I wanted to get involved in the Mental Fitness Program because mental health struggles are something I’ve personally experienced—whether from injury, the pressure of high-performance environments, or seeing people around me struggle. As an athlete, I know how easy it is to push mental health aside in favour of physical training. But over time, I’ve learned how crucial it is to address mental health first. The MFP gives me a platform to help raise awareness, reduce stigma, and support others who are going through similar challenges.

I want to help normalise conversations around mental health, through any walk of life, and at any age. By sharing my experiences with disappointment, loss, and witnessing others struggle, I hope to show that it's okay to not be okay. My goal is to encourage young adults to seek support, be open about their mental health, and understand that it needs to be prioritised. Through this program, I hope to create a space where people feel safe to talk about their challenges and find the help they need.

Sport has taught me that mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness - if not more. I think developing strong mental fitness is paramount for success in any field.

I think athletes can provide a unique perspective on mental approaches to certain situations and I hope I will help others who may not have had these opportunities to develop the mental resilience needed to tackle their goals.

I am very grateful for all of the opportunities that have been afforded to me on my archery journey.  As an elite athlete it is time for me to give back to the community where I can.  It is known that I advocate for wellbeing and to take care of one’s mental health and the MFP is well in alignment with this mindset.

Having a background in counselling and continuing education in relation to mental health and wellbeing, I am more than willing to share, contribute and partake in programs which are in line with my values. In saying that the MFP is in alignment with these values.  Knowledge is power, and by being a part of the MFP my hope is to share knowledge on a wider scale within the community to increase awareness and understanding.   Be creative, get inspired and never give up!!

I am keen to be involved in the MFP as I am passionate about making a difference in the lives of others and especially athletes.

I am hoping to make a difference in this space by advocating how important mental health is around the adolescent years and giving insight into my journey as an athlete so far in hopes this will help others throughout their journey and guide them with some sort of knowledge.

I want to engage with and educate young people about mental health skills because I believe that teen years in particular can be some of the hardest. I had a few people in my life that really empowered me to get through some tough times during that age and those mental fitness skills that I learnt have continued to help me throughout my adult life.

I am passionate about the next generation of young people and believe that my experiences combined with the MFP modules can help not only provide a bit of hope when times get tough but also show them that they are not alone and that they can get through anything with the right support!

I am keen to get involved in the Mental Fitness Program because it aligns perfectly with my personal journey and passion for supporting others. As an athlete, I have firsthand experience with the importance of mental fitness in overcoming challenges. After multiple ACL tears and surgeries, I learned that resilience, self-belief, and support networks are just as vital to success as physical strength.

Having also completed a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, I want to use my understanding of mental health and my personal story to inspire and educate young people about the importance of building mental resilience. This program is a unique opportunity to give back to the community, share the lessons I’ve learned, and make a meaningful impact on the wellbeing of others.

I hope to make a difference in this space by using my personal experiences as an athlete and my background in psychology to help young people understand the importance of mental fitness. Through sharing my journey of overcoming multiple injuries and setbacks, I want to show others that challenges can be opportunities for growth and resilience.

I aim to provide practical strategies for building mental strength, fostering positive social connections, and supporting others who may be struggling. By connecting with young people in schools and sporting communities, I hope to create a safe and open space for conversations about mental health, encouraging them to prioritise their wellbeing and feel empowered to seek help when needed.

I am excited to play a role in educating students and providing them with the tools needed to improve their mental fitness. I am passionate about sport as a tool for mental and physical wellbeing, and think this program is a great initiative which I wish had been available to me when I was in school!

I hope that my involvement with this program will encourage not only the students I speak to but also my peers in Sailing to recognise the value in talking about how we’re tracking, to build a more supportive environment, free of any stigma.

I wanted to be a part of the Mental Fitness program as I am passionate about youth health which is as much mental as physical. Using my experiences throughout my 18 year journey in elite sport and sharing my learnings with the next generation I am able to give back to the community for the support I have received over my career.

I am hoping to make a difference in this space through using my lived experiences to open the door for discussion amongst students and destigmatise mental health in younger people, but to also equip them with some strategies to help others around them or themselves when times are tough. Everyone has times in their life where things don't go to plan or are having a tough time, its how you support yourself and those around you that help and solidify the community you are a part of.

I was keen to be part of the MFP as I think mental health within sport is still something that is not recognised enough. Whilst it is becoming more popular in society, I think the constant performance-related and lifestyle pressures of high-performance sport are relatively unvoiced. I think it is important to hear other elite athletes discuss the importance of the area of mental fitness.

I am excited to present myself as someone who was never necessarily at the top of their sport immediately and had to work their way. However in doing so, I often found that my mental health would come second to my pursuit. In saying this, I want to show younger aspiring athletes how it is possible to achieve all you want, as I am still trying to, but do so without sacrificing what is most important.

I’m passionate about mental fitness both on and off the field, understanding the importance for an athlete, but equally in life. I’d love to share my experiences and knowledge, as well as learn more to then share with others and be a positive influence to support the next generation to be the best version of themselves.

I want to be a positive and bright influence and help teach the importance of mental fitness and the best strategies, and be someone others can rely on and feel comfortable around to learn and grow in this area.

I want to be a part of the AIS Mental Fitness Program to share my experiences and educate the younger generation on the importance of mental fitness and building up mental skills to bounce back from adversity.

I want to make a difference in this space by acknowledging the difficult emotions and feelings we all face every day and reminding others that they are not alone, creating awareness around knowing how to help a friend and asking for help.

I was really keen to get involved in the MFP because throughout my time of being an elite athlete I have come to learn the importance of looking after your mental health just as much as you do your physical health. I remember growing up and watching the Olympic’s on TV and thinking those athletes seemed to be bulletproof or superhuman. We aren’t, we are regular people that can struggle through challenging periods of mental health and I think having gone to the Olympics and experienced all the highs and lows elite sport has to offer, I’m in a position to educate and share my experiences with our younger people and hopefully have a lasting. positive impact on them.

I want to make a difference by sharing my own story and forming genuine connections with people by showing vulnerability and creating a safe environment to share experiences . I think it’s important young people understand how normal different feelings and emotions are and how to manage them through challenging times like high school. There are so many different ways to keep mentally fit and I feel that it will be a privilege to be able to spend time sharing these and particularly sharing my own experience with how these tools have helped me.

I’m keen to be involved in the Mental Fitness Program as I know it is a community engagement initiative that could have greatly assisted a younger version of me who struggled with managing their mental health and wellbeing. As a young person who found it difficult  to balance their wellbeing through the shift from teen to adulthood, I know how valuable access to education and advice on how to support mental wellbeing is. The opportunity to contribute to sharing this knowledge and helping other young people manage this period in their life is immensely rewarding and allows me to give back to the AIS support programs which have helped me throughout my journey as an elite athlete.

I hope I’m able to help destigmatise conversations around mental health and supporting young people through difficulties in managing their mental wellbeing. On reflection of my own journey through young adulthood and elite sport I know programs such as the MFP could have helped me better understand and manage my mental health, as well as equipped me with practical tools and strategies to build resilience during difficult times. I hope delivering this program will provide this support for other young Australians.

As I've grown as an athlete, I've come to understand how powerful the mind is and how it influences both learning and performance. Through my own experiences, I've gained valuable tools that I’m eager to share with others. Outside of netball, I’m passionate about educating others, both as a coach and as a speech therapist, so I'm excited to extend this passion to the Mental Fitness Program.

By delivering the program with enthusiasm and giving insight to my own unique approach, my goal is to inspire individuals not only to prioritise their own wellbeing but also to become advocates for mental fitness in their communities.

I am really passionate about mental health and mental fitness. I feel I have a lot to share from my personal experiences as an athlete, both positive and negative, that can help educate school kids on what mental fitness is and how it relates to other facets of life.

I am hoping to make a difference by sharing my own experiences and my own journey throughout my sporting career, in the hope it helps make a difference and impact with the school kids.

I am so excited to be part of the Mental Fitness Program as I have found that learning from other people's experiences is a great way to help tackle my own challenges in sports and life. So, I would like to try and give back, by sharing my own experiences and what 'mental fitness' means to me. I believe having mental fitness strategies in place is so important to not only performing well in elite sports, but all aspects of life.

I am hoping that each young person within the program can learn one thing to take with them into the future that they can then use it as a tool to make a difference to themselves and the people around them.

When I first saw the application link and read more into it, I found that it resembled a lot of workshops we had at my high school. I always found those workshops interesting and inspiring. Mental fitness was also a crucial part of my 2024 Olympic campaign. My sailing partner and I had to work hard on our mental resilience, learning to stay focused, calm, and confident in high-pressure situations. Mental fitness is such an important part of sport and I would love the opportunity to share factual strategies that may help inspire the next generation.

When I first saw the application link and read more into it, I found that it resembled a lot of workshops we had at my high school. I always found those workshops interesting and inspiring. Mental fitness was also a crucial part of my 2024 Olympic campaign. My sailing partner and I had to work hard on our mental resilience, learning to stay focused, calm, and confident in high-pressure situations. Mental fitness is such an important part of sport and I would love the opportunity to share factual strategies that may help inspire the next generation.

I’m keen to get involved in the AIS Mental Fitness Program because I understand firsthand the importance of mental resilience in overcoming challenges as an elite athlete. I want to strengthen my own mental fitness, support younger people by sharing my experiences, and help promote the importance of mental wellbeing alongside physical preparation in sport.

Ski racing is a tough sport, and I often face challenges like unpredictable weather or course conditions that are beyond my control. Yet, I still need to show up and perform my best, no matter what. I've found that this mindset extends beyond the slopes and into life itself.

The lessons I’ve learned through skiing have been invaluable, especially in tough times. Whether dealing with injuries, supporting my dad through cancer during COVID-19, or experiencing personal loss, I've learned that challenging moments are inevitable, but they are also temporary. The storm doesn’t last forever. My support team has been there for me, helping me navigate these challenges and encouraging me to seek professional help when needed.

Through the MFP, I want to help young people build positive relationships with themselves and recognise when they or their friends may need professional support. I want to show them that reaching out for help is not only normal but essential for maintaining mental wellbeing.

People often think athletes like me are superhuman, especially when they hear about the demanding sport I do and the university commitments I juggle at the same time. But I want to show that athletes, even at the top of their game, experience the same emotions, struggles, and challenges as anyone else. We’re not immune to mental health challenges.

By sharing my own experiences, I hope to break down the stigma around mental health and show that it's normal for everyone—regardless of how successful or accomplished they may seem—to face difficult emotions and need support. My goal is to help others feel more comfortable acknowledging and addressing their mental health and to create a space where seeking help is seen as a strength, not a weakness.

Being a part of the Mental Fitness Program is really special to me. Sport has played a huge role in my life and has helped me through some really challenging experiences. I have learnt that being mentally fit is key in my performance both in elite sport and in day-to-day life. When I’m at my healthiest mentally, I’m happier, I enjoy training, and I perform the best physically. The lessons you learn from sport and from pushing your body to the extreme day-in- day-out are incredible. I love to connect with young people, share my stories, and show them that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel if you surround yourself with good people and find the things that make you happy.

I am hoping to show through my experiences that mental challenges, anxiety, and setbacks are a part of everyone's journey, however everyone can overcome these challenges and achieve their dreams with the right support and mindset.

I wanted to be a part of the Mental Fitness program because I strongly believe in the message this program is sending to students. I think that gratitude, mindfulness and mental strength are key pillars in growing yourself in life.

I am hoping to help people understand a different side to mental fitness and give them an opportunity to think creatively and freely about how to grow in gratitude, empathy and resilience.

Despite the passion and success, being an athlete also comes with many failures and setbacks. Developing mental fitness has been essential to not only bouncing back and succeeding in sport, but also in life and for overall wellbeing. The support I have received from the VIS has been important for me, and I hope to be able to support others in a similar way. As a HPE teacher I also have a passion for health and supporting young people to develop their own healthy habits.

I hope that my passion for health combined with my experiences as an athlete can share powerful messages to help young people develop their mental fitness and contribute to their health and happiness.

I was keen to get involved in the MFP because I have recently come to appreciate the impact overall wellbeing (physical, social, mental, cultural) has on sporting performance as well as everyday life. I would like to continue my own education as well as help others along their own mental fitness journey.

I would like to help young people become more aware of mental fitness and the tools available to help them on their journey.

I was keen to be involved in this amazing program because I see a real need for programs like this in our society and it is such a privilege to partner with the AIS and the Black Dog Institute to do this. It’s incredibly special to be able to give back to the communities that have shaped me into the person and athlete I am today, whilst also having a platform for meaningful conversations and raising awareness about real and relevant topics for today’s teenagers.

I hope to make a difference in this space by contributing to the movement to increase mental health literacy, promote the importance of connection, and reassure teenagers that what they or their friends might be feeling is okay. My goal is to share strategies and my lived experiences so that I can help teenagers support themselves and each other effectively.

I strongly believe mental fitness is a concept teenagers should be familiar with. Developing strategies to promote and maintain my mental fitness has been among the most important things I’ve done during my early twenties. However, it wasn’t without the help of others. In recognising what an important role mentors played in educating and supporting me, I’ve been inspired to take part in a broader effort by the Australian sporting community to positively impact the mental wellbeing of young Australians.

I hope that as an ambassador for this program I can encourage young people to be aware of their psychological state, develop habits that promote feeling and thinking positively, and most importantly, to reach out for help when they need it.