Over the summer, Paris Olympian and WNBA player Kristy Wallace spent her time volunteering and taking short courses to help plan for her post-basketball career.

She is now encouraging others to take the same initiative and use their downtime to embrace opportunities for growth.

“This summer, I was able to take a break from my sport, which allowed me to explore, up-skill, and rest my mind and body from elite sport,” Wallace said.

“I think it is super important for athletes to continue to develop themselves more holistically, tap into the resources provided by their sport, and find a way to develop themselves throughout each stage of their athletic career.”

Supporting both the athletic and professional ambitions of athletes is a key priority of Australia's High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy. It recognises sport and education as a winning mix for well-rounded individuals, improved performance, and post-retirement success.

Swimming Australia’s Head Paralympic Coach Mel Tantrum echoes this sentiment, urging athletes to dedicate time to career development during their breaks.

“Volunteering is an excellent way to gain hands-on experience and expand your network. It not only helps you build valuable skills but also connects you with professionals who can guide and support your career transition,” Tantrum said.

She encourages athletes to make the most of the resources and programs available to them including their Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Managers and access to the Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) Career Practitioner Referral Network for categorised and previously categorised athletes.

Winter Olympian Fedele de Campo embraced this advice and took advantage of the AIS Virtual Internship Program to pursue his passion for technology.

During the summer, he worked with a small startup, ANTL, to complement his computer science degree.

“I would highly recommend the AIS Virtual Internship Program as a way to source a uniquely flexible opportunity to advance your career prospects,” he said.

“I also think spending time actively thinking and planning some exciting career options and ideas that complement the life of an athlete is highly motivating.”

Athletes looking to take the first steps may want to consider enrolling in online courses, attending webinars or networking sessions, seeking work experience or building up their personal brand.

They can also explore the athlete personal development opportunities offered by the AIS or email career_and_education@ausport.gov.au for career practitioner support.