The Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement (AW&E) Advisor will assist Australian Sailing to achieve its targets by:
Leading delivery of the Australian Sailing Personal Excellence framework throughout the performance pathway.
Work with athletes, Australian Sailing National Coaches, NSWIS Coaches and performance support staff in the daily performance environment to support individual campaign plans to optimally prepare for the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games.
Collaborate with the National Institute Networks (NIN) to deliver services along the performance pathway designed to improve an athletes’ ability to effectively navigate the critical transition points throughout and beyond their sporting career.
Principle Accountabilities
Develop and reinforce strong working relationships with key stakeholders to deliver impactful interventions.
Undertake a collaborative, athlete-centred case management approach to ensure priority athletes are maximising their availability to train and compete.
Work with Australian Sailing and NSWIS HP staff and coaches to design and deliver world class systems and support to athletes and coaches across the sailing system. This may include:
Assist athletes in setting and achieving career, education, personal, and professional goals by developing actionable plans, offering guidance, and connecting them with relevant resources and opportunities.
Provide strategic support to Australian Sailing’s High Performance program, its High Performance Management Team and the NIN Sailing AW&E Advisors, in the implementation and delivery of the Australian Sailing Personal Excellence Framework.
Collaborate with High Performance program staff and coaches to ensure athlete wellbeing is consistently considered in strategic and operational decisions in line with Australian Sailing’s High Performance Strategy 2032+ and Athlete Development Framework- What It Takes to Win.
Design, develop, and deliver or facilitate bespoke workshops that align with the Australian Sailing Performance Excellence framework, addressing contemporary issues faced by high-performance athletes.
Implement and review policies and procedures that are aligned to support the holistic development, safety and protection of Australian Sailing and NSWIS athletes eg. Australian Sailing Non-Nomination Guidelines.
Work closely with the Australian Sailing Lead Psychologist and NSWIS/QAS Sailing Psychologist to manage athlete wellbeing in line with Australian Sailing’s Wellbeing Management Plan.
Adopt an individualised case management approach when assessing athlete needs and refer appropriately.
Establish, maintain and connect with the various referral networks available, including the AIS Mental Health National Referral Network, AIS Career Practitioner Referral Network and the Elite Sport Education Network
In partnership with other HP staff, manage and develop AW&E strategies to deliver the best support for athletes to facilitate effective inductions, positive transitions and exits post-sport.
Support athlete representatives on Australian Sailing’s Athlete Leadership Group to effectively consult and communicate with their cohorts to facilitate productive engagement and contribution to the group.
Connect regularly with the AIS AW&E Network to remain at the forefront of support possibilities, drive continuous improvement in the AW&E program, and leverage existing pathways to facilitate opportunities for athletes
Drive partnerships with key education, business and community stakeholders to enable mutually beneficial outcomes ie, flexible employment opportunities and apprenticeships.
Engage in ongoing professional development specifically (but not limited to) in the areas of mental health, wellbeing, athlete conduct and safety and protection, education, career mapping and transition within the context of the high performance environment.
Ensure effective communication with performance support teams, athletes and coaches throughout the Australian Sailing and NSWIS HP programs.
Consistently display and uphold NSWIS and Australian Sailing’s values and behaviours.
Consistently display and uphold Australian Sailing Team’s athlete initiated 5R’s: Resourcefulness, Respect, Resilience, Responsibility & Results.
Work collaboratively, respectfully, and positively when addressing conflict resolution, ensuring Australian Sailing and NSWIS policies and procedures are followed.
Ensure consistent alignment with Australian Sailing and NSWIS planning, delivery and monitoring frameworks, and technology platforms with staff and coaches and externally with system partners.
Key Relationships
Internal
Performance Support Team (Performance Support Manager, Chief Medical Officer, Physiotherapists, Lead Psychologist, Nutrition Lead and Physiologist)
High Performance Management Team
National Coaches and High Performance Staff
External
NSWIS Section Lead - AW&E
NSWIS Performance Team
AIS Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Branch
Key AW&E National Referral Networks
A range of educational/ career/ employment stakeholders
NIN
Attributes
Qualifications & Experience
Essential:
3 years experience in the provision and application any of career, education, counselling and professional /personal development services for improved performance.
Experience in managing, leading and developing people to achieve performance outcomes
Demonstrated high level experience guiding and supporting people through various transition, educational and vocational pathways
Proven experience building and leveraging relationships to influence and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders
Demonstrated high level experience implementing case management or triage processes to ensure appropriate care and referral are accessible
Demonstrated experience to develop, plan and deliver athlete individualised strategies and activities to address the identified wellbeing, career, personal and professional development needs of NSOs athletes
Experience and commitment to delivering best practice in career development support, education, vocational options and guidance
Experience in establishing, maintaining, broadening and leveraging connections with relevant service industry networks
Experience working with psychologists to support Mental Health and Wellbeing
Relevant tertiary qualifications in Education, Career Guidance, Personal Development (Arts, Business, or Sciences undergraduate degree) or similar.
Career counselling accreditation desirable (CICA).
Mental health certification (desirable) / understanding the causes of mental health presentations in an elite athlete population.
Demonstrated experience working within a multi-disciplinary team within a high performance environment.
Keep Australian Sport Honest Certificate.
Knowledge and Skills
Awareness of contemporary issues relating to athletes in high performance sport (mental health, wellbeing, social issues).
Demonstrated ability and commitment to work in a multi-disciplinary/high performance environment and interacting with high performance coaches and athletes.
Proven ability to undertake leadership and management responsibilities, including staff learning and development
Demonstrated ability to establish, implement, maintain and grow community partnerships to provide opportunities for athletes to engage and integrate with activities outside training and competition
Strong understanding of the Australian sport system, in particular High Performance
Contemporary knowledge of issues impacting mental health and wellbeing and experience with implementing best practice support
Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) Anti-doping fundamentals.
SIA Anti-doping Annual Update.
SIA Child Safeguarding in Sport Certificate.
Personal Attributes
Personal and professional values that align with the sporting values of respect, integrity, teamwork and excellence;
A genuine passion for athlete development;
Ability to build and sustain effective and productive relationships with diverse stakeholders;
Innovative approach to addressing complex and challenging problems with a strong orientation to learning;
High level of accountability/ responsibility with commitment to customer service;
Works collaboratively and recognises expertise in others;
Ability to influence and negotiate outcomes; and
Flexible and adaptable with respect to working outside of traditional working hours as the position will involve some travel and possible weekend and after-hours work.
Key Performance Indicators
Annual key performance measures will be generated in collaboration with the AS Performance Support Manager and NSWIS Section Lead - AW&E and reviewed yearly as part the position’s annual review process.
