Great performances don’t just happen on the field, they start in the mind.

Here at Adelaide Football Club we are looking for a Performance Psychologist who can strengthen the wellbeing, resilience and mental performance of our AFLW players. This role shapes how our athletes think, prepare and perform, and helps create a supportive, psychologically safe and high-performance environment. You’ll work closely with coaching, medical, development managers and high-performance staff to ensure every athlete has the tools they need to thrive on and off the field.

About the team

You will primarily work within a multidisciplinary AFLW Program, connecting with coaching, medical, high performance, psychology and player development staff to support a unified, athlete-centred approach. The environment is collaborative and fast-moving, with a strong focus on clarity, trust and high-quality execution to help players thrive mentally, physically and professionally.

About the role

Reporting to the EGM AFLW, you will deliver mental health and mental performance support aligned with the AFC Wellbeing & Mental Health Management Plan (WMHMP) and the AHPRA Code of Conduct for Psychologists. Success in this role means delivering evidence-based support, embedding mental performance skills across the program, and working closely with key stakeholders to provide the right care at the right time.

What you’d be doing

• Triage, assess and support players’ mental health and wellbeing using the AFC WMHMP
• Deliver individual assessments and provide evidence-based interventions
• Lead the delivery of the AFC Mental Performance Skills FrameworkBuild engaging, football-integrated performance psychology content
• Support coaches to embed mental performance principles into training
• Provide performance planning support including goal setting, planning, monitoring and reviewing
• Educate and empower coaches and staff to deliver mental performance skills
• Maintain high-quality documentation, reporting and confidential record keeping
• Provide progress reports, attend meetings and participate in AFL and AFLPA psychology forums
• Model professional behaviour and maintain AHPRA compliance

Where and how you can work

This is a highly integrated, hands-on role embedded within the AFLW program, spanning training sessions, competition phases, meetings, performance planning and one-on-one player support. Workload will fluctuate throughout the season, averaging between 2-12 hours per week depending on program needs. Availability outside standard hours, including match days, is required.

You’d be a great fit if you

• Hold current AHPRA registration (Clinical or Sport & Exercise endorsement desirable)
• Have 4+ years experience in high-performance or professional sport environments
• Build strong rapport quickly and communicate with warmth, empathy and clarity
• Are highly organised, dependable and able to work independently
• Have strong stakeholder management skills
• Are confident delivering education and interventions to individuals and groups
• Bring emotional intelligence, compassion and professional judgement

The Club is committed to safeguarding children and young people in our care and creating a safe, supportive environment for all. Everyone who represents the Adelaide Football Club, regardless of role or level of responsibility, shares in this commitment. As part of this process, the successful candidate will be required to complete pre-employment checks, including a Working with Children Check.