Behind the ACF Curtain

Marching Forward.

On the 27th of April this year, the new ACF Board had their inaugural meeting in Adelaide. And when we say new, we mean it – all six elected Board members were first-timers on the ACF Board! With boundless energy and fresh perspectives, the new Board swiftly crafted a priority action list. Since April, they have been on a roll, achieving remarkable milestones and driving positive change for our calisthenics community.

Here are some of ACF’s key achievements to date:

New Coach Education Content

The ACF Coach Advisory Board is hard at work overhauling and updating the Cadet and Level 1 Coach education courses for 2025. Not only is the content being refreshed to meet the needs of today’s calisthenics coaches, but it will also be partly delivered through an innovative online learning platform. This platform will enable State Coach Associations to share resources, seminars, and workshops, connecting and supporting our amazing calisthenics coaches across Australia.

New Skills Videos

We are thrilled to announce the release of a brand-new set of ACF Skills videos! These professionally recorded videos demonstrate all individual movements along with comprehensive front and back views of all setwork, ensuring you have the best possible guidance. They also include all new music for Grades 1 to 4, and updated syllabus Test 1 to Grade 4. To get your hands on these invaluable resources please contact your State Skills Coordinator.

New Adjudicator Cadet Program

The Adjudicator Advisory Board is diligently revamping and updating the Adjudicator Cadet Program to align with current best practices and attract more coaches to consider becoming cadets. Stay tuned for exciting updates!

ACF Head of Committees Forum

The Forum is a dynamic gathering that unites the Heads of ACF Programs, including Coaches, Skills, Adjudicators, and Competitions. This collaborative platform, led by the ACF Chair, meets once a month to promote and support coordination across all ACF programs and products. It’s an exciting opportunity to foster agility in strategic execution and deliver innovative, up-to-date ACF programs.

State Advisory Standing Committee (SASC)

The ACF Board values collaboration as a driving force in our sport. The vibrant, new SASC highlights our dedication to engaging, and working together to find solutions that fortify and advance calisthenics. The SASC comprises delegates from each State who meet monthly to enhance the delivery of ACF programs, make recommendations to the ACF Board to achieve its strategic vision, and to foster unity within our sport. Their overall objective is to build a bright, unified future for calisthenics in Australia.

ACF Strategic Plan 2025-2029 Development

Every organization thrives on a strong vision and a clear, strategic pathway to achieve it. In collaboration with our State Associations, the ACF is diligently working on our Strategic Plan for 2025-2029. This plan will provide us with a robust, united roadmap for the future of calisthenics in Australia. Stay tuned for its release later this year.

ACF National Competition Format Review

We all love ACF Nationals, but we recognize that its ‘one-size-fits-all’ model doesn’t always meet the unique needs of our members. Now is the perfect opportunity to broaden our horizons and ask ourselves, “What should our National Competitions & Events look like?” To help us answer this important question, we have engaged McLaughlin Sports Consultancy. Stay tuned for your chance to have your say in the coming months!.

ACF National Integrity Framework & Governance Documentation Review

We’ve made remarkable progress in strengthening our governance and policy framework. After completing a comprehensive gap analysis and audit of ACF policies, we now have a solid foundation for updating and maintaining our documentation. Under the National Integrity Framework, we have introduced new policies on inclusion, child safeguarding, and complaints. Currently, we are working with Sports Integrity Australia to launch an education program that will support States to implement these policies effectively.

Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Recognition

ASC have re-recognized ACF as the National Sporting Organisation for calisthenics in Australia. The benefits of this recognition include ASC governance and resource support, eligibility for grant programs, and access to ASC workshops, seminars and forums.