Tackle Your Feelings is seeking psychologists with a passion for community sport to deliver its mental health program to coaches around the country.
Psychologists can now apply for consideration to join the Tackle Your Feelings psychologist network as a psychologist for the 2021 campaign, which will see the program reach South Australia and Tasmania for the first time.
Tackle Your Feelings program manager Nick Walsh believes the recruitment of a psychology network in partnership with the APS has been one of the strengths of the program to date.
“Having psychologists out in the field delivering mental health content to community coaches is a key pillar of the program and a point of difference compared to other programs that are available. Crucially, it also helps establish an ongoing relationship between the psychologist and the community football club, so that the conversations about mental health continue.
WA-based psychologist Dr Jemma Dessauvagie became an inaugural member of the Tackle Your Feelings Psychologist network after responding to an advertisement sent by the APS. Jemma had the opportunity to deliver a number of sessions to community clubs in 2020, both in person and online, and she valued the opportunity to influence conversations about mental health within community AFL clubs.
“I love watching the penny drop for people, and when they ‘get it’. But I think my favourite aspect is actually connecting with all the audience members after the formal part of the presentation is complete. Answering questions, being able to assist with more specific concerns, and just getting to people at a human level is really enjoyable,” she said.
“I am humbled by the idea that people leave those sessions with extra confidence that they do know how to handle difficult conversations, and that they feel supported knowing that if something is out of their league they have a living breathing resources they can access.”
Tackle Your Feelings is a free mental health program that aims to give community Aussie Rules coaches an introduction into the skills to understand, recognise and manage signs of mental health in their players.
Tackle Your Feelings is a partnership between the AFL Players’ Association, AFL Coaches Association and Zurich Insurance.
https://www.tackleyourfeelings.org.au/about-our-program/Click here to learn more about the program.
Application requirements
In order to apply, you must:
● Be an AHPRA-registered psychologist
● Demonstrate mental health experience working with junior, youth and adult clients
● Demonstrate experience and understanding of community sport, in particular AFL
● Have experience in presenting to groups
● Be proficient in the use of technology, such as Zoom, Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel, and eLearning platforms
● Have availability to deliver programs on weeknights (and weekends if needed), and have the capacity to receive referrals that may flow from participant clubs
● Have an ABN.
The Tackle Your Feelings program administrators will review applications and select prospective psychologists based on fit to these criteria, as well as any other factors and criteria they deem to be relevant. The Tackle Your Feelings administrators will select psychologists at their complete discretion.
Your role as a Tackle Your Feelings Psychologist
If your application is successful, you will be required to undergo Tackle Your Feelings Program Training entailing 3 hours online training, and 3 hours face-to-face training.
Once you have completed the training you will become an accredited Tackle Your Feelings Psychologist. As an accredited Tackle Your Feelings Psychologist you will:
● Have your business details listed on our Tackle Your Feelings website
● Have your details on local material distributed at program delivery
● Receive eight CPD points for facilitation training
● Be paid a fee per session ($400 + GST) delivered in the community on behalf of the program.
Becoming a Tackle Your Feelings Psychologist doesn’t create an employment relationship between you and Tackle Your Feelings. The relationship will be one of consignment and collaboration in delivering the Tackle Your Feelings program. There is no guarantee that once accredited you will be selected to facilitate any number of sessions, as selection and scheduling will be at the discretion of the Tackle Your Feelings administrators.
Application process
We have had an incredible amount of interest in the AFL Tackle Your Feelings program last year, and the selection process is expected to be competitive.
You must lodge your application through visiting the link below by 5PM AEDT on Friday, November 27:
https://form.psychology.org.au/apsonline/2021-tyf-psychologist-application
You can contact TYF Program Administrator Gin McInneny (gin.mcinneny@aflca.com.au) if you have any questions.