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Professional Development Opportunities

Practitioner Development Program

Supporting early career Performance Support people 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 17 April 2023
  • Applications close
    5:00pm (AEDT) Thursday 4 May 2023
  • Applications are now closed

Objectives

Provide a fast-tracked personal and professional development opportunity for early career practitioners

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

Program dates

ActivityDates
Program launch meeting (online) – Participants only 23 May 2023, 11am – 12:15pm (AEST)

Program launch meeting (online) – Managers only

25 May 2023, 11am – 12:15pm (AEST)
Strengths profiling: online survey + individual de-brief meeting 24 May – 16 June
Residential #1 in-person @ AIS, Canberra 27 – 29 June
Manager meeting #1 (online) 7 July
Work integrated learning #1 – DTE & online 3 July – 4 August
Residential #2 in-person, Melbourne 29 – 31 August
Manager meeting #2 (online) 7 September
Work integrated learning #2 – DTE & online4 September – 13 October
Performance Support Forum/Network ActivitiesW/C 30 October
Program wrap up & evaluation16 October – 24 November
6-month program follow upMay 2024

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, meals and ground transport to and from the Residentials 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.

2023 participants

  • Joshua Dipple, Performance Analyst, NSWIS
  • Katrina Sutherland, Track Performance Support, AusCycling
  • Christopher Wynne, Sports Physiotherapist, NSWIS
  • Amy-Lee Bowler, Sports Dietitian, QAS
  • Dean Cooper, Performance Psychologist, VIS
  • Tama Barry, Psychologist, QAS
  • Zoe Russell, Specialist Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist, QAS
  • Chelsie Winchcombe, Assistant Physiologist, NSWIS
  • Tahleya Eggers, Performance Scientist (Physiology), QAS
  • Shannon Smith, Performance Scientist (Swimming), QAS
  • Samantha Everard, Pathways Strength and Conditioning Coach, Paddle Australia
  • Lyndsay Clarke, Physical Preparation Coach, VIS
  • Stephanie Mundy, Physical Preparation Coach Athletics, VIS
  • Tamara Jakobson, Physical Preparation Specialist, WAIS
  • Michael King, Strength & Conditioning Coach, TIS

Contact

For further information, please contact Rachel Gale, Performance Support Development Advisor – rachel.gale@ausport.gov.au

Additional information

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