August 28th, 2026
National wellbeing survey highlights progress and continuing challenges in high performance sport
Research /Sport /Wellness
Australia’s high performance sport system is showing encouraging signs of improvement in athlete and workforce wellbeing, but new national data has identified areas requiring continued attention, particularly among Para athletes, younger athletes and First Nations participants
The inaugural National Wellbeing Survey, conducted by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), surveyed more than 1,300 athletes, coaches and staff across 43 sports and every Australian state and territory
More than 70% of respondents were classified as thriving, with most participants reporting positive levels of wellbeing. The survey provides the first comprehensive baseline of wellbeing across Australia’s high performance sport system and is intended to be repeated annually to track progress and identify emerging areas of concern
The findings point to particularly strong foundations around belonging, connection and safety, while also highlighting differences in wellbeing experiences across parts of the high performance community
Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Chief Executive Kieren Perkins OAM said the results provided an important benchmark for assessing the sector’s progress and noted “we know athlete wellbeing has not always been at the centre of Australian sport. Acknowledging that history and learning from it has been essential to building a better system
“The sector has worked collaboratively to ensure a win-at-all-costs mentality is a thing of the past. Today, we are focused on building environments where people can achieve elite performances and sustained success while being supported to thrive in both sport and in life.”
The survey forms part of the ASC’s Win Well Strategy, which seeks to balance high performance with athlete wellbeing and create sporting environments where people can perform at their best without compromising their broader health and development
Perkins said the survey’s annual nature would allow the sector to identify whether improvements were being sustained while directing re
Perkins added “the results reflect the significant leadership, investment and collaboration across the system over recent years and provide encouraging evidence that the ambitions of the Win Well Strategy are beginning to take hold
“While there are some strong results, the survey has highlighted a number of areas that require more focus.”
Restorative Program to close to new applicantsThe wellbeing findings have been released alongside confirmation that the ASC Restorative Program will close to new applications at the end of 2026
Established in 2022 following an apology from the ASC Board to former AIS athletes who had experienced inappropriate treatment, the program has supported more than 225 former athletes over the past four years
Perkins shared “The ASC Restorative Program has played an incredibly important role in providing acknowledgement, care and support to former athletes while shaping our practices as an organisation
“In line with best practice guidelines for programs of this nature, it has been determined that the Restorative Program has reached a stage where a defined closing date is appropriate.”
While applications will close at the end of 2026, the ASC said the program’s lessons and restorative practices would continue to influence its approach to athlete welfare and organisational culture
A former athlete who participated in the program, but chose to remain anonymous, said the process had provided a sense of closure advising “I found it to provide a sense of closure and relief that my voice was heard and my experiences were acknowledged for what they were. I think it was incredibly beneficial and I’m glad I did it.”
Perkins said the combination of the restorative work and the new wellbeing data demonstrated the changing approach to athlete welfare across Australian high performance sport
“The results reflect the significant leadership, investment and collaboration across the system over recent years,” he said
“By providing independent avenues for people to share their experiences, we are contributing to a healthier sports system.”
The National Wellbeing Survey will now provide an ongoing measure of progress as Australia’s high performance system prepares for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the focus increasingly extending beyond medals to the environments in which athletes and sporting personnel train, compete and work.
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