The AIS Accelerate program provides a unique experience for retired women athletes who are pursuing career options in the sport sector. The program, which is funded through the Australian Government's 23/24 Federal budget, has a career and personal development focus and provides opportunities to acquire knowledge, skills and tools to navigate a professional career in sport.
The program will be tailored to meet the needs of the successful group applicants, ensuring that learning opportunities are directed to have the greatest impact. The program will be delivered through a mixture of in-person residential workshops, online learning and one-on-one career practitioner support.
The program will cover areas such as:
- debriefing the athletic experience
- personal values, purpose and strengths
- understanding the 2025 sport landscape and opportunities
- career transitions and expert career support
- developing a career action plan
- fast tracking career advice
- building professional networks
The key objectives of the Athlete Accelerate Program are to:
"I really valued having this group of professionals come in and give us tips around what we can add to our little toolbox to really move forward in our career and how we can start giving back to future generations."
Kylie Palmer, retired swimmer
Program dates
- 10 Feb - Applications close
- 17 Feb - Applicants notified of outcome
- 17-21 Feb - Needs analysis conducted (online survey)
- 17-21 Feb - Strength profiling conducted (online survey)
- 24 Feb-14 March - Strength profiling individual debriefs
- 3-14 March - Individual consultations
- 25 March - Launch and online session #1
- 1 April - Online session #2
- 8-11 April - In-person residential experience #1 (Melbourne)
- 29 April - Online session #3
- 13 May - Online session #4
- 27 May - Online session #5
- 3-6 June - In-person residential experience #2 (Canberra)
- 17 June - Online session #6
- 27 June - Program evaluation
Note: online sessions will be held in the evening from 7pm-8pm AEDT/AEST.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the program, participants will need to be:
- A retired, former podium level (ready, potential or podium) categorised athlete and/or a national team representative of a recognised funded sport.
- A woman aged 18 years or over.
- An Australian citizen or have been granted permanent residence status.
- Available for all program dates.
- Not be an employee of Australian Sports Commission when applying for the program with the exception of applicants engaged on a casual arrangement.
Contact
For further information please contact: accelerateprogram@ausport.gov.au