Groundbreaking research guides Australian sport to support parent athletes
Australia’s elite athletes can be supported right through the parenthood journey, thanks to new national best-practice recommendations designed for sporting organisations.
Backed by some of Australia’s top sportswomen, sports administrators, and health and performance professionals, the comprehensive recommendations are applicable across all sports and codes.
CQUniversity researchers developed the guide with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) and athletes themselves, to give clubs and organisations a best-practice approach to support athletes from preconception through to parenthood.
AIS Best-Practice Recommendations to Support Elite Athletes from Preconception to Parenthood were launched by Australian Minister for Sport The Hon Anika Wells MP, and Queensland Minister for Sport and Racing, and Minister for Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander on Thursday 26 June 2025.
The landmark document follows four years of research and extensive consultation by CQU Health Sciences Associate Professor Melanie Hayman, and CQU PhD candidates Jasmine Titova and Boden Tighe.
AIS Female Performance Health Initiative Project Lead Dr Rachel Harris is an Olympian, a former Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Paralympics Team, and a mum.
She said better support will ensure more female athletes can thrive in both their sporting careers and as parents.
“No athlete should have to choose between a career in sport and being a parent, but unfortunately that’s the reality for a growing number of female athletes,” Dr Harris said.
“These evidence-based recommendations will help sports retain great athletes who have the potential to perform for another 10 to 15 years.”
Assoc Prof Hayman said the recommendations normalise parenting for elite sportspeople, and encourage sporting bodies to consider things like family commitments, training schedules and competition expectations.
“Our initial review of pregnancy policies within 39 Australian national sporting organisations and leagues found only 21 per cent even had pregnancy policies, and very few worked with athlete mums to develop them,” Assoc Prof Hayman said.
“Our research shows support through preconception, pregnancy, postpartum and parenting will enhance not just wellbeing and family connection, but also the on-field performance of elite athletes during critical life stages.
“Australian sport has an opportunity to create an environment where parent athletes thrive – at home, and all the way to the podium.”
Three-time Olympic kayaker Alyce Wood is among a long lineup of Australian athletes who have soared to career-best performances after having children.
Wood achieved her best-ever performance in the K1 500 at 35 weeks postpartum before competing at the 2023 World Championships, and the Paris Olympics with daughter, Florence by her side.
Olympic Water Polo player and mum Keesja Gofers also returned to training eight weeks postpartum, before her team earned silver medals in Paris.
Both Wood and Gofers were among more than 60 athletes, coaches, high-performance support staff and medical professionals who helped shape the AIS recommendations.
Some of the key recommendations include:
- Allowing athletes to take time away from their sport during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum without facing financial or ranking implications,
- Providing athletes with a comprehensive and individualised pregnancy plan, from preconception to parenting, detailing exactly what to consider and personnel to involve at each stage,
- Providing athletes with confidential pathways for pregnancy disclosure on their own terms,
- Understand what an athlete’s preferred level of engagement with the sporting organisation is while taking parenting leave, and
- Giving athletes continued access to facilities, services and relevant professionals during preconception, pregnancy, postpartum and parenting.
The recommendations underpin Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy, which has 62 sports pledging to prioritise athlete wellbeing. Research was funded by the Australian Government, the AIS and QAS, and the CQUniversity Elevate Scholarship Scheme.
The AIS Best Practice Recommendations to Support Elite Athletes from Preconception to Parenthood can be downloaded via the AIS website.
