Roles and responsibilities
National Athlete Career and Education (ACE) Program
The National ACE program is managed by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and delivered by the National Institute Network (NIN).
The National ACE program is responsible for policy, leadership, development of new initiatives, national partnerships and helps shape the strategic direction for the ACE program to achieve a consistent national approach to career and education.
The NIN is responsible for servicing identified elite athletes where their daily training environment is based within that state. The core responsibilities for ACE advisers include:
- career counselling and planning
- personal development programs
- educational guidance
- employment preparation
- transitional support
- online service support (such as ACE Online)
- referrals where required; and assistance to manage the balance between sporting and other pursuits.
Athlete scholarship entitlements include access to elite level coaching, sports science and sports medicine (SSSM) services and appropriate national and international competition. The National ACE program works in co-operation with these areas to ensure a fully integrated approach to life-skill and sport development.
ACE personnel liaise closely with coaches and SSSM staff to ensure that they understand the needs of each athlete and the sport as a whole. The intention is that ACE personnel are involved in the long and short term planning processes with each sport so that they understand the commitments required of their athletes and can best advise on the most suitable planning for life skill development in line with those commitments. They also help athletes make the transition from elite sport to retirement and life after sport.
