As a professional network, Workplay aims to equip all women athletes with valuable tools to thrive at every stage of their sporting and professional careers, whether this be during their playing/ umpiring career or as they transition from the AFL system.

Training and game day commitments for women athletes who are actively engaged in an AFLW, VFLW or Umpiring programs require an average of 20 contact hours per week in-season (e.g. May – November). This results in athletes having an opportunity to dedicate the remaining reasonable hours per week to developing their off-field careers. The reduction in training commitments during the off-season (e.g. December – April) period enables women athletes the opportunity to increase engagement in their roles off-field.

To assist our partner organisations with their approach to offering athletes flexible work opportunities and ultimately support their ability to successfully maintain dual professional careers,  we’ve compiled a list of considerations below.

Flexible work for an athlete can look like:
– The ability to work remotely or a hybrid approach
– An option to swap workdays or access unpaid leave for game days e.g., for Friday games or where interstate travel may be required
– An ability to scale up and down hours as athletes go in and out of season e.g., potential to work more hours in the off-season (Dec – April).
– Compressed work week options
– Job sharing abilities  
– Flexibility in start and end times

Workplay are proud to partner with organisations who support and acknowledge the sporting pursuits of women athletes, and ensure that they offer the right cultural fit to allow them to thrive in their working environments.