Indigenous Player Development Manager

Pivotal role in the support & development of our First Nations players
- Flexible, hybrid work options on offer
- Contribute to continued cultural safety development across the Club

**About us**

Essendon FC - “The Bombers” - are a professional sporting team in the Australian Football League. As home to 5 sporting teams, we run our AFL men’s and women’s programs, VFL women’s and men’s programs, and a wheelchair football team. But we’re more than the game. Not only do we exist to win premierships, we aim to give back to our loyal membership base, and importantly, our community. We understand and take seriously the impact we have on social outcomes and work tirelessly to ensure these are positive, from our partnership with The Long Walk, to our indigenous pathway programs. To do this, we have strong commercial partnerships and innovate with non-traditional ventures, such as our Essendon Education Academy, so that we can deliver world class events, give back to our fans, run community programs and ultimately, strive toward our next premiership.

**About the role**

The Indigenous Player Development Manager (IPDM) is responsible for facilitating the holistic development of all First Nations players in the Club’s AFL and AFLW playing list. The IPDM role exists to support our First Nations players’ cultural, vocational, educational, health, and social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) needs. The role will develop and deliver on the Club’s player development and wellbeing strategy to promote the health and wellbeing of its Indigenous players.

The IDPM plays a critical role in the Club’s cultural safety and capability, promoting an Indigenous players’ voice in club decision-making and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure culturally appropriate support systems and Indigenous cultural practices are in place to meet the holistic needs of all Fist Nations players.

The role will engage with a range of internal and external multidisciplinary providers and support personnel to advocate for, coordinate and facilitate the holistic needs of First Nations players. Hence the IPDM will need excellent skills in cultural competence in order to build and maintain collaborative working relationships with First Nations players, and other key stakeholders including: club PDMs, club Doctors, club psychologists, coaches, management and staff. External key relationships that will ensure the success of the role include external health, vocational and educational providers, partners, kinship and family networks, elders, social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) practitioners, and player agents.

**About you**
- Be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
- Have completed or is completing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid Training (or be open to the Club supporting you to complete)
- Have completed or is completing the AFLPA Executive Certificate in Player Development (or be open to the Club supporting you to complete)
- Have completed or is completing a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health care, education support, social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB), education, behavioural/ social science, psychology or related-field

**The Perks**
- ** Our work doesn’t always fit the 9 to 5.** Your life doesn’t always fit the hours around it. We offer flexibility with hybrid office / home working arrangements and hours.
- **More leave? **Sure EFC People are gifted additional leave during the year to coincide with Footy Department mini breaks or at the discretion of the CEO. EFC People may also choose to purchase up to 10 days per annum additional leave.
- ** Parent friendly - **We put family at the centre of our work. We know they are the centre of yours. We offer paid parental leave to both the primary and secondary carer of a biological or adopted child.
- Access to our **Wellbeing **Partner - Converge to support a Healthy Mind, Healthy Body and Healthy Workplace, along with discounted gym membership at our Windy Hill Fitness Centre. Plus, our Monthly Empower Hours are your dedicated wellbeing time to use for whatever makes you feel good - join in team sports, group Pilates or undertake some personal development.
- ** Continuous professional development**:

- to compete at our best we have to keep learning. It’s an expectation and a commitment we make to everyone at EFC. All EFC people will have access to the Essendon Leadership Academy which consists of formal learning, coaching and mentoring, to support you in achieving your career goals.
- ** But wait there’s more - **You will have access to great benefits and discounts through our Commercial Partners. Along with two x Flexi Home & Away memberships giving you access to our Home & Away games at Marvel Stadium and the Free onsite parking at our premium workspace, The Hangar, and more.

**Please keep reading...**

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