AIS Director People Development and Wellbeing Matti Clements said the AIS was intent on making high performance sport a positive life experience for all athletes, but had also enhanced its support services in recent years to help those dealing with any negative experiences.

“We want athletes to be successful in sport and life beyond,” Clements said. “Our AIS support services range from a national network of Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement managers embedded in sports as a direct helping hand for current athletes, through to the Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) and AIS Be Heard which provide free, confidential, specialised and independent support to athletes who are struggling.

“To all high performance athletes, past and present, we want you to be aware of these services because we genuinely want sport to be the best possible experience for you.

“Everyone in Australian high performance sport should feel supported and, to former athletes, there is no finish line when it comes to this support. There’s opportunities to discuss things anonymously if you feel more comfortable. What matters most is you know there’s support available if and when you are ready to reach out.”

Some of the major AIS wellbeing support services include:

The Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement (AW&E) network.

• The AIS funds 32 positions across 29 National Sporting Organisations, soon to grow with new positions recently funded for Para Table Tennis and Skate.
• This is complemented by an additional 15 AW&E providers across the National Institute Network, which is the state and territory Institutes and Academies of Sport
• AW&E providers have a range of backgrounds and qualifications, including: mental health, psychology, counselling, career development, education, elite athlete experience.
• The AIS has a dedicated manager to support this AW&E Network with their professional development and educational needs.
• It links athletes with other support services such as the Elite Athlete Education Network, aligned with more than 40 universities and 12 TAFEs across the country to support athlete education.

AIS Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN)

• Free and confidential support to athletes, coaches and staff across Australian high performance sport who have mental health or wellbeing concerns.
• Available to former athletes who were part of the NIN, which includes state and territory institutes and academies of sport.
• Access to a group of expert psychologists and mental health clinicians who understand the pressures and complexity of life in a high performance setting.
• Some of the general concerns raised include: managing general stress and anxiety; depression; transitioning into and out of sport; body image and disordered eating.
• Demand for the service has increased over the past two years, especially in a COVID environment, with 264 referrals in 2020 and already 347 to the end of September 2021.

AIS Be Heard

• If you’re not sure where to go for support, AIS Be Heard is the best place to start.
• It provides an independent, free and confidential support service for current and former athletes and staff across the Australian high performance sports system, including the AIS and the National Institute Network.
• By contacting AIS Be Heard, you will be assisted by an independent integrity provider who can help you with the most appropriate support for your needs.
• It links to other services such as the Mental Health Referral Network, Sexual Misconduct Hotline and other agencies such as Sport Integrity Australia.
• All calls to AIS Be Heard are treated in the strictest confidence and you can discuss any matter anonymously.

Wellbeing Health Check

• A proactive and positive step launched this year, providing a tool to assess the wellbeing cultures of national high performance sport programs, including how well athletes and staff feel supported mentally, physically and emotionally.
• Takes a 360-degree view of wellbeing in high performance sport programs. All athletes, coaches and staff receive a confidential survey, while National Sporting Organisations will also complete a self-assessment report.
• There are six key themes: mental health; cultural values; injury prevention and management; selection and non-selection; conduct and behavioural standards; equality and inclusion.
• National Sporting Organisations funded by the AIS will complete the Wellbeing Health Check twice every four-year Games cycle.

The AIS doesn’t do this alone and we consult with the expertise of an Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Advisory Committee, including the likes of Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe and Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry.