About us

Hawthorn Football Club has an opportunity for an Indigenous Player Development Manager to advocate, facilitate, support, and embed the holistic development all Indigenous listed players.

The Hawthorn Football Club considers that being Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational requirement for this position under Equal Opportunity Act s 26(3).

About the role

Reporting to the Executive GM of Football, and working within the Player Development Team, the Indigenous Player Development Manager will support Indigenous players with their off-field endeavours to accelerate their educational, vocational, health and wellbeing needs.

This role will play a critical role in promoting the Club’s cultural safety through elevating Indigenous voices in club decision making, collaborating with relevant stakeholders on appropriate cultural support systems and contributing to practices that enhance cultural awareness across the broader Club.

This role may be full or part time with a minimum of 3 days per week and availability to be in attendance at games including weekend.

Key responsibility areas include:

Holistic Development for all Indigenous Players:

• Implement individual development and wellbeing plans
• Facilitate and support engagement in educational, vocational, personal or career development activities

Strategy:

• Develop and implement a player development and wellbeing strategy that aligns to the AFL Industry Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
• Educate all players on cultural safety and issues affecting Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Contribute to broader Club cultural education and awareness to increase the profile of Indigenous culture in all club activities
• Contribute to the practises, policies, and programs that promote an inclusive and culturally safe environment

Relationships:

• Effectively engage with multidisciplinary providers and stakeholders to deliver on Indigenous Player needs
• Work with past players to ensure positive and ongoing relationships with the Club
• Establish strong relationships with the AFL to enhance the understanding of the cultural needs of each player to develop capabilities

The successful Candidate

The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of issues affecting Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples and have the ability to communicate sensitively and effectively.

You will embody cultural competence and have a deep understanding and respect for Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander cultures with the ability to identify and respond to the holistic needs of Indigenous peoples.

You have experience working within a social work, welfare, or community services/ development space, and understand diversity and inclusion principles. You will have a high sense of integrity and are a trustworthy and reliable person with experience developing and implementing culturally competent practices for workplaces or teams.

Suitable candidates are required to:

• Be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
• Have completed or is completing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid Training (or be open to the Club supporting you to complete)
• Have completed or is completing the AFLPA Executive Certificate in Player Development (or be open to the Club supporting you to complete)
• Have completed or is completing a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health care, education support, social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB), education, behavioural/ social science, psychology or related field

Our offer to you

As a Hawthorn Football Club employee, you will have access to unique programs and offerings. Your health and wellbeing will be nurtured through our in-house programs, and you will be able to make the most of discounts from our Corporate Partners .

As a valued staff member you will be a part of a fun, inclusive and flexible work environment.

Your personal and professional development is important to the Club, and we will support you to reach your goals.

Role's commencement in January 2023.

The Hawthorn Football Club is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified and diverse candidates. We provide a welcoming, safe and flexible approach to work and provide an environment that benefits from and enables the best from everyone. As an organisation we are committed to protecting children and young people from harm. It is essential that anyone involved with the Hawthorn Football Club understands their responsibility in relation to child safety. Our organisation requires all applicants to obtain a ‘Working with Children Check’ prior to appointment.