news and events
Sport should be a safe and fair place for all participants. Threats to a sport’s integrity can include competition manipulation and sports gambling, doping, the improper use of drugs and medicine and behaviours that impact people’s positive experience of sport, such as discrimination or abuse, including against children. Integrity in sport means that participants, officials, supporters, and fans can participate in and enjoy sport, confident in the knowledge that they are part of a safe, fair, and inclusive environment.
The National Integrity Framework is essentially a set of rules that all members of our sport need to follow when it comes to their behaviour and conduct in sport. The National Integrity Framework, or NIF as it is commonly referred to, policies are:
These core policies are underpinned by the Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy, which explains how people who have breached a National Integrity Framework policy are held accountable for doing the wrong thing.
Sport Integrity Australia have a wide range of resources related to The National Integrity Framework, including videos, factsheets and eLearning. These can be found by following this link: https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/resources
Over the next few months we will be sharing more NIF related resources for the Badminton community here and across our socials. If you have a NIF related question please reach out to our National Integrity Manager at integrity@badminton.org.au
The 2025 Pride in Sport Festival is a national initiative aimed at breaking down barriers and increasing participation in sport among LGBTQ+ people. With a focus on engaging non-active LGBTQ+ individuals, the festival provides opportunities for inclusive, fun, and welcoming sporting experiences that promote both physical and mental well-being.
As part of the 2025 Pride in Sport Festival, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia hosted Badminton Open Days simultaneously on March 15 to foster LGBTQ+ inclusion and create a stronger sense of belonging within the badminton community.
Sonia Gouveia, National Participation and Para Manager says “From the moment we put a call out for LGBTQIA+ clubs to support our grant application, there was no hesitation. This is a community that has each other’s backs, and it has been a joint effort throughout the whole process to bring the idea to life, making sure what was delivered was impactful and achieved its purpose – to bring people together and show badminton in the best light, without any barriers in the way to participating.”
With over 200 participants attending across the three states, the events created an inclusive and vibrant space where both new and experienced players could enjoy the sport. Beyond the fun and competitive games, it was an opportunity to promote and support LGBTQIA+ badminton clubs, giving them greater exposure and helping community members discover local groups they may not have known about. The energy, positive vibes, and sense of belonging throughout the event demonstrated just how important it is to create safe and welcoming spaces in sport. Featuring vibrant celebrations of inclusivity, with rainbow flags adorning tables and net posts, temporary tattoo stations, face paints and rainbow medals, there were also coaching stations for beginners and improvers, quick-fire tournaments, snacks and even a DJ to keep the energy levels high.
Sonia further adds that “The events were a huge success, with positive feedback received from all participants. Badminton Australia is looking forward to building on this momentum and providing further support for welcoming and inclusive badminton spaces as part of our national participation plan. The clubs gained new members which is a fantastic outcome for badminton and hopefully we have some new fans of the game too”.
Pride in Sport National Program Manager Beau Newell highlighted the importance of the festival:
“The Pride in Sport Festival is about breaking barriers and creating opportunities. It’s no secret that LGBTQ+ people face higher rates of exclusion from sport, often due to fear of discrimination, lack of representation, or simply not feeling welcome. This initiative offers LGBTQ+ individuals a chance to connect, participate, and thrive in a safe and supportive environment.”
“Research from the Pride in Sport Index (PSI) National Survey shows that LGBTQ+ people are less likely to participate in sport due to fear of discrimination, past negative experiences, or the perception that sport isn’t a space for them. Initiatives like this help us change that narrative.”
“By partnering with organisations like Badminton Australia, we can foster inclusive sporting environments and ensure everyone has the chance to enjoy the benefits of sport – including those with diverse sexuality or gender identity.”
To find out more about what Badminton Australia is doing around LGBTQIA+ inclusion, visit https://www.badminton.org.au/lgbtq-badminton/ or follow our social channels.
Badminton Australia (BA) has unveiled its new strategic plan, detailing our vision to secure a bright and successful future for the sport.
As badminton continues to grow in Australia, it is essential that we evolve our vision, values, and goals to ensure long-term success and continued relevance.
The Strategic Plan 2025-2028+ focuses on four Strategic Pillars that will turn BA’s vision into a reality:
· Play: Facilitate more opportunities for people to participate.
· Perform: Develop a High-Performance system that strives for excellence.
· Partner: Work together to enhance the experience and outcomes for everyone involved.
· Promote: Recognise, celebrate, and promote all aspects of badminton.
“This is a defining moment for the future of badminton in Australia,” BA President Julie McDonald said.
“The Strategic Plan 2025-2028+ reflects BA’s dedication to further strengthen badminton as an inclusive sport for life, accessible to everyone, anywhere, and at any time.
“By emphasising our core values of excellence, boldness, integrity, teamwork, and inclusivity, we are ready to ensure our sport has a promising future.”
BA Chief Executive Officer Tjitte Weistra says the Strategic Plan 2025-2028+ forms the basis for the sport’s ongoing success and in particular, sets us up to build on the huge growth our sport is experiencing.
“Our key focus is using the four Strategic Pillars: Play, Perform, Partner and Promote to ensure all players, from grassroots all the way to High Performance, can engage with badminton and find a place within our community,” he said.
“We would not be able to achieve this without the support from our State and Territory organisations, partners and stakeholders who are with us on this journey every step of the way. The strength of our community is our ability to work together, both on and off the court.”
BA would like to thank Nikki Burger, from Life Sport Journey, for her valuable contribution to the process of gathering and unpacking key feedback from stakeholders and the wider badminton community which have formed the basis of our new strategic plan.
Download: Badminton Australia’s_2025-2028+ Strategic Plan
Download: Plan on a Page
Badminton Australia is pleased to confirm the selection of the eight-member squad representing Australia in the Team Event at the VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships 2025 to be held in Saipan, Northern Marianas (June 8-14)
Women:
Men:
Coaches/Managers: TBC
Note: The team has been selected in accordance with the BA Selection Policy.
The above athletes will also be playing in the Norther Marianas International series from 17-21 June.
More Info: https://badmintonoceania.org/victor-oceania-junior-championships-2025/
Badminton Australia would also like to congratulate Wey Shawn Ng (PBA/VIC) and Xiwen (Dorothy) Liang (PBA/VIC) on being selected to join the Junior Falcons program.
For the full squad go to https://www.badminton.org.au/junior/
Badminton Australia is currently seeking Expressions of Interests from players who wish to compete at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Germany (16-27 July).
About
The competition is an international sporting and cultural event which is staged every two years in a different city and which from a university perspective is second in importance only to the Olympic Games. Governed by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the World University Games is a celebration of international university sports and culture drawing many thousands of student-athletes together to compete, making it among the world’s largest and most prestigious multi-sport events.
Embracing the FISU motto of Excellence in Mind and Body, the summer edition of the FISU World University Games incorporate educational and cultural aspects, encouraging student-athletes from around the world to combine high sports performance with their intellectual pursuits.
Info: https://rhineruhr2025.com/en
Selection Process and How to Enter:
The selection of an Australian University Badminton Team to attend the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games will be conducted by a panel formed by Badminton Australia who will nominate a team to UniSport to work on logistical and operational aspects of their involvement.
In order to nominate for this Australian University Team, players must;
– Meet the academic eligibility requirements (Outlined in the Athlete Expression of Interest form)
– Complete and submit the Athlete Expression of Interest form by Monday 10th March 2025.
View and complete form here: https://form.jotform.com/250292344895060
Please reach out to Alice Wu (alicewu1207@gmail.com) for any enquiries.
Badminton Australia is excited to announce the appointment of Lauren Collis as the new Shuttle Smash Coordinator following a competitive recruitment process.
In this pivotal role, Lauren will lead the delivery of Shuttle Smash, Badminton Australia’s introductory participation program, with a particular focus on reaching currently underrepresented communities. This includes people with disabilities, new migrants, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, women and girls, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
“I’m thrilled to join Badminton Australia as the Shuttle Smash Coordinator,” Lauren said.
“I’m passionate about growing sport participation and raising awareness, ensuring that sport is accessible to everyone. I look forward to working with an incredible team to share the joy of sport with all.”
Lauren’s enthusiasm for sport, both as a participant and spectator, led her to study Exercise and Sport Science at RMIT. Over the years, she has gained extensive experience in sports administration and programs, including badminton, pickleball and golf, with a strong emphasis on inclusion and diversity.
“Outside of work, I stay active in sport by playing footy, completing a VFLW season with the Darebin Falcons in 2024, and cheering on the Tigers,” Lauren said.
Badminton Australia National Participation and Para Manager, Sonia Gouveia welcomes Lauren to the role, stating “Lauren’s passion for making sport accessible is very evident, and her commitment to growing badminton makes her the ideal fit for this position.” Sonia said.
“We are confident that her experience, ideas, leadership and vision will play a key part in further developing the Shuttle Smash program, providing more opportunities for new players to engage with and enjoy badminton across Australia.”
Lauren will officially begin her role on Thursday January 9.
Read more on the Shuttle Smash Program: https://www.badminton.org.au/shuttle-smash/
Crown Group is a highly successful property development group, with a reputation for building globally leading luxury and hotel apartments. The Crown Group has been a supporter of the Australian Badminton Open.
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) is a member-based organisation that administers, controls and coordinates the participation of program sports at the Commonwealth Games every four year. Badminton Australia is extremely proud of its work with CGA and is keen to continue such a great relationship with the staff at CGA into the future.
The Badminton World Federation is the global body responsible for the development of badminton, with a vision to give every child the chance to play badminton, the BWF are key to the success of badminton at any level. Badminton Australia is a member of the BWF. Having supported the development of international tournaments in Australia and the development of athletes to the highest level, BA is very grateful to have the support of the BWF.
Badminton Oceania is the representative for the Badminton World Federation in the Oceania region. They are responsible for the development and progress of badminton within the Oceania region. Badminton Oceania are a great supporter of Badminton Australia and work closely with BA on a regular basis.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) is a non-government, not-for-profit focused on developing youth and sport. The AOC is responsible for the funding, supporting, selection and sending of Australia athletes to the Olympics every four years. The AOC provides significant support to the Australian Badminton Falcons and the Badminton Australia Performance Pathway. Badminton Australia is very thankful and is perpetually excited for Australian badminton players to represent their country Olympic Games.
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is the second arm of the Australian Sports Commission, the focus of the AIS is at all aspects of high-performance sport and as a result Badminton’s High-Performance teams work with the leading minds at the AIS. Badminton Australia has been working with the AIS for many years and with a continued focus on high performance excellence, both home and abroad, is excited to continue to work with the AIS long into the future.
Li-Ning is a global leader in sports apparel, with a focus on badminton, Badminton Australia is proud to be partnered with an organisation with such a rich and successful history in sport and for it to support the Australian Badminton Falcons. Li-Ning has supported Olympic medal athletes across the world and continues to push badminton apparel forward.
Sport Australia is an arm of the Australian Sports Commission that is responsible for the broader sport sector. Included in their responsibilities are participation, governance and supporting activities that link to the sport industries growth and sustainability long term. Badminton Australia works closely with Sport Australia in areas of participation, governance and other sport related activities.
YONEX has been a supporter of the sport of badminton globally since 1957 when they produced their first badminton racquets. As the business has expanded so too has their equipment and apparel offerings. YONEX has supported badminton in Australia at all levels for a number of years and badminton Australia is very excited to continue its relationship with an organisation that has been involved in the sport for so long.