Athlete Wellbeing

Reporting to: NSW Swifts General Manager / NSW Swifts Head Coach

Employment:12 month Consultancy Contract. This role is 0.4FTE

Location: Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park

NSW SWIFTS OVERVIEW

The NSW Swifts are one of the most successful clubs in australian sport and NSW's most celebrated professional female sports team.

Formed in 1997 as the Sydney Swifts before rebranding as NSW Swifts in 2008, many of Australia's - and the world's - greatest-ever netball players have represented the Club; from Liz Ellis AO, Catherine Cox AM and Kim Green OAM in years past, to current champions Paige Hadley, Maddy Proud and Helen Housby.

Pioneers and leaders of women in sport, the Swifts are a proud Foundation Club of Australia's National Netball League (currently Suncorp Super Netball) and have won seven Premierships in each era of competition:

• 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007 (Commonwealth Bank Trophy)
• 2008 (Trans-Tasman ANZ Championship)
• 2019, 2021 (Suncorp Super Netball)

Across 27 seasons of the National League, the Swifts have contested an unrivalled 13 Grand Finals.

On court and off it everyone at the Club is united by a common goal. That is to be: Inspired By History, Driven By Legacy.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Lead the implementation of the Netball AW&E Framework and facilitate associated services designed to improve players ability to effectively navigate the critical transition points throughout and beyond their sporting career.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Performance Areas & Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and deliver AW&E services to athletes as prioritised in the Netball AW&E Framework as well as other identified (localised) AW&E needs;
• Implement and review policies and procedures that are aligned to the Netball AW&E Framework to support the holistic development, safety and protection of players;
• To undertake AMS Life Plan Consultations and case manage players wellbeing needs (e.g. linking with relevant service providers and accessing relevant information, following best practice guidelines);
• Establish, maintain and connect with the various referral networks available, including (but not limited to) the AIS Career and Education Referral Network, AIS Mental Health Referral Network and the Elite Athlete University Network;
• To work with the High-Performance Team to consistently consider athlete wellbeing when making strategy and operational decisions;
• 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;
• Maintain contemporary knowledge of social issues impacting sport and proactively instigate solutions to address any developing issues.

Key Relationships

To fulfil the responsibilities, the position will need to develop and maintain effective relationships with:

• SSN Players (and in some cases pathway athletes)
• Netball Australia National Wellbeing Manager
• High Performance Exec Manager / Coach and the High-Performance Department
• AIS Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Branch
• State Institute and Academies AW&E providers
• Key AW&E National Referral Networks
• Pathway and Underpinning Program Contacts
• Swifts SSN Staff

SELECTION CRITERIA

Candidates for the position will require a range of personal and professional skills including:

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Demonstrated experience to develop, plan and deliver athlete individualised strategies and activities to address the identified wellbeing, career, personal and professional development needs of players.
• Demonstrated high level experience implementing case management or triage processes to ensure appropriate care and referral are accessible;
• Demonstrated high level experience guiding and supporting people through various transition, educational and vocational pathways;
• Demonstrated experience working within a multi-disciplinary team within a high-performance environment and maintaining strict confidentiality;
• Proven experience building and leveraging relationships to influence and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders;
• 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;
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Demonstrated experience in public speaking, facilitating, workshop delivery
• Current First Aid Certificate.

Desirable

• Qualification in elite athlete wellbeing, social work, career development, education, counselling or similar is highly desirable.

Competencies

• Relating and Networking – You are able to gain commitment, build trust and partnerships effectively and quickly; builds wide and effective networks of contacts inside and outside the organisation;
• Working with People - Relates well to people at all levels; manages conflict; listens, consults others and communicates proactively; supports and cares for others; develops and openly communicates self-insight;
• Leadership – You are able to transform a vision into a shared purpose through your own personal commitment as well as engaging, developing, coaching, motivating and guiding a team to achieve successful outcomes; provides other with a clear direction; sets appropriate standards of behaviour;
• Business – You have a strong understanding of Sport Industry Acumen;
• Planning and Organising – You have the capability to set clearly defined objectives and plans activities and projects well in advance; identify gaps, interprets information and organises resources needed to accomplish tasks; monitors and evaluates performance against deadlines and milestones; delivers on budget;
• Learning and Researching – You can systematically evaluate opportunities and tenaciously work to meet and exceed goals while maximising learning experiences; gathers comprehensive information to support decision making; encourages an organisational learning approach (i.e. learns from successes and failures and seeks staff and customer feedback); manages knowledge (collects, catalogues, and disseminates knowledge of use to the organisation);
• Maintaining performance while navigating, managing and negotiating competing priorities within a high pressure and complex environment;
• Strong understanding of the Australian sport system, in particular High Performance;
• Experience and commitment to delivering best practice in career development support, education, vocational options and guidance;
• Contemporary knowledge of issues impacting mental health and wellbeing and experience with implementing best practice support;
• Experience in establishing, maintaining, broadening and leveraging connections with relevant service industry networks;
• Taking the initiative in assisting and advising athletes rather than reacting to specific situations
• Budget Management: manages AW&E budget for activities and programs to assist with the implementation of the framework.

Personal attributes

• Friendly person who can work in a strong team environment, as well as work autonomously to complete tasks.
• Leadership
• Interpersonal / relationship skills
• Problem solving
• Work Health and Safety
• Professional and proactive attitude.
• Passionate and prepared to go above and beyond.
• Commitment to Netball NSW Values.
• Acknowledge that flexible work hours will be required

Working With Children Check (WWCC)

In accordance with Child Protection legislation candidates will be required to provide a Working With Children Check (WWCC) clearance number for verification by Netball NSW prior to employment. Selection of the successful candidate will be based upon the results of child protection screening and relevant reference checks.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Netball NSW is committed to providing equal employment opportunities. We encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; people from culturally diverse backgrounds; young people; older workers; people with disabilities; the LGBTQIA+ community; and other under-represented groups.

CHILD SAFE ORGANISATION

Please note: Netball NSW is committed to protecting Children from harm. We require all applicants that will work with children to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment. All candidates must have a valid Working with Children Check.

WHY WORK FOR US?

NNSW strives to offer a range of benefits to support a healthy work environment and a sustainable work-life balance, no matter your role and stage in life.

• Additional leave day for your Birthday;
• Free parking for those that have to drive to work or 800m walk to Sydney Olympic Park Train Station;
• NNSW funded membership with the Connected Membership exclusively for Sydney Olympic Park employees, residents and students providing everyday discounts and exclusive offers including free admission offers and discounted tickets for events at Sydney Olympic Park;
• Pawsivity - bring your four-legged friend to work so you can enjoy their happy presence while you work; and
• Wellness programs including: our Employment Assistance Program (EAP); NNSW lunchtime league social sports teams in volleyball, netball, soccer and touch footy.