• Up to 0.4 FTE (or 2 days per week equivalent) with a total available contract value of up to $54,000 (GST exclusive) per annum.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Badminton Australia (BA) is the peak body for the sport of Badminton within Australia. Affiliated with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), Australian Olympic Committee, Commonwealth Games Australia and Paralympics Australia, we lead and develop the sport of Badminton across the country in partnership with our member State/Territory Sporting Organisations. Badminton has the unique position of being both an Olympic and Commonwealth Games sport and has over 400,000 participants and close to 20,000 members across Australia. Key functions of BA include the operation of a High-Performance (HP) Program including performance player development and support, the management and delivery of international tournaments and national carnivals, overseeing participation initiatives and coach and technical official education as well as providing leadership, guidance and support to our states and territories. Badminton Australia has a small but perfectly formed group of staff who are predominantly based out of the Melbourne Head Office.

Badminton Australia celebrates diversity of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, cultural background, ethnicity, location, religious or political beliefs, and life stage. We strive to create an open, inclusive, and equal environment in which everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Our culture is important to us, and our values are central to our way of working. They describe the way in which directors, staff, volunteers and athletes behave, interact and work together. At Badminton Australia we will:

• STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE - We are committed to the highest standards of performance, both on and off the court. Whether it’s nurturing young talent or advancing our national teams, we will continually strive for excellence in all areas.
• ACTING WITH INTEGRITY - Integrity is the cornerstone of our sport. We believe in fairness, honesty, and accountability in every aspect of the game. Our community deserves transparency, trust, and respect in all interactions.
• FOSTERING INCLUSIVITY - Badminton is for everyone, including those with diverse age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, and background. We are committed to making the sport more inclusive, providing opportunities for all Australians to engage in badminton.
• WORKING TOGETHER - The strength of our sport is in collaboration. Badminton Australia will unite stakeholders, sharing resources and expertise to grow badminton nationwide.
• BEING BOLD - Badminton in Australia has incredible potential, and we’re ready to be bold and seize opportunities, take calculated risks, and embrace innovative ideas.

Badminton Australia may appoint one individual to the full scope of the role, or split the scope across two complementary roles (e.g. MPC Lead and Team Psychologist), with time commitment and remuneration adjusted accordingly.

Contract to end June 2027 (with potential for extension dependent on BA funding profile).

Core Purpose(s)

The BA What It Takes To Win strategy identifies Mental Performance in Competition as a critical capability for athletes preparing for the performance demands of LA 2028 and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In partnership with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Badminton Australia has developed a Mental Performance in Competition (MPC) Framework and associated performance behaviours to support athletes progressing toward sustained international success.

Team Psychologist

The purpose is to design and deliver interventions to enhance performance in targeted athletes and partnerships. This includes work with coaches to embed the work in daily training and competition environments. This role also includes responsibility for leading the design, coordination and national alignment of the MPC program. Where applicable, this role will work in collaboration with, or provide oversight to, other psychologists engaged in team or athlete delivery roles to ensure alignment across the high-performance system.

MPC Psychologist

The purpose of this role is to design, establish and lead a nationally aligned MPC curriculum that prioritises the development needs of nationally identified LA2028 and Brisbane2032 pathway athletes. This includes leveraging existing resources from the BA National Program, AIS, SIS/SAS and other key partners, developing targeted resources where gaps exist, and working closely with coaches and specialist staff within the HP Program to embed and deliver the MPC framework across the high-performance pathway.

Applicants may express interest in delivering either or both MPC Psychologist and Team Psychologist functions

Key Responsibilities

Team Psychologist

• Design and deliver interventions to enhance mental performance in targeted athletes and partnerships.
• Support coaches to embed mental performance behaviours and practices in daily training and competition environments.
• Provide leadership and direction for MPC delivery nationally, including setting standards, frameworks and delivery expectations across all environments.
• Support coaches in creating psychologically safe, challenging and high-performance learning environments.
• Provide oversight of athlete mental health within the High-Performance Program, including screening, referral and case management support in line with AIS Mental Health Referral Network and BA policies (note: this role does not provide clinical treatment).

MPC Psychologist

• Design and develop Mental Performance in Competition (MPC) curriculum content aligned to the BA MPC Framework, with a primary focus on the needs of athletes targeted for LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.
• Identify, engage and coordinate content experts to support curriculum development and delivery, ensuring alignment with the High-Performance Model (HPM) and national program priorities across the Olympic and Paralympic cycles.
• Work within an interdisciplinary High Performance support model, aligning MPC delivery across BA, NIN and other key partners to ensure consistent and integrated support for nationally identified LA2028 and Brisbane2032 pathway athletes.
• Oversee, coordinate and support the consistent delivery of the MPC program across BA’s High-Performance Pathway, ensuring alignment across decentralised environments and performance hubs.
• Support, mentor and empower BA HP coaches and staff to facilitate and embed MPC principles and behaviours within daily training and competition environments.
• Deliver targeted MPC content at BA HP camps and key training/online environments, with an emphasis on preparing athletes for selection readiness and major championship competition.
• Leverage AIS MPC resources and networks to enhance BA MPC delivery and actively contribute to the broader national MPC practitioner and delivery community.

Key Deliverables

• National MPC curriculum developed and implemented
• Consistent MPC delivery model across HP environments
• Coach capability uplift (measurable integration of MPC)
• MPC delivery at national camps/events
• Contribution to athlete readiness for major competitions
• Regular reporting to HP leadership

Experience and Knowledge

Knowledge and Experience

• 3+ years of experience delivering performance psychology services in a sport environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of the requirements of high-performance athletes and coaches.
• Proven success in utilising performance psychology knowledge, experience and evidence-based process with individuals and groups.
• Experience working in a decentralised national program working across multiple stakeholders in the NIN
• Awareness of and previous work in the MPC area in another Olympic sport or NIN is desirable

Reporting Expectations

• Provide regular updates and reports to the National Performance Managers and key stakeholders on MPC delivery, athlete engagement and program outcomes.

Skills & Attributes

• Approaches the role with energy and enthusiasm.
• Highly self-motivated with an intrinsic desire to strive for excellence;
• Coaching, developing, motivating and empowering others.
• Compelling communication to effectively engage, consult, liaise and influence management, colleagues, and athletes.
• Ability to create innovative solutions for performance outcomes.
• Ability to foster positive relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and partners.
• Ability to respectfully hold others accountable for actions linked to athlete performance and development plans

Qualifications

• Current registration as a Psychologist with AHPRA
• Endorsement as Sport & Exercise Psychologist (or working toward endorsement) preferred.

Appraisals

• End-Term (end of June 2027)

Child Safety

• Badminton Australia is committed to protecting children and young people from abuse and harm. We require all employees and volunteers to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.
• Employees and volunteers must at all times comply with the BA Child Safeguarding Framework, and with all relevant State/Territory child protection legislation and requirements, including obtaining and maintaining all required clearance certificates and declarations. 
• All employees and volunteers are required to obtain and provide evidence of a current Working with Children’s Check or equivalent with the appropriate employee or volunteer categorisation.

Integrity

• Employees are required to adhere to BA’s National Integrity Framework including the BA Code of Conduct.

Other Requirements

• Police Check
• Domestic travel may be required