Athletes

The Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) supports the integrated holistic development of athletes that encompasses physical, emotional, mental and social requirements, to achieve sustained success as a person and in their athletic pursuits.

The QAS Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement (AW&E) team offers direct and specialist support to each QAS supported athlete, as part of the wider Performance Support Team for each of the QAS supported programs.

Our team works to ensure that each athlete has a comprehensive Individual Life Plan (ILP) that enhances athletic performance by:

• supporting individual career and education goals
• identifying personal strengths and values
• facilitating personal development opportunities
• linking athletes to community engagement opportunities that align with identified social issues and causes.

This ensures every QAS supported athlete is adequately prepared to manage the demands of high performance sport with their life away from training and competition, contributing to holistic athlete development.

Meet the AW&E Team

QAS AW&E Team	SPORT
Lara Davenport OAM OLY AW&E Lead	BMX Freestyle Skate Surfing Swimming
Lauren Wann  Senior AW&E	Diving Football Medal Support Plan (MSP) Rugby 7’s Talent Support Plan
Jamie Krol AW&E Practitioner	Sailing Rowing Water Polo Wheelchair Basketball Wheelchair Rugby
Matt Smith  AW&E Practitioner	Athletics Cycling – Track Golf Hockey
Dylan O’Brien AW&E Practitioner	Beach Volleyball Boxing Football Paddle Triathlon

Resources for athletes

Education and career

The ideal time to plan and prepare for life after sport is right from the start of your career. Not only will this benefit you when you transition away from high performance sport; it will also help you lead a more balanced life during your time as an elite athlete.

The QAS Dream Twice Athlete Employment Program partners with Queensland businesses to provide QAS supported athletes with flexible, paid employment. Interested athletes are encouraged to speak to their AW&E Practitioner for more information and to find out how they can support you to be Dream Twice ready.

The Career Practitioner Referral Network (CPRN) enables Australia’s categorised athletes’, high performance coaches and high performance staff members to access to a variety of professional career advice and guidance services.  Access and bookings are available through the QAS AW&E Team. More information can be found on the AIS website.

Personal and professional development

Personal and professional development fosters a mindset of continuous growth and learning, enabling you to broaden your knowledge, acquire new skills, and unlock your potential. By consistently challenging yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone, you create opportunities for new experiences and possibilities.

In addition to the QAS Learning and Development Framework, the QAS AW&E team supports a wide variety of opportunities that align with the interests and goals of categorised athletes. Personal development activities and topics include but are not limited to:

• Personal Brand and Sponsorship
• Storytelling and Effective Communication
• Media Skills and Training
• Mentoring
• Building your Business
• Financial Wellness (Financial literacy and planning)
• Values-based decision making
• High-performance behaviours

MENTAL HEALTH

The AIS Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) is a group of expert psychologists and mental health clinicians who understand the pressures and complexity of life in a high-performance setting. Whether you’re an athlete, a coach or a support staff member, they can assist when things are tough or if you want some advice on how to improve your wellbeing.

More information on the MHRN and details on how to connect to free and confidential support is available on the AIS website.