AFL SportsReady News
Layne Beachley Shares Life After Sport Experience
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Pictured: Brendan Gale (AFL Players' Association CEO), Layne Beachley, Phillip Campbell (AFL SportsReady CEO).
Seven time world surfing champion, Layne Beachley, spoke of the importance of going into sport with an exit strategy at the AFL SportsReady/AFL Player’s Association Next Goal Breakfast at Melbourne’s MCG on Thursday March 7th
Over 300 guests heard Beachley speak of her ‘The Aim for the Stars’ Foundation set up in retirement to encourage female athletes to continue with their sporting pursuits when the going gets tough.
In attendance were AFL Player’s Association CEO, Brendan Gale and new AFL SportsReady CEO, Phillip Campbell.
The Next Goal program is a joint initiative of both organisations and a career transition program for AFL footballers. It includes work placements for current or recently retired AFL footballers at a variety of organisations.
The core of AFL SportsReady’s business however is finding traineeship employment for male and female school leavers in the greater sporting industry.
With an esteemed career in secondary education and countless sporting achievements to his name, former Melton Secondary College Principal, Phillip Campbell joined the specialist sports Group Training Organisation just weeks ago, and plans to use his extensive experience in the education and sports sector to help the company prosper even further.
AFL Commissioner and AFLSportsReady Chairperson Ms Sam Mostyn said, “The AFL SportsReady Board is very pleased to announce the appointment of Phillip Campbell to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Under Phillip’s leadership AFL SportsReady will continue to be the leading non for profit employment and training organisation for the sport and sports related industries”.
“For me, the new position combines my three passions – education, sport and the futures of young people”, said Campbell.
Since 1994, AFL SportsReady has facilitated traineeship positions for hundreds of male and female school leavers hoping to get a foot in the door within the competitive sports industry. With links to the AFL, many traineeship positions are indeed within football, however the vast majority of traineeships are completed within a range of sports related companies, governing bodies, clubs, retail organisations and schools.
With government support through subsidies, a trainee represents excellent value for an employer and they can also be moulded to suit the employer’s business.
“It’s also a great way for a business to ‘test drive’ an employee”, added Campbell, citing the example of his former pupil, Troy Simmonds, now undergoing a traineeship at Melton Secondary College.
Having served as school Principal at Melton Secondary College, Rutherglen High School and Tyrrell P12 College - along with an Assistant Principal role at Swifts Creek Secondary College (and several years as classroom teacher at Donald High School), Campbell certainly knows a thing or two about the pressures and issues faced by school leavers.
‘There’s simply a smorgasbord of options out there these days. Twenty years ago, you would finish school and go to University - or if you couldn’t, you’d leave in year 10. So many kids are now unsure what they want to do because the choice is so large. What we have to keep reminding them is that there is so much more to their futures than their ENTER score. Only 10-20% will actually go on to university which makes a traineeship such great option for them ”, said Campbell.
“With the expense of tertiary education, traineeships are also a positive option for kids for financial reasons. It’s amazing to see how many trainees have risen through the ranks of various companies to very significant positions”, he added.
Campbell is looking forward to working with the committed and very experienced team at AFL SportsReady.
“I’m focussed on building upon the fantastic work achieved in the first 15 years of operation. Every state and territory is doing an amazing job and I’m sure together we can kick even more goals”.
If you would like further information about placing a trainee, or know a young person who may be interested in a sports traineeship, please visit aflsportsready.com.au or call the head office on 03 8663 3030.
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