Game-changing Research: Supporting Athletes Through Pregnancy and Beyond
Description
AIS Best-Practice Recommendations to Support Elite Athletes from Preconception to Parenthood. Evidence-based recommendations will help retain athletes for an additional 10 - 15 years, normalising parenting for elite sportspeople and encouraging sporting bodies to consider family commitments, training schedule and competition expectations.
Partners
Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)
Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS)
Impact
Elite athletes across Australia can now be better supported throughout their parenthood journey, thanks to new national best-practice recommendations designed to guide sporting organisations.
The recommendations are backed by some of the nation’s leading athletes, sports administrators, and health and performance professionals. They are designed for use across all sporting codes, ensuring athletes are supported from preconception through to parenting.
This initiative is the result of a four-year research collaboration between CQUniversity researchers, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS), and athletes themselves. Together, they have created a landmark framework that places athlete wellbeing at the centre of sporting culture.
AIS Best-Practice Recommendations to Support Elite Athletes from Preconception to Parenthood were officially launched on 26 June 2025 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.
Led by Associate Professor Melanie Hayman (CQU Health Sciences) with PhD candidates Jasmine Titova and Boden Tighe, the project reflects four years of consultation with athletes, health experts, and sporting organisations to create a guide that is both practical and transformative.
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.
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