Beyond the Games is a webinar series, featuring sport experts and athletes sharing valuable insights and advice to athletes who have been part of the Paris Games cycle to reintegrate back into life and sport. This is an AIS hosted Win Well initiative in collaboration with Paralympics Australia (PA) and Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).
Beyond the Games is a panel series, featuring sport experts and athletes sharing valuable insights and advice to athletes who have been part of the Paris Games cycle to reintegrate back into life and sport. This is an AIS hosted Win Well initiative in collaboration with Paralympics Australia (PA) and Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).
Event series 1: Beyond the Games This recorded series is suitable for all athletes who competed, were reserves or missed out on selections during the Paris Games cycle.
Podcast to all webinars available on ASC Spotify account: Listen here, opens in a new tab
Session 1 - Education Session: 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 session will explore 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
Download Fact sheet: Psychological-Strategies-for-Coping-with-Change-Fact-Sheet-Athletes-Accessible.docx Duration: approx. 30 mins
Session 2 - Athlete panel: Recharging and thriving with your emotions post Games Cycle
Athletes will have the opportunity to hear firsthand from those who have navigated the transition from a Games Cycle multiple times. Each athlete's story is unique, offering different perspectives on processing emotions during this time. Attendees will also have the chance to ask questions and engage directly with these athletes, gaining valuable insights from their experiences.
Presenters:
Emcee: Laura Hingston - VIS Elite Athlete Diver | ASC The Good Village Coordinator, AIS Sport Community Engagement | Journalist | Motivational Speaker
Duration: Approx 30min
Session 3 - Unwinding: Exploring the Impacts of Detraining
Are you taking a break or reducing your training load after a Games cycle? This session will explore the physical and psychological impacts of detraining, including the 'let-down effect', also known as ‘detraining’—where a sudden drop in stress can weaken the immune system, trigger illness, and lead to unhealthy coping behaviours. Learn about healthy strategies to manage this transition, avoid harmful habits, and support your body in de-stressing gradually.
Presenters:
Duration: Approx 40mins
Session 4 - Post Games Path: Making your next move through informed decision making
This session empowers athletes to navigate their 'what next' options post-Paris Games Cycle, whether continuing to compete, transitioning to a new sport, taking a break, retiring or seeking new employment opportunities. It will explore 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. Athletes will also hear about the support available from the AIS, AOC and PA.
Presenters:
Duration: Approx 30mins
LIVE event Series 2. Beyond the Games - Next steps for Para-athletes. Come join us for a series of live and interactive panels on Microsoft Teams. Suitable for all Para-athletes who competed, were reserves or missed out on selections during the Paris Paralympic cycle. Sessions 3 & 4 are also suitable for alum. Registrations are required to join these live events.
Session 1 - Para-athlete panel: What’s next: hear from an all Paralympian athlete panel on the decisions they have made to stay and compete, transfer to a new sport and retirement post Games cycle
Hear directly from an all Para panel who have navigated the 'what next' options post-Paris Games Cycle several times, whether continuing to compete, transitioning to a new sport, taking a break, retiring, or seeking new employment opportunities. It will explore key factors influencing these decisions and the experience of having made these decisions.
Presenters:
Duration: Approx 50mins
Session 2 - Continuing to compete: hear from an all Paralympian athlete panel and sport experts on what it takes to stay and compete and the next Games cycle sport strategy.
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:
Duration: approx. 55mins
Session 3 - Talent Transfer: hear from Paralympians who have transferred to another sport and the Future Green and Gold campaign.
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 will explore what support is available to athletes when transferring and how to navigate this pathway.
Presenters:
Duration: approx. 60mins
Session 4 - Employment, Career and Retirement
LIVE session:
You will hear directly from study and employment partners about current opportunities for current and alum Para-athletes. The session will also explore Paralympics Australia’s employment and mentoring programs and the Para job opportunities in the AIS and the Para Unit technical roles in NSOs and NINs. In this session, you will hear insights on how to effectively approach employers, including how to discuss any adjustments you may require. You'll also hear directly from disability-friendly workplaces and tips on how to communicate the transferable value of the athlete experience.
Live Webinar Presenters:
Duration: Approx 90 mins
Links mentioned in this webinar:
PowerPoint presentations used in this webinar:
Bonus session - Employment, Career and Retirement Athlete Panel
Para athlete panel recording:
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:
If you would like more information, please email wellbeingandengagement@ausport.gov.au
To provide feedback please fill in our feedback form, opens in a new tab.
Overview Athlete Accelerate Program Athlete Advisory Committee Career Practitioner Referral Network Elite Sport Education Network Elite Athlete University Scholarships Navigating the USA Collegiate System AIS Athlete Education Scholarship Beyond the Games Bolstering athlete financial wellbeing Ignite Athlete Employment Program Retired Athlete Peer Support Network