Ante Milicic has benefited from the PFA Education Grant © Getty Images
During the 2007/2008 financial year, the PFA financially assisted 79 players as they prepare for life after football, paying out just under $50,000 from the PFA Education Fund.
Two of the key barriers to players pursuing study and preparing for life after football are a lack of time in football schedules and cost.
The PFA has been able to address both of these barriers with the finalisation of the A-League Collective Bargaining Agreement which provides for all players to received ½ day off per week for professional development together with the PFA Education Fund.
The PFA Education Fund is available to footballers who are undertaking a career specific course which will further develop their off field skills and prepare them for their post-football career.
The PFA received 86 applications for 84 different courses throughout the year. Newcastle Jets players benefited the most from the fund with 15 PFA members receiving financial assistance. Unfortunately Wellington Phoenix submitted the least number of applications with only 1 player taking advantage of the funds available.
The most popular course undertaken was the Small Business Course which was offered as part of the My Football Career professional development program. Although this course covered 60% of the courses undertaken, it represented only 34% of the grant money distributed which is just above the bachelor/masters degrees at 33%.
To view graphs which show the courses undertaken, applications received at each club and the type of course undertaken related to grants paid please click here.
The first intake of applications for the 2008/2009 financial year will be closing on 30 September. If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the PFA’s Player Services and Operations Executive Shannon Beck on 0408 132 790 .
To download a PFA Education Fund application form, click here.
