Deloitte teams with the AIS on employment program for Olympic athletes
Deloitte continues to immerse itself in the global and local elite sporting landscape, this time teaming up with the Australian Institute of Sport to launch a new employment pathway initiative.
Dubbed the ‘Ignite Athlete Employment Program’, the AIS-affiliated initiative will see successful applicants, be they emerging, current or transitioning Olympians and Paralympians, be offered permanent positions at Deloitte.
Already a worldwide Olympics partner since 2022, Deloitte’s latest dive into the local sporting landscape follows its recent hook-up with Tennis Australia and a digital transformation partnership signed with Paralympics Australia.
“We aspire to be the employer of choice for athletes who wish to pursue a career in parallel with their sporting career,” said Deloitte chair John Greig, who also serves as lead Olympics & Paralympics client partner. “Athletes understand high performance, being goal oriented, motivated, resilient and adaptable – the same transferrable skills required to build a rewarding career.”
The Ignite Athlete Employment Program
Grieg further noted that the Ignite program has been specifically designed by athletes for athletes (the firm already boasts a number of current and former Olympians), who understand the levels and type of flexibility required to enable ongoing training for competition alongside work and study commitments. The program will also be backed by a dedicated ‘Athlete Liaison Officer’.
Matti Clements, AIS executive general manager for performance said, “It’s no secret that being a successful high-performance athlete often comes with a full-time workload of training, competing and travelling. This commitment to their sport often sees work and study take a back seat which can add further pressure for athletes and compromise both their performance and well-being.”
However, to be eligible for one of the initial ten proposed placements, interested athletes will need to have already completed or be close to finishing up relevant university qualifications, albeit from any academic background. Aspiring Olympians will also have to have the appropriate competitive potential, in one of the sports scheduled at the next immediate summer or winter Games.
Four-time Paralympic canoe gold medallist and Deloitte special advisor Curtis McGrath, who helped develop the program alongside Olympic beach volleyball champion Natalie Cook with support from current Australian Sports Commission chief executive Kieren Perkins, noted the average annual income for elite Australian athletes, which sits between just $23,000 to $49,000.
“Almost half of all hopefuls for the 2032 Brisbane Games have considered leaving their sport due to financial and mental health issues,” McGrath said. “When you’re a professional athlete, training and qualifying is only half the battle, and regrettably many of us feel we have to sacrifice financial security to compete. This important program will keep high-performing athletes in their sport for longer.”
