Welcome to the 2023 PFA Player Development Program Report.

It is with mixed feelings that I share my final views on the Player Development Program (PDP) as the outgoing President of the PFA. While across my seven years of presidency there have been so many significant developments and achievements by the PFA, the evolution and growth of the PDP remains one of my proudest achievements.

The Program has been transformational for players in Australian football over the course of my time with the PFA. And for me personally, it has helped me transition into my new role at Sydney FC after hanging up the boots.

Since its inception, the PDP has been a cornerstone of our commitment to supporting players and elevating our people. Writing today, I can say that the Program has exceeded expectations in its ability to empower our players both on and off the field.

When I started my career for Northern Spirit over 20 years ago, the support programs available for players were either incredibly basic, or non-existent. Football was seen as a singular pursuit for those aiming for a professional career – and anything outside of it – study, looking after your mental wellbeing – wasn’t considered as part of the picture.

Today, the PDP is now firmly established as a world-class program that delivers a deep level of support for players, a commitment to helping develop people into the best version they can be on and off the pitch and prepares players for the universal and inevitable feature of a professional player's journey – retirement.

Whether it is access to wellbeing services, education grants, career counselling and advice, financial services or information on players career trends and the football industry, there are endless ways a player can be supported by the Program today.

The most promising trend for me is that these reports indicate that professional players are accessing the PDP’s services in record numbers each year, which is a testament to a few things.

The first is that alongside the growth of the program, more and more players are engaging with the PDP’s services and are, therefore, more aware of the positive impact the PDP can have on their careers.

The second is that players are recognising the quality of the Program and the value it can add to their lives. Third, it indicates that players are not afraid to come forward for assistance – and that any stigma that may have been previously attached to pursuing dual careers, or seeking help for mental health conditions, is falling away.

And lastly, it illustrates the tremendous work of the Player Development Managers in engaging with the players directly and sharing the work of the Program.

However, there is so much more we can do to develop and enhance the program. It is vital that we continue to work with clubs and Australia’s national teams to ensure that there is greater integration, and a greater appreciation, of the program. This remains a high priority for the players. Unfortunately, PDMs at several clubs continue to face barriers in undertaking their work and have limited access to players.

The PDP Online is one way we have helped to make the program more accessible and flexible, but one-to-one engagement with PDMs remains critical to success for both the Program and the players.

The independence of the PDP must also be protected. The PFA and a Player Development Manager will always be there no matter whether a player changes clubs, enters or exits a national team environment, moves overseas, or retires. The PFA is the one consistency throughout a player's career.

The final challenge – which is ongoing – is ensuring every new player who enters the sport understands the impact the Program and the PFA can have on their career.

My challenge to all players is to ensure they learn as much about the PDP as possible as it can only have a positive impact on their health, wellbeing, and professional football careers.

I am immensely proud of what this program has achieved, and I am excited about the endless possibilities it holds for PFA members in the future.

Alex Wilkinson

PFA President, 2016-2023

The past 12 months of the PDP have been equal parts rewarding and challenging.

That’s because our members have never been more engaged with the PDP, and yet that means there’s never been greater demand for player development and wellbeing services.

Through the PFA, Australia’s professional players have accessed the most individual education grants ever in the past 12 months, while during that same period, our mental health referral network has experienced an incredible 265% increase in usage.

We also had over 50 players undertake their coaching courses – the largest cohort post-COVID – to further their careers and help them prepare for the transition into coaching roles.

This is immensely rewarding because our Program exists for this very purpose: to ensure our members can access any of the Program’s services to help better themselves as footballers and as people.

But the challenge lies in how we can continue to offer support to those most in need – such as those who require acute wellbeing support, and ensure we meet those demands - while continuing to evolve, diversify and improve every one of our services.

That challenge is exciting for our Player Development team as each day we get to think about how we can make the lives and careers of Australian footballers better.

I’m proud of how our partnership with The Mind Room has developed to the point where players feel comfortable accessing the confidential service if they are concerned about their mental health. Seeing so many people accessing our grants to further their studies and education.

The partnerships we have formed with our PDP partners such as Compeat Nutrition and BNG have also delivered incredible value for our members.

Adding to the rewards of the last 12 months have been the individual stories of players accessing the PDP’s services.

Take Matilda and Melbourne Victory midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight and Perth Glory’s David Williams’ words on how important the coaching course was to their personal and professional development.

Or how A-League champion Max Balard has utilised education grants to help with his impressive off-field learning. Then there’s Alex Gersbach who spoke about how studying isn’t a distraction but an outlet for professional players, Emma Checker on balancing study and how patience landed her a gig with the PFA, and Jonathan Aspropotamitis’ ambition to enter football operations and management post-career.

These players are among hundreds of others who have accessed the PFA programs.

Last, but not least, we have extended our program to former players, which has already delivered immense value and connection to the stars of our game who have previously been forgotten or neglected.

Through the Past Players Program we delivered 10 events – including several heart health, concussion and skin cancer screening sessions – and six FIFA World Cup events to bring the Matildas alumni together to celebrate their historic contribution to the green and gold.

It is an honour to continue developing this world-leading program for our members and to see the impact it's having on our players every day.

Thank you

Rita Mankowska