Athlete Development & Wellbeing Lead

Netball Queensland; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Netball Queensland is seeking an experienced Personal Development and Wellbeing Lead to join the Queensland Firebirds’ high-performance team. You will support athletes’ holistic development beyond daily training and competition, helping them set education, career goals and life plans.

Reporting to the Head Coach, you will build trusted relationships, conduct one-on-one sessions, coordinate workshops and connect athletes with education and professional development opportunities to thrive as

Job description

At Netball Queensland, our purpose is to enrich lives through netball. As the governing body for netball in Queensland, we grow and support the game at every level, from thriving grassroots communities through to the Queensland Firebirds and elite competition.

We are proud to manage Nissan Arena, support netball communities across Queensland and create opportunities for people to participate, develop and succeed through our sport. Our people are united by a shared commitment to growing the game and creating positive experiences and outcomes for our athletes, participants, partners and communities.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Netball Queensland is looking for an experienced and people-focused Personal Development and Wellbeing Lead to join the Queensland Firebirds’ high-performance team.

This role supports the holistic development of Firebirds athletes, with a particular focus on their lives outside the daily training and competition environment. You will help athletes navigate key transition points throughout and beyond their sporting careers, build a broader sense of identity, and establish meaningful personal development, education and career goals.

The Queensland Firebirds have a dedicated sports psychologist within the high-performance team. This is not a sports psychology role. Instead, the Personal Development and Wellbeing Lead will work collaboratively with the sports psychologist, Head Coach and broader high-performance team to support athletes’ individual and collective wellbeing and development needs.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the Queensland Firebirds Head Coach, you will build trusted relationships with athletes and provide practical, individualised support across career development, education, personal development, relocation and transition planning.

Your responsibilities will include:

• supporting athletes transitioning into the club, relocating to Queensland, retiring from elite sport or moving to another club in Australia or internationally
• conducting one-on-one sessions to understand athletes’ individual needs, aspirations and development goals
• supporting athletes to establish career and education goals and develop Individual Life Plans
• connecting athletes with relevant education, learning and professional development opportunities
• designing, coordinating and facilitating workshops that build the skills required to thrive as a holistic athlete
• developing professional mentoring opportunities that connect Firebirds athletes with relevant industry experts
• developing an athlete mentoring program connecting Firebirds athletes with emerging athletes in the Firebirds Futures program
• coordinating external service providers where additional transition or development support is required
• collaborating with the team’s dedicated sports psychologist and broader high-performance team
• building strong relationships with Netball Australia, the Australian Netball Players’ Association, the Australian Institute of Sport and the SSN Wellbeing Leads Network.

ABOUT YOU

You will be an approachable and trusted practitioner who can connect authentically with elite athletes while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.

You will bring:

• experience delivering career, education, vocational, personal development or athlete wellbeing services
• demonstrated experience supporting people through career, education or significant life transitions
• an understanding of contemporary wellbeing and engagement practices in high-performance sport
• experience working effectively within a multidisciplinary high-performance environment
• the ability to establish and maintain strong professional and service-provider networks
• excellent communication, active listening and relationship-building skills
• sound judgement, integrity and the ability to provide practical, individualised support
• an understanding of the behaviours and demands associated with succeeding as an elite athlete, both on and off the court.

Direct experience working in elite or high-performance sporting environments is required. A qualification in elite athlete wellbeing, social work, career development, education, counselling or a related discipline is highly desirable.

You must hold, or be able to obtain before commencing employment, a current Working with Children Blue Card.

WHY JOIN NETBALL QUEENSLAND?

Based at Nissan Arena, you will join a values-led organisation and have the opportunity to contribute directly to the success and sustainability of netball in Queensland. Benefits include:

• a flexible and supportive work environment
• professional development and career growth opportunities
• access to employee assistance programs
• access to a fully equipped high-performance gym
• modern office facilities at Nissan Arena
• onsite parking and access to public transport
• tickets to selected Nissan Arena events and sponsor discounts
• team events organised by our social committee.

This role operates within the professional sport environment, so some work outside traditional business hours, including evenings and weekends, will be required. We take a flexible approach to helping our people balance their personal commitments with the demands of the industry.

CONTRACT DETAILS

This is a part-time position working 19 hours per week on a fixed-term contract from 1 January 2027 to 30 September 2028.

There may be some flexibility for an earlier start for the right candidate.

Application Instruction

Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and what interests you about supporting the personal development and holistic wellbeing of elite athletes.

We will review applications as they are received and may progress interviews or appoint to the position before the advertised closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Netball Queensland welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and is committed to providing fair opportunities for individuals to thrive and contribute.

Netball Queensland is committed to safeguarding children and young people. The successful candidate must hold, or be able to obtain before commencing employment, a current Working with Children Blue Card.

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