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Message from the Commission Chair

During the last year the Combat Sports Commission has continued to grow. There has been a period of intense activity, much of it dedicated to safeguarding participants as they engage in the sports they are passionate about.

Participant registrations increased from 805 to 929, another healthy year-on-year improvement. There was an increase in under 18’s participation jumping to 9.1% from the previous year’s 3.3%. The pleasing aspect being the adoption – especially by young people – of the self-discipline that these sports teach. Overall, events have continued to grow in number and attendance, with the Commission now processing permit applications, registering events and attending as many as two to three per week. Western Australia continues to be a focal point internationally in all the senior disciplines, with another UFC event conducted in Perth in August and live streamed worldwide. The Commission and Boxing WA were thrilled to see WA’s Alex Winwood be the first Noongar boxer to contest a world title. While the 2024 NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year didn’t take home the belt, we look forward to watching his star continue to rise as he inspires others with his resilience and dedication. We were also excited to watch Perth local and mixed martial artist Jack Della Maddalena become WA’s first UFC world champion in May 2025.

Any UFC event in Perth means opportunities for our local combat sports industry to work at and observe a world class event. This gives not only exposure to international title bouts but opportunities to officiate as referees, judges and timekeepers. We look forward to the return of the UFC at the RAC Arena in September 2025.

Concussion is one of the on-going issues our sport faces. We’re not alone as all other contact sports are also grappling with the same concerns and outcomes. The Commission has officially adopted and supports the position on concussion taken by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Concussion protocols outlined in the Brain Health Position Statement 2024. The Commission has also adopted the recommended Return to Sport Protocols set by the Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport. As with much of our work, these guidelines are about making our sport safer, especially for younger competitors. We’re also collaborating around these principles to create a unique educational short course on concussion. In the combat sports industry, WA is an Australia-wide leader in this space.

We continue our active involvement with university research. This enables us to gain a deeper understanding of the industry and the key issues it faces within an ever-evolving landscape. The Commission funded research with Edith Cowan University, focusing on injury, illness and weight cutting in combat sports. We made the research available through our Industry Development Series and will continue to disseminate the information to the industry across Australia.

I had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Australian Combat Sports Regulatory Network meeting in Melbourne with Executive Manager Antoni Grover. It was a great opportunity to meet colleagues from equivalent authorities to discuss achievements and challenges, and collaboratively determine a path forward to address issues and opportunities. There is power in numbers and we hope together we can achieve a collaborative approach to regulation, especially around issues such as the safety of participants and their ongoing welfare, as new and emerging disciplines challenge us.

Message from the Commission Chair Combat Sports Commission Annual Report 2024/25 5 The Commission remains committed to conducting all permit application assessments with the utmost diligence, transparency and sensitivity. In instances where an application is not approved, such decisions are made following a thorough assessment against the criteria, with careful consideration of all relevant factors.

From a governance perspective, for the past three years the Commission has been complimented on its financial and operational performance, with completely adverse-free reports from our auditors. As with all government entities it’s incumbent on the Commission and those who work for it to be prudent and accountable. Toward this end I would like to commend the entire Commission management team and in particular Executive Manager Antoni Grover for his exemplary leadership. His guidance continues to inspire a dedicated team of professionals who consistently manage the growing demands and workload. The Commission also welcomed new staff in Deanne Heeley and Charlie Ward to the team. At Board level, Inspector Doug Stjepic joined the Commission as the new WA Police representative. My sincere thanks for the contribution every Board member has made during the year. They are a credit to the industry.

As a result of the 2025 State election, we welcomed a new Minister for Sport and Recreation, the Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA and congratulate Premier Roger Cook on the re-election of his government. The Commission appreciates the strong support that they provide as we look forward to working with their respective teams.

We congratulate the Hon. David Templeman on his retirement from politics after many years and wish him well in his new endeavours. We thank him for his support and enthusiasm.

Thank you also to former DLGSC Director General Lanie Chopping for her support and similarly wish her well in her new role. Whilst it hasn’t changed our day-to-day operations, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries is now a new agency, the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS).

The combat sports community are incredibly committed and passionate regardless of which discipline they follow. They care deeply about the entire industry and that the key element of participation is the safety and welfare of every participant. Over the past five years I have come to appreciate and look forward not only to the challenges, but the strengths and opportunities of this community. This includes the mutual respect, the supportive environments, an open sharing of knowledge and the qualities of camaraderie, accountability and discipline. It’s a culture where respect is earned not just through skill, but through passion tempered by discipline, kindness and integrity. A culture that should be nurtured and I believe we should celebrate as we look toward to the future.

Hon. Bob Kucera APM JP

Commission Chair