What can Rhys do?
Give a quick overview of your work experience (jobs, internships, volunteering)?
Since graduating High School, I have worked in Education specifically in Inclusion and Wellbeing.
In the past year I have moved into a coordinator role whereby I now manage a team of Inclusion aide's, youth workers and counsellors to effectively support students diverse needs.
At the school's I have worked at I have also coached multiple interschool sport teams such as Football, Soccer and Basketball amongst all age groups.
As of recently, I have simultaneously added an internship at University Blacks Football Club in Football Operations. Where I Support training and match operations by preparing, setting up, packing away and managing football equipment, assisting coaches, and supporting match day and travel logistics.
I also have retail experience working at Coles for 3 years from the age of 15 and then 1 year at Target.
Do you have a track record of delivering measurable outcomes or KPIs?
Yes for sure, as an inclusion coordinator, one of the key aspects of my role is to pursue funding for students who need additional resources to improve their access and engagement to their education.
This process is a long one, requiring large amounts of documentation for me to complete and to request of other staff at the school to provide evidence for these levels of funding.
Since I had joined the school in that role we have managed to increase our successful funding applications by +20 and I have also created a system which makes this process much simpler for all staff allowing cohesion and quality in pursuit of these applications.
What technical or industry-specific skills do you bring?
Tech savvy understanding how to simplify measures through the use of tools such as excel in keeping track of tasks.
Player welfare and wellbeing support, informed by a psychology background Understanding of elite training environments and football operations Experience supporting coaches, athletes and staff on training and match days.
Strong communication skills with athletes, coaches and multidisciplinary staff
Ability to manage logistics, equipment and operational demands in fast-paced settings.
Knowledge of athlete development pathways and high-performance cultures
Professional conduct, discretion and reliability within club and professional environments.
What tools/platforms/software are they proficient in?
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for reporting, tracking and communication
Data tracking tools and spreadsheets to monitor student/athlete progress and outcomes
Online wellbeing and assessment platforms
Scheduling and coordination tools for meetings, programs and stakeholder engagement
Record-keeping and compliance systems requiring confidentiality and accuracy
Communication platforms (email, shared drives, cloud-based collaboration tools)
What qualifications, certifications, or degrees do you hold?
I have completed a bachelor of Psychology from Monash University.
I have also engaged in many forms of professional development through my work at Secondary schools the standout training being working with youth with developmental trauma and respectful relationships training.
I learn quickly, take feedback seriously, and back myself to contribute value from day one.
Someone should take a punt on me because I combine genuine passion for elite sport with practical, people-focused experience and a clear sense of direction. I don’t just want to work in sport, I’ve deliberately positioned myself in environments where I can learn how high-performance systems actually operate.
My background in psychology and my experience in welfare and development roles mean I’m comfortable working with people under pressure, handling responsibility, and operating with professionalism and discretion. I bring strong work ethic, self-awareness and a willingness to start at the ground level to build trust and capability.
This also means I bring strong judgement, emotional intelligence and reliability in environments where standards matter. What separates me is that I’m not chasing proximity to sport, I’m committed to adding value, learning fast, and building a long-term career supporting athletes to perform, develop and transition successfully.
What steps has Rhys taken to break into the sport industry?
I have proactively sought roles that place me inside sporting environments rather than adjacent to them.
This includes gaining hands-on experience in football programs where I support training, match day operations, and athlete welfare, allowing me to understand how clubs function day-to-day.
Alongside this, I have deliberately aligned my academic pathway in psychology with practical wellbeing and development roles, ensuring my skills are directly transferable to high-performance sport.
I have also focused on building relationships with coaches, administrators and industry professionals to learn from experienced practitioners and gain exposure to different pathways within sport.
Joining the SportsGrad program is another intentional step, as it provides structured industry exposure, mentoring and access to opportunities that accelerate entry into professional sport environments.
Rhys’ interest in sport all started whilst being in high performance environments
I’ve been involved in high performance sport environments for most of my life, and what’s always stood out to me is that performance is only one part of the picture. The best programs are the ones that genuinely invest in people — their wellbeing, development and sense of purpose. Through my work as an Inclusion and Wellbeing Coordinator, and my experience in football programs, I’ve seen firsthand how the right support structures can change outcomes, not just on the field but in life beyond sport. That’s where my psychology background naturally fits. I want to work in the sports industry because it allows me to combine my passion for sport with evidence-based wellbeing, education and development practices, and to contribute to environments where athletes are supported to perform, grow and transition successfully.
Where does Rhys want to go?
Next six-12 months | Next 5-10 years |
|---|---|
Over the next 6–12 months, my goal is to secure hands-on experience within a professional or elite football environment, particularly in roles focused on welfare, development and club operations. I am intent on gaining exposure to high-performance systems, athlete support frameworks and the broader business of sport. Alongside this, I aim to deepen my industry network, strengthen my applied skills in athlete wellbeing and career development, and build a strong foundation for long-term work supporting athletes both during and beyond their playing careers. | Over the next 5–10 years, my goal is to establish myself in the sports industry in a role centred on athlete welfare, development and career progression. I aim to build deep industry knowledge, trusted relationships and a strong understanding of the commercial and regulatory aspects of professional sport. Longer term, I aspire to work in athlete representation or advisory roles, supporting players with performance, wellbeing and career decisions, and helping them navigate transitions during and after their playing careers. |
What sporting problem keeps Rhys up at night, and how would they solve it?
One problem I would love to help solve in sport is the gap between how seriously mental health is talked about and how consistently it is supported in practice. While awareness has grown, access to ongoing, proactive and developmentally appropriate support is still uneven across levels of sport. With a background in psychology and wellbeing, I am particularly interested in helping embed mental health support into everyday high-performance environments, not just as a reactive service, but as a core part of athlete development, performance and career transition. Normalising mental health support in the same way physical preparation is treated would have a significant long-term impact on both wellbeing and performance outcomes.
What is Rhys like?
What kind of environment do you thrive in?
I thrive in high-performance environments that are structured, fast-paced and team-oriented.
I work best where standards are clear, accountability is expected, and people are aligned around shared goals.
I value environments that encourage collaboration and learning, where feedback is direct and continuous improvement is part of the culture.
Having worked in both education and football settings, I’m comfortable operating under pressure while staying organised, adaptable and focused on supporting others to perform at their best.
When have you had to show resilience in your life or career?
Working as an Inclusion and Wellbeing Coordinator has required me to manage complex cases, tight timelines and emotionally challenging situations while remaining professional, calm and solutions-focused.
I have learned to adapt quickly, take feedback on board, and maintain high standards under pressure. Furthermore, through my pursuit in entering a career in sport, I have demonstrated resilience by consistently building my career while balancing multiple high-responsibility roles.
Alongside completing a psychology degree, I have worked in demanding education and wellbeing environments while also pursuing experience within football programs.
Rather than being derailed by setbacks or competing demands, I have used them to refine my priorities, strengthen my work ethic and stay focused on long-term career goals within the sports industry and use each one to strengthen my will and as a learning experience on how to make myself seem industry ready.
What about Rhys’ interests outside of work?
What are your interests outside of work?
Outside of work, I have a strong passion for sport, particularly football, soccer and basketball which have been crucial parts of my life making up my personality.
I enjoy staying active and competitive, and I regularly play golf with close friends, which I value for both the challenge and the social connection it provides.
I also enjoy travelling, as it exposes me to new cultures, environments and perspectives, and reinforces my interest in working in globally connected sporting industries.
What is your favourite sporting moment?
Where to start? I remember being a kid as a mad Lions supporter watching the miracle on grass and as Ash Mcgrath kicked that goal to seal an unreal comeback I went bezerk. In that same vein my Lions are back to back premiers which I have thoroughly enjoyed.
As a mad Arsenal fan also I have had unreal moments but extreme heartbreak too like Reiss Nelson scoring a winner to beat Bournemouth at Home, it really looked like we would win the league only to come 2nd... again.
The list goes on but I also have moments from my own sporting such as from ages 14-16 we won the the flag having the first 3-peat in Berwick Junior football club history, I played with some absolute studs on that team. Even just going to sporting games, seeing Football games in Europe, going to Prelim finals etc.
What’s your ideal holiday?
It’s hard to just say one definitive holiday, backpacking around Europe, Travelling around Japan, sitting on a beach at a resort in Bali, backpacking through Vietnam, it seriously depends.
Sometimes I will like a challenge but also a chance to explore something new and meet new people but also I do enjoy a relaxing holiday where I can kick my feet up.
If you had 30 minutes to pick the brain of anyone, who would it be and why?
If I had 30 minutes, I’d choose an elite Player Welfare Manager in either AFL or soccer. I’d want to understand how trust is built with athletes, how wellbeing is supported in high-pressure environments, and what genuinely helps players perform and transition well. That insight aligns closely with my psychology background and long-term interest in athlete support and representation. At the same time though different someone who comes to mind despite being an AFL player agent is Brett Deledio. His transition from elite AFL player to player agent is a pathway I find compelling. I’d want to understand how he leveraged his playing experience, built trust with athletes, and shifted into representing players while keeping their long-term interests at the centre. I have heard him speak of wellbeing and life after footy heavily which intrigues me.
What’s book or podcast that’s helped your career you recommend?
Two podcasts that have genuinely helped my professional development are The Rest Is Football and Dyl & Friends. While I listen to podcasts for enjoyment, these have provided valuable insight into elite sport environments through honest conversations with former players and coaches. Episodes featuring figures such as Thierry Henry, Mark “Choco” Williams, Dayne Zorko and Chris Fagan stood out, particularly in how they discussed standards, accountability, leadership and resilience. Hearing how they approached preparation, handled pressure and navigated setbacks has shaped how I think about performance and wellbeing in team environments.
Thierry Henry said something that stuck with me, "Sometimes the fear of winning is greater than the fear of losing". It reframed how I think about pressure, ambition and self-limiting behaviours.
I’ve seen and experienced how people can hesitate when success brings higher expectations, visibility and responsibility. That insight has helped me be more intentional in leaning into opportunities, backing my preparation, and not avoiding growth simply because the stakes increase.
These insights have influenced how I communicate, set expectations and support others in my own roles, reinforcing the importance of clarity, trust and consistency in high-performance settings.
Additional details
Where in the world are you located, and where are you open to work?
Living in Melbourne, but open to work anywhere.
What is the most important consideration for you in your next role?
Professional development opportunities
salary
ability to grow my network
opportunity for growth within in the role.
What others say about Rhys
When I was going for my role as Inclusion coordinator my line manager at the time said “Rhys is calm, reliable and trusted in high-pressure situations. He handles responsibility with maturity and consistently follows through.”
One of the inclusion aides I work with as coordinator said this when my team was up for an award at the Victorian education awards “Rhys is thoughtful, hardworking and easy to work with. He takes feedback well, supports others, and raises standards around him.”
What questions does Rhys have for employers?
What does success look like in this role in the first 3–6 months?
What behaviours or qualities separate high performers in your organisation?
What are the biggest challenges someone new to this role typically faces?
How is feedback given, and how often is performance reviewed?
How do different departments (welfare, performance, coaching, operations) collaborate day to day?
How is athlete wellbeing embedded into daily practice rather than treated reactively?
What opportunities exist for learning and development within the organisation?
What does progression typically look like for someone starting in this role?
What skills or experiences do you see becoming more important in the sport industry over the next few years?
What advice would you give to someone aiming to build a long-term career here?
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