Netball Australia has taken its next step in enhancing athlete mental health and wellbeing, appointing Brigid Walsh as the organisation’s inaugural National Wellbeing Manager.
Walsh will implement and lead a national wellbeing framework aimed at improving support for current and past professional players. The appointment was a recommendation of Netball Australia’s independent wellbeing review.
Walsh joins Netball Australia with a wealth of knowledge and experience in wellbeing environments, having worked in senior positions with the Australian Sports Commission, Queensland Health, National Heart Foundation and Golden Door Wellness Australia.
The appointment follows the recent Suncorp Super Netball Collective Player Agreement update which introduced athlete wellbeing minimum standards across the sport. All Suncorp Super Netball clubs are now required to have a part-time wellbeing resource on staff who will work closely with Walsh.
Netball Australia Executive General Manager of Performance Andrew Collins looks forward to what Brigid and her years of expertise will bring to Netball Australia.
“The evolving professionalism of our sport has our athletes playing more netball than ever before, both domestically and internationally, so it’s important we are taking a sport-wide holistic and collaborative approach to all aspects of wellbeing,” he said.
“Brigid will oversee the wellbeing and mental health activity of athletes within the Origin Australian Diamonds program, the Suncorp Super Netball league and Netball Australia’s athlete pathway.”
Walsh is eager to begin her new role at Netball HQ and looks forward to the challenge ahead.
“I am truly excited to be joining Netball Australia, to build on their success in athlete wellbeing and engagement and to deliver on their national wellbeing framework,” she said.
“This new strategic and collaborative approach is timely and pivotal for all the high-performance netballers, past and present, to ensure their experience is really positive, holistic and is rewarding on and off the court.
“I’ve always been passionate about wellbeing and making a difference. To join a progressive organisation like Netball Australia where they understand and value the benefits of wellbeing and it is not seen as a tick a box exercise is exciting and refreshing.”
Walsh will begin her role at the Origin Australian Diamonds v Suncorp Super Netball All-Stars bushfire relief charity match in Sydney on Sunday.
