13 November 2024

Athletics Australia’s High Performance Program promotes success achieved in a balanced, ethical and sustainable way, ensuring athletes are celebrated beyond their competitive outcomes.

A holistic approach to the wellbeing of athletes, coaches and staff is a key pillar of Athletics Australia’s High Performance Strategy. This has guided initiatives such as providing parental support in the form of financial, emotional and social support to help parents travelling with young children or mothers returning to competition post-pregnancy.

Athletics Australia ensures a wellbeing perspective is considered during athlete categorisation, selection and non-selection, and preparation for key competitions.

Having a wellbeing manager on the High Performance Leadership Team and an Athlete Advisory Committee providing feedback has resulted in a streamlined approach to athlete care and consideration and helps to balance performance goals with a culture of care, integrity, fair play and pride.

A collaboration with Paralympics Australia resulted in an improved performance environment for Wheelchair Track & Road (WT&R) athletes, while coach development and leadership programs saw the male-to-female ratio in coaching and staff leadership roles more than double since the Games in Rio 2016, reflecting an ongoing commitment to gender equity.

The Wellbeing Team also developed a series of videos to support Olympic and Paralympic debutants learn key tips and tricks from senior athletes to managing the environment at the Games. Feedback from athletes has been extremely positive, saying it has helped them navigate the challenges of competing away from Australia.

To learn more about the incredible achievements of the Win Well award finalists, visit www.ais.gov.au/events/aspas