Australian Sports Commission Podcast

Beyond the Games (series 2) - Next Steps for Para-athletes: Employment, career and retirement

Hear from Para-athletes who are employed, have retired and in non-traditional employment and the support they have accessed that has helped them on their journey. 
Athlete Panel Presenters: 
Emcee: Christie Dawes PLY – Wheelchair racer, commentator, public speaker 
Victoria (Tori) Pendergast - Martech Manager, Australian Olympic Committee 
Katie Kelly OAM PLY – Para-triathlon | disability and inclusion advocate and philanthropist | founder and director of Sport Access Foundation | Disability Experience Manager at MEGT | Non-Executive Director Achieve Australia | Adjunct Industry Fellow at Griffith University’s Disability Inclusive Council| an Ambassador of the Australian Sporting Alliance for People with Disability and Ambassador of Next Sense| co-Patron of the Australian Deaf Games and co-Founder of the Casino and Armidale Fun Runs| Keynote speaker 
Louise Sauvage OAM PLY - Wheelchair racing, National Coach Australian Wheelchair Track and Road program at NSWIS 
Jesse Aungles PLY - Swimming, Business Manager, Department of Home Affairs 
Watch the full webinar on the Beyond the Games webpage: https://www.ais.gov.au/career-and-education/beyond-the-games 
Support available to help with your decision making: AIS Mental Health Referral Network or the AIS Career Practitioner Referral Network.  
  
If you have feedback or questions please email wellbeingandengagement@ausport.gov.au. 
 

Beyond the Games (series 2) - Next steps for Para-athletes: Transferring to another sport

Have you got more to give as an athlete? This session focuses on talent transfer in Paralympic sport. Talent transfer Paralympians will share their experiences and offer insights on key differences and things to consider when transferring to a new sport. AIS and PA explore what support is available to athletes when transferring and how to navigate this pathway. 
Presenters: 
Emcee - Tim Matthews - PLY athletics, Paralympics Australia Senior Performance & Talent Advisor, Paralympics Australia 
Dani Di Toro - PLY para-table tennis 
Ella Sabljak - PLY Wheelchair rugby, Paralympics Australia Education Manager, Founding member of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Athlete Steering Committee 
Emilie Miller PLY - Wheelchair Rugby 
Adeline Green - Athlete Identification & Development, Australian Institute of Sport 
Watch the full webinar on the Beyond the Games webpage: https://www.ais.gov.au/career-and-education/beyond-the-games 
Support available to help with your decision making: AIS Mental Health Referral Network or the AIS Career Practitioner Referral Network.  
  
If you have feedback or questions please email wellbeingandengagement@ausport.gov.au. 
 

Beyond the Games (series 2) - Next steps for Para-athletes: Continuing to compete

In this episode, a Para coach and a Para-athlete will share valuable tips on how they prepared themselves to continue competing after a Games cycle. You will also hear about the High Performance Para Sport Strategy, designed to uplift Para performance heading into the next Games cycle. 
Presenters: 
Emcee: Chris Bond OAM PLY - Captain of the Australian WC Rugby team and AIS Athlete Advisory Committee member 
Shaun Caven - Paralympic Coaching Advisor, Paralympics Australia 
Lakeisha Patterson OAM PLY - Paralympics Australia Gratitude Officer, Epilepsy Queensland Ambassador 
Bill Tait - Director of Performance Systems & Paralympic Partnerships, Australian Sports Commission / Paralympics Australia 
Watch the full webinar on the Beyond the Games webpage: https://www.ais.gov.au/career-and-education/beyond-the-games.  
Support available to help with your decision making: AIS Mental Health Referral Network or the AIS Career Practitioner Referral Network.  
  
If you have feedback or questions please email wellbeingandengagement@ausport.gov.au. 
 

Beyond the Games (series 2) - Next steps for Para-athletes: Making decisions after a Games cycle

Hear directly from Para-athletes who have navigated the 'what next' options post-Games cycle several times. Whether continuing to compete, transitioning to a new sport, taking a break, retiring, or seeking new employment opportunities, this episode explores key factors influencing these decisions and the experience of those having made them. 
Presenters: 
Emcee: Christie Dawes PLY – Wheelchair racer, commentator, public speaker 
Josh Hose OAM PLY – Wheelchair rugby, Peer Support Coordinator, AQA, SpinChat Presenter with Independence Australia, Ambassador at Hand In Hand Ballarat. 
Vanessa Low OAM PLY – Athletics, Keynote speaker 
Dr. Hannah Macdougall PLY - Melbourne Football Club Player Development, Well-Being Pracademic, Keynote speaker 
Watch the full webinar on the Beyond the Games webpage: https://www.ais.gov.au/career-and-education/beyond-the-games 
Support available to help with your decision making: AIS Mental Health Referral Network or the AIS Career Practitioner Referral Network.  
  
If you have feedback or questions please email wellbeingandengagement@ausport.gov.au. 
 

Beyond the Games (series 1) - Making your next move through informed decision-making

This episode empowers athletes to navigate their 'what next' options post the Paris Games, whether that be continuing to compete, transitioning to a new sport, taking a break, retiring or seeking new employment opportunities. It explores key factors influencing these decisions —physical and mental health, career achievements, values, finances, and opportunities — while addressing how to cope with decisions beyond their control.  
Presenters: 
Emcee: Laura Hingston - VIS Elite Athlete Diver | ASC The Good Village Coordinator, AIS Sport Community Engagement | Journalist | Motivational Speaker 
Michal Burian - PLY javelin, athletics coach, Project Leader 
Emma Nedov - OLY artistic gymnast, health coach, Artium Sport brand co-founder and creator of ENbalance podcast 
Louise Sauvage: OAM PLY wheelchair racing, National Coach Australian Wheelchair Track and Road program at NSWIS 
Pippa Temperley - Performance Lifestyle Adviser at Victorian Institute of Sport and Para Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Manager Table Tennis, Consultant The Player Care Group 
Watch the full webinar on the Beyond the Games webpage: https://www.ais.gov.au/career-and-education/beyond-the-games 
Support available to help with your decision making: AIS Mental Health Referral Network or the AIS Career Practitioner Referral Network.  
  
If you have feedback or questions please email wellbeingandengagement@ausport.gov.au. 

Beyond the Games (series 1) - Unwinding: Exploring the impacts of detraining

This episode explores the impacts on your mental, emotional and physical health when you stop, reduce or take a break from high performance training after a Games cycle. Hear about the physical and psychological impacts of detraining and discover effective strategies to manage this transition and support your body as it de-stresses.  
Presenters: 
Emcee: Chris Bond - OAM PLY, Captain of the Australian WC Rugby team and AIS Athlete Advisory Committee member. 
Chelsea Hodges, Olympic swimmer, Swim Australia athlete experience design assistant, and nursing student  (orthopaedics) 
Nikki Jeacocke, AIS Senior Sports Dietitian and National Disordered Eating Initiative Lead 
Kristine Dun, Sport Psychologist, AIS National Performance Psychology Lead 
Steph Davies, AIS Recovery Hub, Senior Physiologist Recovery 
Watch the full webinar on the Beyond the Games webpage: https://www.ais.gov.au/career-and-education/beyond-the-games 
Support available to help with your decision making: AIS Mental Health Referral Network or the AIS Career Practitioner Referral Network.  
  
If you have feedback or questions please email wellbeingandengagement@ausport.gov.au. 

Beyond the Games (series 1) - Navigating the transition from a Games cycle as an athlete

In this episode, you will have the opportunity to hear firsthand from those who have navigated the emotions from a Games cycle multiple times. Each athlete's story is unique, offering different perspectives on processing emotions during this time.  
Presenters: 
Emcee: Laura Hingston - VIS Elite Athlete Diver | ASC The Good Village Coordinator, AIS Sport Community Engagement | Journalist | Motivational Speaker. 
Jemima Montag - OLY Race Walker, IOC Young Leader, Medical Student, ‘Play On’ founder 
Chris Bond - OAM PLY, Captain of the Australian WC Rugby team and AIS Athlete Advisory Committee member 
Josh Katz - OLY Judo athlete and Black Dog Institute Mental Fitness Program ambassador 
Watch the full webinar on the Beyond the Games webpage: https://www.ais.gov.au/career-and-education/beyond-the-games. 
Support available to help with your decision making: AIS Mental Health Referral Network or the AIS Career Practitioner Referral Network.  
  
If you have feedback or questions please email wellbeingandengagement@ausport.gov.au. 

Beyond the Games (series 1) - Recharging and thriving with your emotions post Games cycle

The Games period is a unique and intense experience, often filled with emotional highs and lows. This episode explores effective strategies for managing these emotions, focusing on self-care and providing support to others during this challenging time. 
Presenters: 
Emcee: Laura Hingston - VIS Elite Athlete Diver | ASC The Good Village Coordinator, AIS Sport Community Engagement | Journalist | Motivational Speaker. 
David Johnson - AIS Mental Health Advisor, Psychologist, Mental Health Team 
Eliza Stankovic-Mowle PLY AM - AIS Para Sport Wellbeing & Engagement lead, Paralympian, Paris Paralympics performance support 
Download Fact sheet:  Psychological Strategies for Coping with Change 
Watch the full webinar on the Beyond the Games webpage: https://www.ais.gov.au/career-and-education/beyond-the-games 
Support available to help with your decision making: AIS Mental Health Referral Network or the AIS Career Practitioner Referral Network.  
  
If you have feedback or questions please email wellbeingandengagement@ausport.gov.au. 

Coaching and Officiating – Coaching Journey: Lauren Robinson

In this week's coaching and officiating podcast, I speak with Lauren Robisnon (Assistant Coach of the Australian Gliders) and the unique journey she has had in getting to her current coaching role.                                                                                                                                 
For more resources head to the ASC Community Coaching & Officiating website:  
Coaching: https://www.ausport.gov.au/coaching/community  
Officiating: https://www.ausport.gov.au/officiating                                               
 
Want to get in touch or suggest a topic for future episodes? Email us at coach_and_officiating@ausport.gov.au  
 

Coaching and Officiating – What is a community of practice?

In this week's coaching and officiating podcast, we chat with Julia Lawrence (Senior Advisor of Coaching, Australian Sports Commission) and Dr Paul Perkins (Associate Professor, University of Canberra and High Performance Coach Developer, Australian Institute of Sport) about what a community of practice is, the impact it can have, and how a community coach or official can use it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
For more resources head to the ASC Community Coaching & Officiating website:  
Coaching: https://www.ausport.gov.au/coaching/community  
Officiating: https://www.ausport.gov.au/officiating                                               
 
Want to get in touch or suggest a topic for future episodes? Email us at coach_and_officiating@ausport.gov.au  
 
References: 
AIS summit program gives coaches chance to collaborate: https://www.ais.gov.au/media_centre/news/ais-summit-program-gives-coaches-chance-to-collaborate