Since our first Sydney Summit in February 2017, a huge number of current and former athletes have spoken out about the mental and practical challenges they face, making the need for further Summits clear. On Friday 10 November, we’ll be joined by current and former athletes, and a variety of sporting experts, for a deeper dive into mental health, identity and why athletes need dual pathways. With empowering panels and hands-on workshops, the Summit will be packed with actionable insights and practical information, opportunities and tools.
Key topics
We’ll be covering:
- Athlete mental health
- The concept of identity
- Building dual pathways
- Building and managing an online brand
- Understanding addiction
- Transferable business skills
- Staying on top of finances
- Digital nutrition (how to embrace social media without losing your mind!)
- Giving players a voice
- The latest research into athlete transition
Speakers
Join elite athletes and sporting experts, including:
- Kim Brennan (Olympic rowing)
- Matthew Mitcham (Olympic diving)
- Al Baxter (ARU)
- Mike Pyke (AFL)
- Dan Conn (NRL)
- Ed Fernon (Olympic pentathlon and endurance athlete)
- James Chapman (Olympic rowing)
- Daniela di Toro (Paralympic tennis)
- Sarah Rose (Paralympic swimming)
- Sarah Cook (Olympic rowing and sailing)
- Jemma Dessauvagie (Australian water polo)
- Jared Howse (Pro surfing)
- Kath Koschel (Australian cricket)
- Matt Abood (Olympic swimming)
- Chris Mordue, athlete counsellor
- Deidre Anderson, psychologist and sports transition specialist
- Rene Poulos, psychologist and career development expert
- Jocelyn Brewer, psychologist and digitial nutrition expert
- Sam Mutimer, online branding expert
- Tracey Holmes, ABC radio
- Kerry McCabe, CEO, Players' Voice
- Jonathan Stone, Global Leader, Leadership, EY
Panels
How the sporting world is embracing mental health
- Why sound mental health is so important in the sporting world.
- The importance of creating a culture within your sporting organisation that embraces mental health awareness.
- How to create a stigma-free environment for athletes, where sound mental health is seen as a key part of being an excellent athlete, a well-rounded human an enabler of a smoother transition.
Who am I, without my sport?
- Athlete identity crisis: the mental and emotional effects of retirement – why loss of identity is an issue and what can be done.
- How to find an identity away from sport by discovering passion and purpose, from athletes who have achieved that.
- Why it’s important to build a ‘dual pathway’.
- Duty of care: what responsibility do sporting bodies have to facilitate dual pathways/identity outside of sport?
Workshops
The day will include three workshops running concurrently in the morning and three running concurrently in the afternoon. Pick the workshop that most suits your interests or area of expertise. Don’t worry, there will be takeaways from each workshop at the end of the event for all attendees.
Morning workshops
Workshop A: Mental health awareness: how to create a space safe
How to create a culture of mental health awareness in your team or sporting organisation. Where to start. What tools to use. How to reduce the stigma.
Workshop B: Sport and addiction: Understanding stress, wellbeing and relationships
How to identify and assist athletes with addiction issues on your team, and create a safe environment for athletes.
Workshop C: Creating and managing your online personal brand
How to create and manage a personal brand online in an effective and mentally healthy way.
Afternoon workshops
Workshop A: Building a dual career: avoiding identity crisis
Discovering your passion and purpose: why and how athletes can identify what excites them outside sport, and build a dual identity.
Workshop B: Transferable skills: what an athlete can bring to business
How transferable skills, such as commitment, dedication, goal setting, focus, can be used in the corporate world.
How to develop effective networking, communication and interviewing skills.
Workshop C: Staying on top of your finances
Strategies for managing your finances during and after your sporting career.
Schedule
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Morning
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8.45am
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Coffee
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9.15am
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Intro and welcome – Gearoid Towey
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9.30-10.30
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Panel: How the sporting world is embracing mental health
Facilitator:Tracey Holmes
Dan Conn
Kerry McCabe
Matt Mitcham
Kath Koschel
Danni di Toro
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10.30-10.40
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The lowdown on… The importance of giving players a voice in the media
(Kerry McCabe, CEO of Players’ Voice)
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10.45-11.15
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Morning tea and networking
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11.15-12.30
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3 x breakout workshops:
1. Mental health awareness: how to create a space safe (Rene Poulos, psychologist and career development specialist)
2. Sport and addiction: Understanding stress, wellbeing and relationships (Chris Mordue, athlete addiction specialist)
3. Creating and managing your online personal brand (Sam Mutimer, online brand specialist)
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Afternoon
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12.30-1.10
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Lunch and networking
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1.10-1.20
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The lowdown on… An athlete-led approach to anti-doping education (David Sharpe, CEO, ASADA)
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1.20-1.30
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The lowdown on… The latest research in athlete transition, from an athlete’s perspective
(Jemma Dessauvagie, PhD candidate and former Australian water polo player)
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1.30-2.30
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Panel: Who am I, without my sport?
Facilitator: Sarah Cook
Kim Brennan
Al Baxter
Mike Pyke
Sarah Rose
Ed Fernon
Jarrad Howse
Jonathan Stone (EY)
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2.30-2.40
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The lowdown on… Digital nutrition: how to embrace social media without losing your mind!
(Psychologist Jocelyn Brewer)
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2.45-4pm
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3 x breakout workshops
1. Building a dual career: avoiding identity crisis (Deidre Anderson, psychologist and transitions specialist)
2. Transferable skills: what an athlete can bring to business (James Chapman, sales & leadership consultant and former Olympic rower)
3. Staying on top of your finances (Matt Abood, corporate financial services analyst and former Olympic swimmer)
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4pm
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Close
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4.30pm
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EY launch, drinks and networking
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