- Work with preparing Victoria's best Olympic & Paralympic athletes
- Part-time, full-time positions available across multiple sports
- Diverse work
About the Victorian Institute of Sport:
The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) was set up to assist the development of Victoria’s best athletes. It was established in 1990 by the State Government as a private trustee company, with its Board of Directors appointed by the Victorian Minister for Sport.
The VIS is located at Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park. The VIS headquarters completed a renovation in February 2023, providing a brand new workspace for athletes and staff. It is a non-residential institute, which utilises Melbourne’s outstanding sporting facilities, to allow high performance athletes to live and train in Melbourne, the sporting capital of Australia.
The VIS operates in partnership with National Sporting Organisations and State Sporting Associations to deliver high performance daily training environments (DTEs) for sports and athletes in support of the National High Performance Sport Strategy outcomes. Our facility and staff help prepare and support future and current Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth Games and World Champion athletes.
Employee Benefits:
The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) provides a supportive work environment for you to be your best whilst supporting Victoria's best athletes. In addition, all employees have access to:
- 2xu gear to proudly represent the VIS brand
- Friday Staff Sport - to get that competitive energy out and socialise with all staff
- Heavily subsidised access to St Ali barista coffee and Albert Park parking
- Professional development opportunities
- Newly renovated office with ergonomic sit/stand desks and plenty of natural light & open windows
- Free access to gym, boxing classes and pool/recovery facilities
About the role:
In this role you will deliver evidence-based psychological strategies to athletes where mental performance needs have been identified, providing targeted support for those experiencing performance inhibition or impairment. You will develop and build curriculum tailored to each sport's specific needs, ensuring athletes have access to the right tools and strategies to support their performance goals.
Working closely with coaches and support staff, you will play a key role in driving a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to planning, preparation and performance. This includes attending athlete DTEs, contributing to Interdisciplinary Team Meetings and providing timely feedback to ensure psychological strategies are embedded across the program in a connected and meaningful way.
Responsibilities include but not limited to:
- As a member of the interdisciplinary performance team, work collaboratively with coaches and support staff to analyse athlete needs, set performance goals, develop and implement performance plans, monitor progress, and review outcomes.
- Contribute to an integrated, athlete-centred, coach-led approach to performance support across team and individual sport environments.
- Meet regularly with the VIS Performance Psychology Manager to review progress, identify emerging needs, and align service priorities.
- Contribute to the ongoing development and continuous improvement of performance psychology service delivery.
- Provide regular input to coaches and performance support staff through interdisciplinary team meetings, case discussions and consultations.
- Deliver individual and group-based performance psychology interventions for athletes, coaches and support staff.
- Deliver interventions targeting key factors affecting performance, including decision-making under pressure, attentional control, consistency, self-regulation and high-performance behaviours.
- Attend Daily Performance Environment (DPE), including camps and competitions as required to support integrated performance outcomes.
- Build effective and trusted working relationships with athletes, coaches, performance support staff and key stakeholders.
- Provide timely, practical and evidence-informed advice to support performance growth, decision-making and athlete wellbeing across the pathway.
- Communicate psychological insights and recommendations in a clear, engaging and applied manner.
- Maintain high-quality case notes, data capture, record keeping, analysis and reporting using required systems and sport platforms.
- Track service delivery and athlete/team progress, and communicate relevant insights to key stakeholders in a timely manner.
- Contribute to service evaluation, reporting requirements and quality improvement processes.
- Contribute positively to a collaborative, high-performing and accountable team culture.
- Share knowledge, support colleagues and contribute to interdisciplinary ways of working across the VIS high performance system.
*Note each sport program has different needs and requirements. Candidates that are offered interviews may receive more detail regarding specific programs
Required Skills & Experience:
- Registered Psychologist with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).
- Relevant postgraduate qualification in psychology that supports eligibility for general registration as a psychologist in Australia.
- Awareness of the contemporary issues relating to athletes and coaches within high performance sport and understanding of Australian High Performance sport systems.
- Experience providing psychological formulation, assessment and intervention across performance, wellbeing and/or broader applied settings.
- Proven success in applying sport and performance psychology to support athlete development and performance progression across training and competition contexts.
- Experience in workshop delivery and development of educational material for Sports Interdisciplinary teams and athletes.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgement, observe confidentiality and use discretion and initiative.
- Demonstrated ability to work within a team as well as the ability to work independently. Possess a high level of personal initiative and autonomy.
- High level communication, planning and organisational skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective relationships with athletes, coaches, support staff and organisational stakeholders.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the use of Microsoft Office suite of programs and other athlete management suites.
- Current First-Aid certificate.
- Current Victorian Working with Children Check (must be in place before employment commences).
- Current Safeguarding Children Certification.
- Current driver’s licence.
- Successful completion and currency of Level 1 & 2 Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) accreditation
- Successful completion of SIA "Keep Sport Honest" Anti-match fixing education component
Desirable qualifications/ experience:
Five or more years’ experience in the provision and application of Psychology services
The VIS is committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive space for all, celebrating our differences where everyone is valued, included and supported. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, identities, ages, and abilities including those who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and people with a disability. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable opportunities for all, including making reasonable adjustments in recruitment and workplace processes to ensure everyone can perform at their best.
As an organisation we are committed to protecting children and young people from harm. Anyone involved with the VIS must understand their responsibility in relation to child safety. Our organisation requires all applicants to obtain a 'Working with Children Check' prior to appointment.
