Play by the Rules was first developed by the South Australian Department for Sport and Recreation in 2001 as an interactive education and information website (www.playbytherules.net.au) on discrimination, harassment and child protection in sport. Over the years, as more agencies have seen the need to promote Play by the Rules, they have joined as partners and helped by contributing funds, content and in-kind support.
Play by the Rules is now a unique collaboration between Sport Integrity Australia, Sport Australia, Australian Human Rights Commission, all state and territory departments of sport and recreation, all state and territory anti-discrimination and human rights agencies, the Office of the Children's Guardian (NSW) and the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW. These partners promote Play by the Rules through their networks, along with their own child safety, anti-discrimination and inclusion programs.
Play by the Rules provides information, resources, tools and free online training to increase the capacity and capability of administrators, coaches, officials, players, parents and spectators to assist them in preventing and dealing with discrimination, harassment, child safety, inclusion and integrity issues in sport.
National campaigns featuring radio and television community service announcement ads, utilising national sporting icons, are also extending positive sporting messages more broadly to the general community.
Play by the Rules is governed by a national Management Committee, made up of partners from the sport and recreation and human rights agencies. Meet the current Management Committee below:
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Kate Jenkins (Co-Chair)
Kate Jenkins became Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner in early 2016, after 3 years as the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner. In that role she held an Independent Review into Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment, including Predatory Behaviour, in Victoria Police. She was also the Co-Chair of the Victorian Commission’s Disability Reference Group and a member of the Aboriginal Justice Forum.
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Janet Schorer
Janet is currently the Children's Guardian at the Office of the Children's Guardian in NSW. She was Executive Director of the NDIS Reform Group for the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet from November 2014, and led the Commonwealth negotiations and transition to the NDIS across NSW Government. Ms Schorer was also responsible for developing the whole-of-government strategic framework for the response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
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Merrilee Barnes
Merrilee has worked in sport for more than 25 years and has considerable experience in the areas of strategy, business operations, facility management, commercialisation and major events. In her current role at the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), Merrilee provides specialist support to sports and the sector to bring about improvement, organisational change and sustainability. Merrilee is also a member of the Commonwealth & State Sport Recreational Officials’ Women in Sport Working Group.
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Phillip Leslie (Co-Chair)
Phillip is the Executive Director of Sport and Recreation in the Northern Territory. With involvement in sport as a player, coach, Physical Education teacher and administrator over many years Phillip brings a deep connection to the role that quality participation in sport can play in individual and community well being.
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Dr Ben Gauntlett
Prior to commencing as Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Ben worked as a barrister in Western Australia and Victoria with a broad ranging practice. He has also worked as an associate to the Honourable Justice Kenneth Hayne AC at the High Court of Australia, as Counsel Assisting the Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth and taught law in Australia and the United Kingdom. Ben holds undergraduate degrees in Law (Hons) and Commerce from the University of Western Australia, and was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for Western Australia in 2003.
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Scott McDougall
Scott McDougall commenced as the Queensland Human Rights Commissioner on 8 October 2018. Prior to his appointment he was the Director and Principal Solicitor at Caxton Legal Centre Inc. in Brisbane. Since admission to legal practice in 1993 he has advocated on behalf of communities and conducted litigation particularly in the areas of discrimination, native title, criminal law, guardianship and coronial inquiries. He has undertaken several projects facilitating engagement between governments and communities including working with the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council to prepare the Palm Island Future Direction Report (2006) and overseeing the G20 Independent Legal Observers Project (2014).
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Tim Burke
Tim is currently the Director of Participation and Sector Development with Sport and Recreation Victoria. He is responsible for the oversight of the Victorian Government's program investment designed to increase equity, diversity and inclusiveness in the sector. This includes investing in the capacity and sustainability of sport and recreation organisations and working with the sector to ensure safety and integrity are central to the delivery of sport and active recreation in Victoria. Tim has worked in related fields including anti-doping, health promotion, tertiary education and was CEO of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Victoria.
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Peter Downs
Peter is the National Manager of Play by the Rules. Prior to starting in the role in November 2013 Peter was Assistant Director of the Australian Sports Commission's Integrity in Sport Unit for 2 years following a 17 year stint as Manager of the ASC's Disability Sport Unit. Peter has a Masters Degree in Adaptive Physical Activity and in 2014 was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study models of best practice in inclusive sport in Finland, the UK and US. |
