Background
The Athlete Career and Education (ACE) program was the first of its kind, introduced in Australia at the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) in 1990. The National ACE program was developed in 1994 and implemented in Australia in 1995 after an extensive international evaluation of:
- Research findings in the area of athlete transition and identity foreclosure; and
- Recognised centres with athlete life-skill programs and amalgamation of existing programs at the VIS and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
The program was formed due to concerns that Australia’s elite athletes were missing out on essential life-skill development in the pursuit of sporting excellence, and that their transition out of sport was often traumatic. Due to the standing sport holds in Australia, the pressure for athletes to perform is higher than ever. The Australian public love to see gold medals and winning performances.
Supporting athletes to pursue education, training and employment is important. Since the program commenced, ACE has been successful in assisting athletes to find balance in their sporting lives — making studies and career planning possible, and making the transition to life after sport smoother.
Recognised internationally, ACE is staffed by a team of highly motivated, qualified personnel who are experts in their understanding of the needs of elite athletes. They work hard to keep the program flexible to meet the needs of athletes, coaches, parents and others involved. The program is constantly evolving, keeping the momentum gained over the years.
ACE Online is a good example of the program’s flexibility, offering online support and services to athletes in remote locations and to those travelling overseas.
