The Director of Artistic Health is responsible for the overall health and wellbeing of Artists of The Australian Ballet, including integrated management, prevention and education. Reporting to the Artistic Director, this role is responsible for identification, design and management of dynamic, industry and practice leading approaches to the management of high-performance athletes and peak performance.

As department head, this position is responsible for the operational management of the Artistic Health Team overall. Additionally, as part of The Australian Ballet’s learning partnership with La Trobe University, the position includes research responsibilities including overseeing student supervision within research program and post-graduate physiotherapy clinical placements.

The Artistic Health team consists of a team of health and wellbeing professionals including physiotherapists, a myotherapist, a strength and conditioning coach, sports physician, general practitioner, a performance lifestyle advisor, psychologists, dietitian, rehabilitation coaches and team administrator who work as a close-knit unit to provide an outstanding on-site service to support all aspects of the dancers’ health and wellbeing.

Melbourne based - This is a non-touring role however some interstate travel is associated with the position as required.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership and support to the Artistic Health Team as Principal Physiotherapist or relevant clinical position
• Model ethical practices, standards and systems, and reinforce their use.
• Demonstrate professionalism to support a culture of accountability and integrity.
• Provide dynamic and high-quality clinical support to dancers, including education, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation incorporating practice leading approaches suited to the management of high-performance athletes
• Oversee the delivery of holistic health and wellbeing support to dancers, working collaboratively with other Artistic Health team members and external consultants as required, to ensure the effective management of all matters
• Develop and implement integrated injury and wellbeing prevention strategies and practices, working closely with the broader team to ensure they align with the Artistic Director’s artistic outcomes and dancer performance plan outcomes
• Provide expert advice and guidance to the Artistic Health team members, actively mentoring and developing team members focused on delivering practice leading approaches
• Oversee dancer education and development programs that proactively promote post-partum and post ballet career goals and career development for dancers
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of developments in high performance sports medicine, including research and innovation in injury prevention, diagnosis, and management for the ballet / dancer sector
• Ensure all clinical records are maintained and managed in accordance with statutory, legal, and regulatory requirements and Company policies and procedures

Head of Department Responsibilities

• Management and continuous oversight of the Artistic Health budget including grants and funding, in accordance with agreed guidelines and timeframes, adjusting within the year as required
• Knowledge of the regulatory frameworks and requirements surrounding Medicare
• Lead appropriate short and long-term reporting on the health and wellbeing within the Company, including reports for Artistic Staff, the Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors
• Oversee dancer support and Human Resources activities within the department including but not limited to WorkCover claims, dancer on and offboarding and fitness for work assessments
• Collaborate with Human Resources to provide holistic health and wellbeing support to dancers to ensure a proactive and cohesive approach to employee management while prioritising dancer welfare
• Provide leadership and guidance to the Artistic Health Team, including performance development and management
• Plan and deliver opportunities for The Australian Ballet’s artistic health processes and learnings to be shared with staff and dancers internally, and other companies externally
• Prepare and deliver presentations for internal and external events and conferences, and represent the Company as agreed, to demonstrate dancer health and wellbeing leadership and best practice high performance athlete management
• Collaborate with external organisations to build relationships and knowledge share, aligned to the Artistic Director’s vision and artistic outcomes
• Collaborate with The Australian Ballet School’s Health Team on mutually beneficial projects, and on preparing students to for potential future employment in the professional context

Research Partnership Support

• Proactively partner with the Partnerships team to collaboratively shape arrangements and obligations of the La Trobe University Research Partnership
• Engage La Trobe University research, and supervise student research
• Oversee and manage entry-to-practice and post-graduate student clinical placements
• Undertake all other duties as reasonably required by the position and Artistic Director

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor of Physiotherapy or a medical qualification (MBBS or equivalent) which is recognised for registration by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Masters and/or PhD qualification in a related field
• Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Registration
• Demonstrated > 10 years experience leading clinical programs for elite athletes or in high performance environments
• Extensive experience working with dancers desirable, or experience working with high performance athletes
• Demonstrated experience leading a team of multidisciplinary professionals delivering dynamic, industry and practice leading approaches
• Demonstrated experience in research desirable including publications, national or international presentations
• Experience using an Athletic Management System
• High level of scientific and medical knowledge and understanding
• Outstanding communication skills, including experience in public speaking and presenting

Additional Requirements & Obligations

• Registered with AHPRA
• Current First Aid and CPR
• Valid Working with Children Check
• Satisfactory National Police Check (where relevant International Police Check)
• Report to management any criminal charges or convictions you receive during the course of your employment
• Protect confidential information from unauthorised disclosure which must not be used, disclosed, or copied, except to the extent necessary for the proper performance of your role
• Safeguard employees, children, young people within our organisation, by ensuring that interactions are positive and safe, and report any suspicions or concerns
• Be aware of and comply with the Code of Conduct and comply with both organisational and clinical and administrative policies and guidelines.

**A full copy of the Position Description is available on our careers site**

Our Values

Ambition: We perform at our best: challenging ourselves and each other, thinking beyond conventional practice and striving to achieve excellence in everything we do.

Boldness: We act innovatively and embrace change with confidence and courage.

Inclusivity: We are deeply committed to cultivating and sustaining an organisation that is equitable, fair and inclusive. We embrace diversity both on and off stage and strive to be a company where all communities feel a sense of belonging.

Respect: We treat all people with dignity and create trusted and enduring relationships with customers, colleagues and communities.

Responsibility: We seek out new and better ways of doing things, act accountably and understand the importance of balancing artistic risk with strategic and commercial outcomes. We strive for environmental sustainability and are conscious of how we use our resources.

Diversity and Inclusion

At The Australian Ballet, diversity and inclusion are integral to our mission to create an extraordinarily vibrant and successful company, and to present performances that represent Australian culture at its best. We believe that our workforce should reflect the rich diversity of the Australian community.

We embrace difference and diversity of identity, experience and thought, and we actively strive to create an inclusive workplace. By promoting these values, we aim to create a positive work experience that encourages a sense of belonging.