About the Victorian Institute of Sport:
The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) was set up to assist the development of Victoria’s best athletes. It was established in 1990 by the State Government as a private trustee company, with its Board of Directors appointed by the Victorian Minister for Sport.
The VIS is located at Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park. The VIS headquarters completed a renovation in February 2023, providing a brand new workspace for athletes and staff. It is a non-residential institute, which utilises Melbourne’s outstanding sporting facilities, to allow high performance athletes to live and train in Melbourne, the sporting capital of Australia.
The VIS operates in partnership with National Sporting Organisations and State Sporting Associations to deliver high performance daily training environments (DTEs) for sports and athletes in support of the National High Performance Sport Strategy outcomes. Our facility and staff help prepare and support future and current Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth Games and World Champion athletes.
Employee Benefits:
The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) provides a supportive work environment for you to be your best whilst supporting Victoria's best athletes. In addition, all employees have access to:
- 2xu gear to proudly represent the VIS brand
- Friday Staff Sport - to get that competitive energy out and socialise with all staff
- Heavily subsidised Albert Park parking and access to St Ali barista coffee
- Professional development opportunities
- Newly renovated office with ergonomic sit/stand desks and plenty of natural light & open windows
- Free access to gym and pool/recovery facilities
About the Role:
The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) supports more than 400 athletes across 46 Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports, providing performance services that help athletes succeed in sport and life.
As part of the Performance Lifestyle (PL) team, the Performance Lifestyle Adviser will:
- Provide individual career, education, wellbeing, lifestyle and transition advice to VIS athletes
- Deliver PL services to VIS Sport Programs as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team
- Support athletes through key transitions in sport and life, during their career and beyond
- Design, deliver and review PL programs in line with the VIS PL Operational plan and VIS Strategic plan working with athletes, Sport Programs, the PL team and external partners
A 0.4 FTE component of this role may include responsibilities as the Melbourne Vixens Wellbeing Lead. The successful candidate would be employed by the VIS and work as an embedded member of the Netball Victoria Melbourne Vixens High Performance Team.
Responsibilities include but not limited to:
VIS Performance Lifestyle Adviser
- Manage and deliver PL services for assigned VIS Sport Programs
- Work with coaches and program and performance managers to identify the factors that empower athlete progression, performance and wellbeing, and develop PL Sport Plans from these
- Help athletes balance the demands of high performance sport with their wellbeing, career, education and personal development
- Work with each athlete on a Life/Development Plan that aligns with their Individual Performance Plan
- Support athletes as they start a VIS scholarship and enter the high performance pathway
- Refer athletes to the VIS Performance Psychologist and the AIS Mental Health and Career Practitioner Referral Networks as needed
- Design and deliver programs that address current issues for high performance athletes, including wellbeing and managing transitions
- Make well-reasoned decisions that put the athlete's needs first while considering input from others
- Build strong working relationships with athletes, families, coaches, national and state sporting organisations, educators, employers, service providers and other stakeholders
- Work with national sporting organisation Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement leads to align support for athletes
- Plan, deliver and review PL projects with the PL team and internal and external stakeholders
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of child safeguarding requirements and best practice, ensuring these are adhered to and effectively implemented within high-performance sport environments.
- Keep athlete records, including consult notes and athlete bios, up to date in the Athlete Management System
- Uphold the VIS Code of Conduct and the relevant professional association for the qualification held. If none then adhere to the Career Industry of Australia Professional Standards.
- Comply with Equal Employment Opportunity and Work Health and Safety requirements
- Develop a professional development plan with the Performance Lifestyle Manager
Melbourne Vixens Wellbeing Lead
- Support Melbourne Vixens athletes to identify and work towards personal, education, career and development goals, including exploring interests, strengths and transferable skills beyond netball and developing their identity beyond sport. Supporting athlete transitions into, during and beyond Sport.
- Provide wellbeing support during periods of competition, training, travel, injury rehabilitation or other aspects within the Melbourne Vixens program.
- Lead and support the implementation of Netball Australia, Super Netball and Netball Victoria athlete wellbeing frameworks, policies and best-practice initiatives within the Vixens program, using wellbeing survey data, athlete, coach and performance support team feedback and identified areas of need to inform priorities, outputs and athlete education and development opportunities
Required Qualifications:
- Relevant Tertiary Degree qualification in fields including Education, Career Development, Counselling, Psychology, Health/Social Work, Human Resources.
- Current First-Aid certificate and CPR
- Current Victorian Working with Children Check (must be in place before employment commences).
- Current Safeguarding Children Certification.
- Current driver’s licence.
- Successful completion and currency of Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) fundamental modules as set out by the VIS
Desirable qualifications
- Qualifications in elite athlete or coach wellbeing or career development would be highly desirable
- Mental Health First Aid Certificate (MHFA) or Mental Health in Sport course (AIS)
Required Experience:
- Experience working in a Wellbeing role within High Performance Sport.
- Awareness and experience working with the contemporary issues relating to athletes and coaches within high performance sport and understanding of Australian High Performance sport systems
- Experience of working collaboratively in interdisciplinary and/or Performance Health Teams with a positive and optimistic approach
- Ability to build rapport and empathy with athletes and coaches
- Ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders
- Experience working with and knowledge of education providers in Australia – School, Tertiary, TAFE and other registered training organisations
- Experience in workshop delivery and development of engaging content and resources
- Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgement, observe confidentiality and use discretion and initiative
- Demonstrated ability to work within a team as well as the ability to work independently. Possess a high level of personal initiative and autonomy
- High level communication, planning and organisational skills.
- Demonstrated capacity to drive continuous improvement and improved ways of delivering the PL program, with skills in implementing change and influencing key stakeholders
The VIS welcomes applications from candidates seeking either full-time or part-time employment. While our preference is for a full-time appointment to support integration across both the VIS and Netball Victoria, part-time arrangements may be considered for the right candidate.
The VIS is committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive space for all, celebrating our differences where everyone is valued, included and supported. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, identities, ages, and abilities including those who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and people with a disability. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable opportunities for all, including making reasonable adjustments in recruitment and workplace processes to ensure everyone can perform at their best.
As an organisation we are committed to protecting children and young people from harm. Anyone involved with the VIS must understand their responsibility in relation to child safety. Our organisation requires all applicants to obtain a 'Working with Children Check' prior to appointment.
