VFLW Head Physiotherapist

• Lead the VFLW physiotherapy program and deliver world-class player care at Essendon Football Club
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to diagnose, manage and prevent injuries
• Coordinate the medical team, including physiotherapists, trainers and interns
• Ensure each player receives the preparation, education and care required for optimal performance
• Communicate player medical and physical needs to the coaching group
• Advise the senior coach on player training capacity and match availability throughout the season

ABOUT US

The Essendon Football Club – "The Bombers" – are a professional sporting organisation in the Australian Football League, home to several teams, including AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW and Wheelchair Football programs. But we're more than the game. At Essendon, unity binds us. We firmly believe that our strength comes from standing together as One Club, embracing our rich diversity, and uniting around a shared purpose. Our passion fuels every kick, every play, and every decision.

The essence of the Essendon legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of the Australian sporting calendar, through significant events such as the ANZAC Day and Dreamtime clashes, underscoring our commemoration and connection to national identity. Our heritage sets us apart, shaping our ethos and inspiring our journey. We strive to be better every day, pushing the boundaries and relentlessly pursuing excellence. But amidst the intensity of competition, respect remains paramount. We care about our impact on others, whether it's our teammates, opponents, or our community. When we 'Don the Sash', we do so with unity, passion, excellence, and respect guiding our every move, Always Striving toward our next triumph on the premiership stage.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The VFLW Head Physiotherapist is responsible for delivering a world-class physiotherapy service through expert injury diagnosis, management and rehabilitation. Working closely with medical and high-performance staff, the role ensures accurate assessment of player injuries and the implementation of evidence-based treatment and return-to-perform programs. A key focus is maintaining detailed injury records and monitoring trends to support continuous improvement within the VFLW and AFLW environments.

A major component of the role is injury prevention, with the Head Physiotherapist leading the development of targeted and individualised programs that prepare players for the physical demands of elite football. This includes overseeing assistant physiotherapists, trainers and interns, and ensuring that all preventative and manual therapy practices are aligned and effective.

Strong communication and reporting are essential. The Head Physiotherapist provides transparent, timely updates to coaches, medical staff and high-performance leaders, including weekly reports on injury status, progress and training load concerns. The role also upholds governance and compliance requirements by maintaining accurate injury databases, ensuring timely reporting of incidents, and supporting staff to meet all training and documentation standards.

As a leader, the Head Physiotherapist mentors and develops the physiotherapy team, conducts regular performance check-ins, and ensures appropriate coverage across all training sessions and matches. The role contributes to operational excellence by helping develop systems, policies and processes that support consistent high performance and continuous improvement throughout the VFLW program.

KEY POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Essential

• Experience working within an elite team sport environment
• Experience in emergency on field care
• Strong practical injury diagnosis
• The ability to design and implement rehabilitation programs
• Experience with the implementation and ongoing development of injury prevention strategies
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships with both the playing group and other key stakeholders within the organisation
• Experience managing patient record keeping
• Current driver's licence to travel to and from key stakeholder premises/meetings
• Current Working with Children Check or ability to obtain one; and
• Permanent Residency in Australia, or appropriate visa to work permanently.

Desirable

• Exercise Science or Strength and Conditioning qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Masters of Physiotherapy
• Post Graduate Study in Physio – ie Masters of Musculoskeletal, Sports Physiotherapy or similar
• Current AHPRA registration as a physiotherapist

Please keep reading…

Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised folks tend to only apply when they tick every box. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don't currently meet all the criterial, please still consider applying.

At the Essendon Football Club, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to join our team. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute their best work.

To Apply

Please submit your application as soon as possible as shortlisting will commence immediately. Please include in your cover letter why you are a great fit for this role, and why you want to work with Essendon Football Club. Cover letters should be no more than one page, outlining what you can bring to this position.

With our commitment to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld. This includes ensuring all our people hold a valid employee Working with Children/Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.

All applications will be treated with respect and confidentiality, and we endeavour to provide timely responses.

We politely ask not to be approached by recruitment agencies at this time.