Athlete Mentoring Program

Mentoring ATHLETE Program

A Holistic Approach to Balancing Academic Achievement, Personal Development and Spor ting Excellence

Mentoring THLETEA Program

The St Aidan’s Athlete Mentoring Program grew out of the desire to provide school age elite athletes with a multi-faceted support framework that would allow them the opportunity to realise their academic potential, whilst continuing to pursue their chosen sport at the highest level.

The program is based firmly on the belief that sporting excellence and academic achievement are not mutually exclusive and reflects the holistic approach to education that forms part of the school’s mission statement. A key element of this support is the concept of empowering participants with a ‘toolkit’ of skills that would see them become more proactive, and more self-managed, as they progress through the program. Whilst there is a strong academic focus inherent in the program, in this sense it is essentially pastoral, as it seeks to develop confident young women with a set of broader life skills that they can transfer to situations well beyond the sporting field.

Head of Senior School Sport Andy McGregor-Lowndes explains further: “No matter where our elite athletes’ sport takes them, they will have a long career after sport, and we are very conscious of the need to maximise their educational opportunities. Whilst programs such as ours are not uncommon in the Tertiary sphere, we believe what St Aidan’s offers is unique in the QGSSSA space”. But perhaps the last word should come from a program participant:

“This program has helped me to achieve my academic and sporting goals. I actually feel in control…I am more confident and happier to learn at school.” Program Participant, Year 10

Nigel Bailey and Andy McGregor-Lowndes

Strength to Strength

With the Strength and Conditioning Program and the Athlete Mentoring Program (AMP) going from strength to strength, we were recently fortunate to recruit Rebecca Kelly (Bec) to join the Athlete Performance Centre (APC) team.

Bec comes to St Aidan’s after 6 years as Physical Performance Coach at Queensland Cricket, coaching cricket stars such as Beth Mooney, Holly Ferling, Jess Jonassen, Marnus Labuschagne, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja. She holds degrees in Exercise and Sports Science, Business Management and is currently studying her Masters in High Performance Sport.

Bec was due to travel to South Africa in April with the Australian U19 Women’s Cricket Team for a Tri Series against South Africa and England, which was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19. Bec has long worked with elite pathways athletes aged 15-19 years, which makes her the perfect addition to our APC.

Bec specialises in strength and conditioning for adolescent athletes and has extensive knowledge in developing protocols for youth strength and fitness training. She has a specific interest in rehabilitation and injury prevention. Bec says she was attracted to St Aidan’s due to the Athlete Mentoring Program and the wide array of sports on offer, sharing, “I had heard really great things about St Aidan’s paving the way for school aged athletes through their mentoring program and this alongside the opportunity to work in many different sports, excited me. Understanding and really liking the QGSSSA model after attending a QGSSSA school myself and my passion for working with adolescent and high performing students just sealed the deal.” Bec shared that she is most looking forward to “seeing St Aidan’s athletes succeed in their chosen sport, whether success means getting selected for a team or receiving their first professional contract.”

Bec participated in Touch Football, Netball, Rowing and Artistic Gymnastics when at school and still plays Touch Football today. On the weekends she likes to stay active, go out for coffee and spend time with friends and family.

A dedicated Staff Mentor will encourage and assist athletes to develop as confident and organised young women. Our mentors work with students on an individual basis to consider schedules and commitments, and to develop their skills to identify and resolve potential challenges.

This program focuses on six key areas of support:

TIME MANAGEMENT ACADEMIC SUPPORT PHYSICAL HEALTH

SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY

PROGRAM AMBASSADORS

PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS

Program Partnerships

We work closely with a variety of leading health, sport and tertiary institutions to provide support for our student athletes.

Workshops hosted by Griffith University Sports College based on personal development and preparation for life as an elite athlete.

Aussie Athletes Agency provides information about athlete opportunities at US Colleges.

Visits from health professionals from Thrive Health Co will provide guidance around injury prevention and management.

Kate Feely, Sports Dietitian from Fitness with Food, provides easy to implement nutritional strategies to maximise performance.

How to Apply

To be considered for the Athlete Mentoring Program, a student must meet the following criteria:

Aspiring or current State/National Level representative

Represent St Aidan’s in their chosen sport and demonstrate a commitment to the wider sporting program at the school

Demonstrate leadership and a willingness to embrace personal responsibility

Act as a positive role model in the school community

Complete an Online Application Form and Personal Statement outlining academic and sporting achievements and goals

For more information please contact Andy McGregor-Lowndes (Head of Sport) sport@staidans.qld.edu.au Mentoring THLETEA Program