Serving Up Safety: Tennis Australia's Strategic Transformation Towards Proactive and Efficient Risk Management

The Challenge

Tennis Australia, the governing body for tennis in Australia, recognised that its risk management systems were no longer adequate for its expanding operations. Despite being over a century old and operating in every Australian state, the organisation was still using spreadsheets to manage its risk registers. This approach was becoming increasingly untenable due to several factors.

Firstly, Tennis Australia's programs cater to participants of all ages, from young children to adults. This wide range of participants meant that risks were being identified and managed by team members across the country, not just by designated risk managers. The decentralised nature of risk reporting made it difficult to maintain a comprehensive and accurate risk register using spreadsheets.

Secondly, the complex structure of Tennis Australia, with operations in multiple states and a diverse range of programs, further complicated risk management. Spreadsheets were not able to adequately capture the nuances of risks across different events and organisational units.

As a result of these challenges, the spreadsheets used for risk management were producing a significant amount of duplication. The registers themselves became so unwieldy that the software was frequently crashing. This was not only frustrating but also wasteful, as it led to lost time and effort.

The Solution

The Tennis Australia team, equipped with a list of desired features, embarked on a search for a suitable risk management solution. Their exploration led them to Riskware by Pan Software. The platform's simplicity was a key factor in their decision. They recognised that most individuals conducting risk assessments within their organisation were not specialists in risk management or safety management. Therefore, a user-friendly and intuitive system was essential.

The implementation of Riskware has ushered in a new era of efficiency and waste reduction for Tennis Australia. The platform's integrations have streamlined processes, enabling the team to achieve the same level of quality in less time. Risk assessments are now integrated within the registers, and automated reminders ensure timely reviews. Additionally, the system incorporates process flows for approvals, further enhancing efficiency. The availability of libraries with pre-existing controls also contributes to time savings and standardisation.