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Professional Development Opportunities

Practitioner Development Program

Supporting Performance Support practitioners who are early in their career or new to the HP system to become effective and impactful world class practitioners

Overview

Providing early career Performance Support practitioners a bespoke blend of personal and professional development opportunities, the AIS Practitioner Development Program (PDP) will support practitioners to discover themselves, themselves in their roles and how they best contribute to multidisciplinary teams.

Through a combination of individual and group-based learning, practitioners will develop the tools and strategies to evolve from being purely, enthusiastic and intelligent individuals to becoming effective and impactful world class practitioners.

The program will cover a range of topics such as:

  • Understanding personal strengths and how to leverage them
  • Building new skills, knowledge and awareness to work effectively and collaboratively in high performance teams
  • Proactive career management, decision making and reflection
  • One-on-one career action planning with an expert career coach
  • Effective communication and storytelling skills
  • Practical and evidence-based tools to support Practitioner Wellbeing

Important dates

  • Applications open
    9:00am (AEDT) Monday 26 February 2024
  • Applications close
    5:00pm (AEDT) Thursday 14 March 2024

Applications Closed

Objectives

Provide a fast-tracked personal and professional development opportunity for Performance Support practitioners who are early in their career or new to the HP system

Enhance practitioners’ capacity to have impact in their role and best contribute to high performance teams

Promote practitioner wellbeing and proactive career management

Support practitioners to connect with people and thrive in the High Performance sport environment

The AIS PDP was an insightful way to improve my skills in collaboration, networking, and self-reflection, and provided valuable guidance for career progression.

2022 program participant

I've been able to broaden my network of connections within the NIN, and have been able to learn a range of practical skills to use in situations that pop up regularly in my day-to-day role.

2023 Program Participant

The program's goal of personal growth for the practitioners has allowed our practitioner to return to the program more confident in handling situations with colleagues and athletes, able to better self-support herself, and able to support athletes and coaches at a higher level to achieve the high performance objectives.

2023 Manager Testimonial

Program dates

ActivityDates
Program launch meeting (online) – Participants only 15 April 2024, 11am – 12:15pm (AEST)

Program launch meeting (online) – Managers only

16 April 2024, 11am – 12:15pm (AEST)
Strengths profiling: online survey + individual de-brief meeting 15 April – 10 May
Residential #1 in-person @ AIS, Canberra 21 – 23 May
Manager meeting #1 (online) 18 June
Work integrated learning #1 – DTE & online 27 May – 21 June
Residential #2 in-person, location TBC 25 – 27 June
Manager meeting #2 (online) 18 July
Work integrated learning #2 – DTE & online1 July – 18 October
Performance Teams Forum/Network Activities28 October - 1 November
Program wrap up & evaluation21 October – 22 November
6-month program follow upMay 2025

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, participants must:

  • Have less than 5 years experience in the Australian High Performance system.
  • Be engaged at 0.3 FTE (as a min) with an ASC High Performance funded National Sporting Organisation or within the National Institute Network.
  • Meet the AIS SSSM Practitioner Minimum Standards for their discipline.
  • Be endorsed by their manager.
  • Be available to attend both in-person residentials.

Program details

  • Participant flights, accommodation and meals during the Residentials will be covered by the AIS.
  • Participants flights and one night of accommodation to attend the 2024 Performance Teams Forum (Performance Support Forum) will be covered by the AIS.
  • This program will be capped at 15 participants.

Manager Endorsement & Involvement

  • The practitioner’s manager will play a key role in supporting their applicant’s participation in the program by supporting DTE applied learning and attending semi-regular managers’ meetings to stay informed of recent program progress.
  • Managers will have the opportunity to connect with program facilitators to help with their individual understanding of the content delivered and how to best support their applicant in applying their new learning in the DTE.
  • Applicants will need to provide a short statement of support from their manager that can confirm their role, high performance system experience and their ability to support the applicant in applying their learnings throughout the program.

Participants

How to Apply

  1. Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria
  2. Ensure you are available for the Program Launch meeting and in-person residentials
  3. Read the Terms and Conditions below
  4. Confirm your Manager’s support
  5. Complete the application form

Contact

For further information, please contact Jessey Visakan, Performance Support Development Advisor – jessey.visakan@ausport.gov.au

Additional information

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