Athlete Categorisation
What is Athlete Categorisation?
A key element of Australia’s High Performance strategy is to identify high-potential athletes ensuring they receive the right support, at the right time, on their pathway to the podium.
Athlete Categorisation is the process used across the Australian High Performance System used to identify and recognise athletes with the capability to delivering podium performances now and into the future. It helps direct limited resources and support to those likely to achieve success at international benchmark events.
The National Athlete Categorisation Framework (NACF) supports the ambitions of the AIS HP2032+Strategy, which aims to:
- Identify athletes on a pathway towards podium success and providing flexibility to support varied athlete journeys and outliers.
- Recognise that as athletes aspire to win well, it is through their unique journeys and stories that they inspire future generations of athletes, communities, and Australians.
As an Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) supported National Sporting Organisation, Diving Australia aligns to the national strategy and associated frameworks. Below is the criteria set by the AIS for each level of Catagorisation.
Each year Diving Australia develop a National Squads Selection & Categorisation Policy, one for the Junior program and one for the Senior Program. This policy is is reviewed but the Australia Instittue of Sport each year before being published on the Diving Australia Website.
Selections for athlete categorisation occur annually, following the domestic and international competition season. Each year, Diving Australia reviews athlete performances and uses theoutcomes of the categorisation process to:
- Nominate athletes to the AIS Athlete Categories.
- Inform the National Institute Network (NSWIS, QAS, SASI,WAIS, VIS,WAIS) of Categorisation outcomes to guide the allocation of support and scholarships.
- Prioritise access to services and resources from the AIS, NIN, and Diving Australia (noting that support remains subject to available resources, and being categorised does not automatically entitle an athlete to services).
AIS National Categorisation Framework
Alignment to Diving Australia’s National Squad Structure
Diving Australia’s National Squad structure is directly aligned to the Athlete Categorisation Framework, ensuring a consistent and transparent pathway from developing talent through to podium success.
This alignment ensures that Diving Australia’s Squads and associated support align to the AIS Framework providing a clear link between athlete potential, categorisation, and targeted system support.
Athlete Catgeorisation beyond 2026
Diving Australia are now developing the policy for 2027 and beyond which will focus not only on competition results but also look to assess individuals against the Diving Australia Athlete Development Framework.
The ADF provides a national structure that outlines the key skills, competencies and attributes required at each stage of development. It supports athletes, coaches, and programs by defining what progression looks like and promoting a common understanding of the standards required across the pathway.
Diving Australia continues to refine and test the ADF ahead of its formal inclusion in future categorisation policies. This process ensures the framework remains robust, evidence-based, and fit for purpose across all program levels.
This approach will help Diving Australia and its partners make balanced and consistent categorisation decisions that consider an athlete’s overall development, not just competition outcomes. It will also ensure greater alignment between categorisation, squad selection, and the broader athlete development system.
More information on the Diving Australia ADF can be found here.