Athlete Categorisation & Athlete Development Framwork

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 2027 including the ADF Roadshow

Diving Australia’s 2027 National Junior Squad and National Talent Squad Selection and Categorisation Policy incorporates a two stage selection process that considers both competition performance and assessment against the Diving Australia Athlete Development Framework (ADF).

The ADF has been developed to provides a national structure outlining 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 shared understanding of standards across the pathway.

Diving Australia will host the ADF Roadshow to deliver Stage 2 of the selection process, where divers will be assessed against the framework. This assessment takes a holistic view of each athlete’s development, including technical skills, dive list progression, competition performance and behaviours, and physical readiness, relative to their age, stage and event.

Divers who meet the relevant performance criteria will be considered for invitation to Stage 2. Divers and coaches may also submit an application for special consideration for an invitation to the ADF Roadshow, in accordance with the policy.

Final squad selection and categorisation will consider competition performance, ADF assessment outcomes and alignment with the objectives of the relevant squad. Participation in the ADF Roadshow does not guarantee squad selection. This approach supports balanced and consistent decisions that consider both current performance and future potential.

For full details, please review the Selection Policy here.

Further information about the Diving Australia ADF can be found here.

To receive further details of the skills within the ADF for each age group, please complete the form below - information will be sent by email within 3 working days.

Request for further information on the ADF.