Swimming Australia believes a successful high performance culture includes our swimmers finding the right balance between wellbeing, engagement in activities outside of training and competition, and the requirements of elite sport.
Wellbeing and Engagement is being embedded within our high performance pathway through a sport specific framework co created with the AIS. The framework details services and resources available to categorised swimmers that focus on their holistic development.
- Swimming Australia’s Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement
- Career/education guidance, professional development and work experience opportunities
- Personal development
- Community engagement and networking events
- Conduct and integrity education
- Mental health services
- Online education units on myAISplaybook
- Transition support
- Resources and support for parents, partners, and supporters
- Mental Health and the AIS Mental Health Referral Network
- Australian Swimmer’s Association (ASA)
- SSSM Guidelines for Accreditation Requirements for Swimming Australia Funded Support Staff within the Daily Training Environment
- The Elite Athlete Friendly University Network (EAFU)
- Appointing a key staff member at each university to assist elite athletes;
- Provide advice and guidance on academic planning
- Negotiate flexibility to meet academic requirements
- Tailoring academic study loads to integrate with sporting commitments
- Personal Health - Dental
- Personal Health - Female Health & Athletic Performance
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To educate and inform
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To develop a referral network of skilled practitioners that understand female health issues that can impact performance and wellbeing
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To shift the current culture that has for many years not properly served the needs of female athletes.
Wellbeing and Engagement is being embedded within our high performance pathway through a sport specific framework co created with the AIS. The framework details services and resources available to categorised swimmers that focus on their holistic development.
Including:
Contact: Linley Frame - Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement Manager - linley.frame@swimming.org.au
For more information: Sport AUS: Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement
Get Support
P: 02 6214 1130
E: mentalhealth@sportaus.gov.au
W: sportaus.gov.au/ais/mhrn
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement section includes a dedicated Mental Health Team that supports and strengthens athlete mental health through a clinical care model providing athletes access to a nationwide Mental Health Referral Network.
The national network is comprised of Psychologists with specialist mental health experience who can provide evidence-based assessment and treatment services for athletes, in 2019 this will expand to include Neuropsychologists and Psychiatrists.
For all categorised athletes (podium/podium ready and potential/developing/emerging) the Mental Health Referral Network services are available at no cost to the athlete.
HOW TO REFER
Self-Referral
Athletes are encouraged to call the Mental Health Team for a private discussion. We understand it can be a difficult decision to call, and it is our priority that every athlete receives the best possible care as soon as possible.
Friends and Family, Sporting Organisations, Professionals Making a Referral
Anyone can make a referral on an athlete’s behalf using the above contact details. For the Mental Health Team to accept the referral the athlete needs to be aware of the referral and consenting to engage with a mental health service.
Further Information
If you would like to ask a question or require more information regarding the Mental Health Referral Network, please feel free to contact them on 02 6214 1130 or by email at mentalhealth@ausport.gov.au
For psychological support targeted for individuals aged 12 to 25 years of age, we recommend the nation-wide Headspace service or Lifeline
Emergency 24/7 Support
Lifeline: 13 11 14
In the case of a mental health emergency always dial emergency services: 000
For anyone with questions about the AIS Mental Health Referral Network please contact Linley Frame – Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement Manager - linley.frame@swimming.org.au
Visit the Australian Swimmer’s Association (ASA) ASA Website for more information.
The role of the ASA:
- Advocate for swimmers
- Georgina Hope Foundation Swimmer’s Support Scheme information (GHFSSS)
- Mentoring and networking with alumni
- Education Assistance Program (grants to offset costs of textbooks, course fees etc.)
Transition information and support
It is recommended that Swimming Australia funded programs or athletes have access to suitably accredited support staff. For a list of Accreditation Requirements click here
Elite Athlete Friendly Universities (EAFU) + Elite Athlete Entry
The Elite Athlete Friendly University (EAFU) Network has been established to identify and promote universities who have responded to the specific needs of elite student-athletes by developing new or promoting existing policies and practices which assist elite student-athletes to undertake sporting opportunities whilst pursuing and achieving academic excellence.
The guiding principles of the EAFU include:
For more information, visit Sport AUS - Elite Athlete Friendly University Program.
Oral health is really important for general well-being and overall health. This document highlights key areas of best practice dental health for swimmers, to ensure their overall health is on track to facilitate optimal performances.
Female Health & Athletic Performance
Swimming Australia has embarked on a major project regarding female health and athletic performance. Collaborating with Griffith University, the Australian Institute of Sport, and engaging with leading subject matter experts from across Australia, the aim of this project is threefold:
This project is important and large in scale, and we recognise the need to better support health and wellbeing needs.
Initial work undertaken has identified a lack of knowledge about important health issues that can impact performance. The understanding of normal versus abnormal and having resources tailored for different audiences (athletes, coaches, parents, staff etc) is crucial. We will explore how best to do this through a variety of platforms and initially, will target topic areas such as menstrual functioning, hormonal contraception, endometriosis and RED-S (relative energy deficiency in sport). One of our aims is to collate relevant research that has been completed on female athletes and identify the gaps in research and work to address these, so that our athletes can benefit.
Secondly, we will look to establish a referral network around Australia, including sports physicians and other medical professionals such as endocrinologists, obstetricians, and gynecologists that have interest / background in female athletic performance and health.
Thirdly, we will work to build the culture that supports this work – the space to have safe and confidential health / wellbeing conversations, access to the right people to get the right information, upskilling of staff / coaches to support female athletes, and normalising female health concerns so that there is less stigma or shame to tackle any concern. While these issues are not specific to sport culture, we want to positively impact performance and wellbeing.
For further information, please contact Dr Mark Osborne: mark.osborne@swimming.org.au
