Player Development

Established by the players, for the players, the mission of the PFA’s Player Development Program is to support players with their career, wellbeing and retirement. Under the PDP model, the PFA aims to ensure the players have access to a variety of services to help them with their personal development, while accessing Industry Understanding and Professionalism.

The PDP recognises that all players are people first. Throughout players’ football journey, the PDP supports players’ wellbeing and careers while helping prepare players for the universal experience of retirement.

At the end of the 2022/23 financial year, the PFA paid for 773 confidential counselling sessions, a new record for the Mental Health Referral Network, 196 education grants were awarded to players, 147 new players undertook concussion, betting and match fixing education and 568 players attended PFA industry education workshops. Over 50 past and current players attend to attend centralised C and B License coaching courses in Melbourne.

The PFA’s Wellbeing programs aim to enhance players’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health both during, and after our members’ playing career. The PFA provides professional support through our Mental Health Referral Service, and Wellbeing Education Programs, as well as Physical and Medical Support Services.

The PFA’s Career programs aim to give players a better understanding of the football industry as a whole. The PFA is here to support players around their contracts, rights as a worker and responsibilities and to help them develop their knowledge of the industry so that they have the tools to make the best possible decisions to maximise their time in football.

To prepare players for Transition and Retirement, we provide education and support, career counselling, exit interviews, a dedicated past player manager, job ready support and work placements.

The Player Development Program Online is the PFA’s innovative online learning management program which was designed to provide key educational lessons to players in an online, self-paced platform.

There are 27 different modules which players can learn from, with topics ranging from the following:

• Mindset
• Culture & Relationships
• Gambling
• Playing Overseas
• Agents
• Money Management
• Athlete Identity
• Types of Retirement
• and more...

The PFA Past Players Program is an initiative designed to better support former professional players and reconnect them with the game.

The Past Players Program aims to address the gap in current support offerings for former footballers and galvanise their connection with the game. The Program now has over 420 members.

In 2023, the PFA hosted 12 Past Players events in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane. We held a special past player health days with screenings for heart health, skin cancer and also concussion symptoms, and also pre-match functions and 5v5 indoor matches around the FIFA Women's World Cup.

All events had a great turn out and provided a fantastic opportunity for past players to reconnect, prioritise their health and watch a game together.

All players have access to the PFA’s Mental Health Referral Network. This confidential and nationwide service consists of psychologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists, who provide players with support in a variety of areas. This includes:

• Depression;
• Anxiety;
• Relationship breakdown;
• Addiction;
• Grief;
• Body issues; and
• Performance Anxiety.

At the end of the 2022/23 financial year, the PFA paid for 773 confidential counselling sessions, which is a new record for the Mental Health Referral Network.

Education Grants

The PFA recognises the importance of education and supports player’s endeavours in this area by providing financial assistance via education grants. Players can apply annually by outlining how the study relates to their career plan.

In 2022/23, 196 Education Grants were awarded to Players.

*Note: Round 2 applications postponed due to financial impact of COVID-19.