Our Integrity Framework
Integrity is fundamental to football. Football Australia’s Integrity Framework provides a nationally consistent approach to protecting the game and promoting safe, fair and inclusive environments for everyone involved in football.
The Integrity Framework applies across Australian football and is adopted by Football West. It sets out the standards of behaviour expected of participants and provides processes for managing integrity concerns and complaints.
The key documents that make up the Integrity Framework are:
• Football Australia National Code of Conduct and Ethics
• Football Australia Member Protection Framework
• Football Australia National Anti-Doping Policy
• Football Australia Misuse of Drugs and Medicine Policy
• Football Australia Sports Betting and Match Manipulation Guidelines
Complaints and reports made under the Integrity Framework are managed in accordance with the Football Australia National Complaints Procedure.
Personal grievances: Some interpersonal disputes between participants may not fall within the Integrity Framework but may still be suitable for resolution through Football West’s Personal Grievance Resolution Guidelines.
Matters Outside the Integrity Framework
The Integrity Framework is not intended to manage every dispute, disagreement or decision that arises within football. Many concerns are more appropriately managed by Clubs, Associations, Competition Administrators or through other Football West processes. Examples of matters that generally fall outside the Integrity Framework include:
- On-field decisions: Refereeing decisions made during a match and most on-field disciplinary matters governed by the Laws of the Game. These matters are generally managed under the Football West Disciplinary & Grievance Regulations.
- Selection decisions: Team selection, player grading, playing time and coaching decisions are generally managed by the relevant Club or Association.
- Competition administration matters: Fixture scheduling, competition formats, grading outcomes, ladder positions and other competition management decisions are generally managed by the relevant Competition Administrator.
- Registration and transfer matters: Player registration, eligibility and transfer issues are generally managed under the relevant competition rules, regulations and the National Registration, Status and Transfer Regulations.
- Selection decisions: Team selection, player grading and playing time decisions are generally managed by the relevant Club or Association.
