Despite being in the early stages of her international aerial skiing career, Sidney Stephens is already taking steps to prepare for her future beyond sport.
Alongside training and competing overseas as part of the Australian Aerial Skiing National Team, Stephens has made the most of the Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) education and career programs to develop her skills away from the slopes.
The 23-year-old is currently studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science part-time and aspires to support athletes with wellbeing and mental health prevention.
Her studies are supported by an AIS–Griffith University Scholarship and AIS Athlete Education Scholarship (AES), which provide financial assistance to athletes balancing elite sport with education.
“It means a lot to have the support,” Stephens said.
“Both scholarships make it much easier to manage the demands of sport and study, and they show me that these organisations value athlete education just as much as performance.”
Stephens has also taken part in the AIS Virtual Internship program, which connects athletes with companies around the world to gain remote work experience in their chosen field.
The online program enabled her to complete a 12-week internship with a health insurance provider, where she gained practical experience in mental health research and healthcare strategy while working remotely around her skiing schedule.
“The AIS Virtual Internship program was such a great experience; it gave me the chance to work on projects directly related to my psychology degree,” she said.
“It’s a flexible way to gain real-world experience while still prioritising your sport, which I think makes it really worthwhile for any athlete, particularly if working around training isn’t feasible.”
If you’re an athlete interested in participating in the next round of virtual internships, submit an application, opens in a new tab or email career_and_education@ausport.gov.au.
Find out more about the AIS Athlete Education Scholarship program or the Elite Athlete University Scholarships.
