Addressing Burnout, Mental Health, and Career Development at First Wellbeing in Sport Summit

On November 20, 2024, Ministry of Sport will host our first-ever Wellbeing in Sport Summit in Sydney, an event dedicated to enhancing the overall wellbeing, health and growth of athletes, coaches, and sports industry professionals.

This comprehensive summit will address a wide range of topics including mental health, career development, social media in sport, and innovative wellbeing programs. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to collaborate with peers, learn from industry experts, and gain actionable insights to drive positive change across the sports landscape.

Why This Summit is So Important for the Sports Industry

The sports industry faces growing challenges, with both athletes and corporate professionals dealing with overwhelming pressures on their mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing. Recent statistics underscore the urgency of addressing these issues:

• 60%of athletes report severe psychological distress suggesting potential mental health issues.
• 54% Male and 40% Female athletes feel comfortable seeking mental health support, showing that while progress has been made, stigma and accessibility remain issues.
• 35% of elite athletes experience burnout, depression, or anxiety.
• 31% of athletes struggle financially, with 2.4% unable to meet basic needs.
• Coaches and support staff also experience high levels of stress, with a survey of high-performance sport staff revealing significant mental health symptoms.

However, it’s not just athletes who are under pressure. In the corporate side of sports, the wellbeing of administrators, coaches, and sports staff is equally at risk:

• Less than 23% of Australian workers thrive at work, highlighting the need for wellbeing support among sports administrators, corporate professionals, and wellbeing staff.
• 60% of workers feel burnt out, and 47% end the day mentally and physically exhausted.
• 34% of workers struggle with motivation, with personal issues and lack of support being major contributors.
• 28% are unsure where to seek mental health help, highlighting the need for accessible resources.

With such widespread challenges, this event provides a timely and critical platform to address these key issues.

Statistics from AIS, Victoria University, TELUS Health, NCAA Mental Health Statistics and Surveys and Indeed.

Event Details

When: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Where: Sydney CBD

Tickets available now – Limited spots available, so secure yours early.

What to Expect from the Summit

This summit will cover essential topics to ensure attendees walk away with practical strategies to implement within their organizations and professional careers. Key themes topics:

• Mental health resources for athletes and professionals across the sports sector.
• Career development strategies designed to support long-term success in high-performance environments.
• Mental Health and Social media for public-facing professionals, including athletes, coaches, and administrators.
• Designing Innovative Wellbeing Programs to help athletes and staff better navigate personal and career-related wellbeing

As the pressures in both athletic and corporate sports settings continue to grow, the Wellbeing in Sport Summit offers a platform to share insights, create cross-industry connections and work towards building a healthier, more sustainable future for everyone in the sports industry.