Elite coaches have spent years putting athletes' wellbeing ahead of their own but new research is prompting a rethink of how Australia's high-performance sporting system supports the people responsible for producing the next generation of champions.
Key points:
- ACU researchers have worked with the University of the Sunshine Coast, Griffith University and the AIS to develop a national Coach Performance Wellbeing Hub.
- The research has transformed coach wellbeing from an overlooked issue into a recognised strategic priority and attracted international interest from Sport Ireland and the International Council for Coaching Excellence.
ACU sport and exercise psychology researchers Justine Stynes, Ann-Marie Gibson and Alyse Wilcox have played a key role in the development of the national Coach Performance Wellbeing Hub to better understand the challenges facing Australia's high-performance coaches.
Working with the University of the Sunshine Coast, Griffith University and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), the program was established to support coaches to perform and thrive.
The research has transformed coach wellbeing from a largely overlooked issue into a recognised strategic priority within Australian high-performance sport, influencing national frameworks, policy, and practice while strengthening support for the people who underpin athlete success.
ACU's Justine Stynes, a sport and exercise psychology senior lecturer and psychologist, said supporting coaches was crucial because their working environment directly influences their own wellbeing and the athletes they work with.
"The findings point to the need for structural support to be embedded in high-performance environments, rather than wellbeing being treated as an individual responsibility or an optional extra," Dr Stynes said.
She said the research has already moved beyond the academic sphere, with its recommendations incorporated into the Australian Sports Commission's Coach Development Strategy and used to inform the AIS Coach Performance Wellbeing Framework.
The framework provides coaches with access to referral networks, wellbeing resources, organisational support and opportunities for personal development.
Established in 2022, the research program examined the challenges facing coaches and the organisational factors which shape their wellbeing.
ACU researchers developed the survey distributed to all high-performance coaches within the AIS. Findings informed coach-led workshops, representing coaches from six Australian states and territories across 29 sports, including summer, winter, individual, para, and team sports.
More than 20 high-performance managers, chief executives and performance directors from across Australia's high-performance sport system were interviewed.
ACU sport, exercise and health psychology senior lecturer Ann-Marie Gibson said for coaches operating under the intense demands of elite sport, the shift represents a move away from expecting individuals to manage their wellbeing themselves towards organisations taking greater responsibility for the conditions in which coaches work.
"One of the clearest examples of the impact of our work is a pilot program at the South Australian Sports Institute, which embedded a dedicated Performance Wellbeing Lead alongside elite coaches," Dr Gibson said.
The model was designed around insights from the research, giving coaches access to a wellbeing practitioner within their high-performance environment rather than requiring them to seek help separately. The pilot has been extended with further trials planned across the National Institute Network.
ACU sport and exercise psychology lecturer and psychologist Alyse Wilcox said the findings were attracting international interest, informing discussions with organisations including Sport Ireland and the International Council for Coaching Excellence which has established a research group focused on the program and safe coaching practices.
"Coaches are responsible for developing athletes, managing performance environments, making high-pressure decisions and supporting athletes through setbacks and transitions, often while operating under intense scrutiny themselves," Dr Wilcox said.
