Water Polo Australia is seeking a technically outstanding and highly motivated Assistant Coach to support the Men’s National Program (Sharks) within the Sydney high-performance environment.

This is a rare opportunity to contribute directly to Australia’s national team program, working alongside the Men’s National Head Coach to prepare athletes for sustained international success as the program builds toward major campaigns including LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.

This role is embedded within the Sydney Daily Training Environment (DTE) and plays a critical role in delivering daily coaching excellence, supporting athlete progression, and maintaining the standards required for world-class performance.

About Water Polo Australia

Water Polo Australia (WPA) is the national governing body responsible for leading and advancing water polo across Australia. As a recognised high-performance partner of the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Olympic Committee and World Aquatics, WPA supports athletes and programs across participation, pathway and elite performance environments.

WPA is committed to creating environments where athletes, coaches and staff can thrive.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Men’s National Head Coach, the Assistant Coach plays a central role in delivering daily technical coaching within the Sydney high-performance environment.

The role contributes to athlete preparation across National Program athletes and will assume leadership of the daily training environment when required to enable the Head Coach’s national and international commitments.

You will operate within one of Australia’s premier high-performance environments, working closely with athletes, coaches and performance support staff to drive continuous improvement and performance readiness.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver high-quality technical and tactical coaching within the Sydney Daily Training Environment, aligned to the Men’s National Program philosophy and Win Well performance principles.
• Lead the Daily Training Environment when required, maintaining performance standards, accountability and training intensity.
• Contribute to session planning, periodisation and competition preparation to support individual and team performance outcomes.
• Support the development, implementation and review of Individual Performance Plans (IPPs), providing targeted technical feedback to accelerate athlete progression.
• Assist with national team campaign preparation, including training delivery, opposition analysis, tactical planning and performance review.
• Contribute to alignment between the Sydney environment and the national pathway, working collaboratively with coaches and stakeholders to support athlete progression.

About You

You are a technically capable coach with a strong understanding of high-performance environments and athlete development.

You bring:

• Demonstrated coaching experience within high-performance or elite pathway environments
• Strong technical and tactical coaching capability
• Ability to build trust and credibility with athletes and performance staff
• Excellent communication, feedback and collaboration skills
• A growth mindset and commitment to continuous improvement

Experience supporting national team or representative programs will be highly regarded.

Why This Role Matters

This position plays a critical role in supporting Australia’s Men’s National Team program and strengthening the daily performance environment required for sustained international success. You will work alongside leading coaches and athletes, contributing to a system focused on long-term performance, and ongoing athlete development.

If you are passionate about high performance and want to contribute meaningfully to Australia’s national program, we encourage you to apply.