmosphere and are vital to the growth of Triathlon membership in Australia.

The importance of Age Group Triathletes has been identified by Sport Australia, and Triathlon Australia receives government funding that is required to be used to improve participation in the sport of triathlon.

Triathlon Australia receives $450k to do this annually.

On viewing Triathlon Australia accounts, particularly the ballooning staff costs and falling membership numbers there are a number of questions your members would like answered.

Can you please explain to your members why the staff cost at Triathlon Australia has quadrupled since 2012?

Can you also please explain how spending more money on staff at Triathlon Australia, while membership numbers are falling is meeting your strategic pillar of

‘A SPORT FOR EVERYONE - Making triathlon and multisport easier to access, more relevant and more rewarding…’ and

‘to get more people experiencing triathlon and multisport, in more ways, in more places.’

Again, allow members voting rights and right to be heard at the AGM and there would be no reason to raise these questions in such a forum.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Keep sharing the petition https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Athletes First. Always.

Question 5 Part 2 - Asked 5 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Today's question (see part 1 below) has not been answered by Triathlon Australia, BUT I have been told there were murmurings from TA CEO that my post this morning is all wrong, because TA have not wasted money on staff for Para athletes.

Apparently TA only employ 1 Para staff member.

WOW.

Triathlon Australia, can you please explain to your members why? Don’t Para athletes warrant staff? Why are there 18 HP Staff members employed by Triathlon Australia (as listed on your publicly available information) and only ONE provided to Para athletes??

Also, Triathlon Australia, can you please explain to your members how ONE dedicated Para Athlete staff member and ZERO Podium Ready, ZERO Podium Potential and ZERO Developing Women Para athletes along with ZERO Podium and ZERO Developing Men Para athletes are categorised can take up the $2.3m + funding provided to Triathlon Australia over the past 3 years for the Triathlon Australia Para High Performance Triathlon Program??

Has Triathlon Australia been allocating funding correctly??

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Keep sharing the petition - https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Athletes First. Always.

#triathlon

Question 5 Part 1 - Asked 5 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Upon reviewing your official website, I have some questions regarding your noticeable lack of support for Para athletes.

Triathlon Australia, as an AIS funded sport, is required to categorise athletes. The TA Categorisation Agreement provides the ‘details the level of support that athletes will receive’ and that the ‘TA Athlete Agreement period runs from January 1st to December 31st each year.’

The Athlete Categories determined by the AIS consist of five levels (Podium, Podium Ready, Podium Potential, Developing and Emerging).

Categorisation decisions are made by the Triathlon Australia National Performance Director and the TA CEO for Able athletes and the Para Program Head is added to the Para categorisation decision making.

Questions to provide answers for your Triathlon Australia members are -

Why is Triathlon Australia categorising so few Para athletes compared to able body and why on earth are there ZERO Para athletes in so many categorisation levels? Why are there ZERO Podium Ready, ZERO Podium Potential and ZERO Developing Women Para athletes? Why is there ZERO Podium and ZERO Developing Men? Is all the funding going to Para staff rather than the athletes?

How is ignoring the development of Para athletes even acceptable to the TA CEO, President, Board Members and National Performance Director?

How is this considered to be in line with TA’s current strategic policy of ‘Winning when it matters – athlete focused’?

Again, allow members a right to be heard at the AGM and there would be no reason to raise these questions in such a forum.

Triathlon Australia needs a full independent review.

Keep sharing the petition - https://chng.it/6Nyxf7wg

Athletes First. Always

Question 4 - Asked 4 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

Upon reviewing the audited financial statements of British Triathlon, Triathlon New Zealand and Triathlon Australia for 2020, I note the following total wages/staff cost expense as a percentage of total revenue:

British Triathlon: 28% (£3,032,163/£10,710,551); Medals won in Tokyo Olympics 3 (2xSilver Mens and Womens individual and Gold Mixed team relay)

Triathlon New Zealand 33% ($616,027 / $1,842,597); Medals won in Tokyo Olympics 1 (Bronze Mens individual)

Triathlon Australia 52% ($3,386,116/$6,481,101); Medals won in Tokyo Olympics 0, but had the greatest number of Staff enjoying the games over there.....

Can you please explain why TA is spending so much on staff, in comparison to other countries, and also how spending more on TA staff than it is spending on Australian athletes is considered to be in line with TA’s current strategic policy of ‘Winning when it matters – athlete focused’?

Also, Triathlon Australia can you see that federations who allocate money more to athletes, the results come?

Again, return members’ voting rights and right to be heard at the AGM and there would be no reason to raise these questions in such a forum.

Athletes First. Always.

#triathlon

Question 3 - Asked 2 September 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia

I note on your website under the heading ‘High Performance Key Staff’ you employ 18 ‘Key Staff’ dedicated to the High Performance athletes. Of these, 10 have either ‘Performance’ or ‘Pathways’ in their title.

I also note that TA’s financial statements for 2020 show staffing and contractors expense assigned to ‘High Performance’ as $2,020,306. Therefore, if 10/18 of this $2,020,306 is assigned to the ‘Performance Pathway’, can you please explain to your members why we don’t appear to have a ‘Performance Pathway’, or if we do, why it is not clearly explained to members, as none of the ‘Pre-elite’ Junior and U23 athletes I have spoken with are aware of such.

Again, give members voting rights and right to be heard at the Triathlon Australia AGM and there would be no reason to raise these questions in such a forum.

Athletes First. Always.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review.

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Question 2 - Asked 31 August 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia ,

Can you please explain the following to your 16,000 plus members. Despite a massive increase in TA’s wages expense from $636,668 in 2012 to $3,386,116 in 2020, the support provided to our ‘Pre-elite’ (Juniors and U23) has declined significantly.

For example, I draw to your attention the following quote published circa 2012/13 (so Triathlon Australia have had almost 10 years to act) in a Triathlon Australia National Talent Academy Information (NTA) Booklet.

“Pre-elite development is the biggest void in the HP athlete pathway for triathlon. It lacks support from every organisational partner … Without doubt, this needs to be driven by the NSO (Triathlon Australia), with adequate resources devoted to integrating all stakeholder groups”.

Triathlon Australia, can you please explain to your 16,000 plus members, why, considering a review of TA’s HP program identified the development of the pre-elite athletes (Juniors and U23) as a priority, what TA is currently doing in this space to develop Australia’s pre-elite athletes.

Can you also please explain why the numerous benefits afforded to the Junior and U23 athletes (pre-elite) as part of the NTA program are, for the majority if not all, not provided to today’s athletes, especially considering this HP review identified this target group as the priority almost 10 years ago?

Finally, can you please explain to your members whether Australia’s elite U23 athletes were fully, partially or not financially assisted to attend the recent World Championships Grand Final in Edmonton (only 1 female U23 and 2 male U23 raced - how is the future of the sport looking with such few development athlete numbers?! AND WHY THE HELL TWICE AS MANY MALE ATHLETES AS WOMEN IN THIS AGE GROUP??) and also why the elite U23 athletes will be required to largely cover their own costs to compete at the upcoming World Sprint Championships in Bermuda, yet TA’s wages expense increased by $2,749,448 from 2012 to 2020.

Again, return members’ voting rights and right to be heard at the AGM and there would be no reason to raise these questions in such a forum.

Triathlon Australia needs a full and independent review. The development of talent is appalling.

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 Question 1 - Asked 30 August 2021 via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Dear Triathlon Australia,

The following is a direct quote from Triathlon Australia’s current constitution:

Rule 25. “Subject to this Constitution each STTA represented at a General Meeting is entitled to 1 vote at General Meetings. No other Member (including the Directors) is entitled to a deliberative vote”.

Rule 12.1(c) “Individual Members, who subject to this Constitution may attend General Meetings, but have no right to debate or vote at General Meetings”.

Remember, under the Corporations Act, TA’s directors have a legal requirement to act in the best interests of the company and for a proper purpose. I am not making any accusations of impropriety rather requesting TA and its Board explain to its 16,000 plus members (down approximately 20% from 2016), how removing their right to vote at TA’s AGM is in the best interest of the company.

That, in addition to how increasing TA spending on staff from 17% of total revenue in 2012 ($636,668 / $3,812,852), to 52% in 2020 ($3,386,116 / $6,481,101), whilst at the same time, providing less support to its members, is in the best interest of the Company. And before you suggest these figures are factually inaccurate, they were taken from TA’s audited financial statements which are publicly available.

Ordinarily I would not be required to ask these questions in an open forum such as this. However, unfortunately due to the fact TA’s Constitution removes members “right to debate or vote at General Meetings”, and also due to the fact TA have not provided private responses to these questions, members have no other option that to have these questions aired publicly.