Squash Australia Athlete Advisory Group formed

Squash Australia is pleased to announce the formation of the Athlete Advisory Group (AAG) which will represent the views of high performance athletes to the organisation’s management.

It is structured similarly to other existing Squash Australia reference groups including the Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Panel, and Officiating and Coaching Advisory Groups.

The Group is co-chaired by Jessica Turnbull and Joseph White with Alex Haydon appointed secretary. Nick Calvert, Erin Classen and Brendan MacDonald are also members of the AAG.

The AAG will ensure elite athletes have an effective, organisationally-recognised voice to help shape the high performance program by establishing a mechanism that works with Squash Australia management on a formal and regular basis.

“As an organisation we are very focussed on fostering a strong relationship between athletes and management, establishing the Athlete Advisory group will serve to formalise the communication process and ensure that our athletes voice is heard and valued,” said Robert Donaghue, Squash Australia CEO.

“By setting up this framework properly, we have confidence that this Group will be effective not only now, but into the future as new players join the high performance program and have confidence that their ideas and views will be listened to.”  

Squash Australia worked with the Australian Institute of Sport to set up the Group whose purpose is to:

• represent the views of athletes within Squash Australia;
• provide input to Squash Australia Management on matters relating to high performance athletes, and the news of high-performance athletes, within the sport;
• contribute to the development and review of athlete-related policies, standards and education materials;
• identify wellbeing challenges or concerns relating to athlete pathways, events, training or education; and
• liaise with other athlete groups to ensure a collaborative and consistent approach to athlete wellbeing.

“The athletes really wanted to formalise a process whereby they can have an ongoing dialogue with management with respect to all aspects relating to high performance and establishing the Athlete Advisory Group is an ideal way of doing that,” said Lauren Soderberg, Squash Australia Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement Manager.

“Squash Australia management wanted to ensure there was a clear avenue for athletes to provide feedback on various matters and set the group up with the assistance of the Leadership & Professionalism Team at the Australian Institute of Sport.”