Coming off a high in women's sport

Women's sport is currently on a high in Australia but as every female athlete knows, their individual careers can not last forever.

Rachael Lynch [L] and Ellyse Perry looking forward to life after sport. Source: SBS - John Baldock

In sport, professional playing careers have a shelf life due to age and performance. But a new initiative by the Australian Institute of Sport is helping elite sportswomen find a pathway into the business world after their playing days are over.

This week the institute took its Change the Game programme to the BlueScope steel works at Port Kembla in Wollongong, and the workshops produced tangible results. 

Sports star Ellyse Perry is currently participating in the Change the Game scheme and told SBS News she is grateful to be learning about business and networking outside her world of cricket: "It's beneficial to help figure out what I want to do after I've finished sport." 

"There's a lot of shared experiences there which has been great and I think getting to know someone out of your immediate bubble within sport is really important," she said.

Yasmine Gardner Source: SBS - John Baldock

From a business standpoint, BlueScope Steel Senior Legal Counsel Yasmine Gardner said the scheme offers employees the opportunity to rub shoulders with sports women and make connections too.

"It has been really exciting to be able to text them afterwards and say great job, congratulations and be able to go on the journey with them," she said. 

And it is not just about meeting Australian sporting stars. Gardner said the scheme provides tangible returns for companies whereby employees share stories about career setbacks and how to overcome them.

"They've developed certain skills and disciplines that absolutely translate into the corporate world," she said. 

Rachel Lynch hopes to be part of the Hockeyroos team at the Commonwealth Games in May, so for her the timing of this week's workshop was perfect: "It's going to help me with life after sport." 

Change the Game participants on a tour of the Bluescope Steelworks at Port Kembla in Wollongong Source: SBS - John Baldock

The Change the Game programme links 10 athletes with BlueScope executives over a 12 month period. Para-triathlete Katie Kelly attended last year's workshops, which opened up a job for her with the steel producer. Her charity which helps kids with a disability play sport - Sports Access Foundation - is now being supported by BlueScope Steel. 

The Australian Institue of Sport told SBS News the key focus of Change the Game is to encourage participants to stay connected and utilise the relationships they make, just as Katie Kelly has done.