The AIS Sports Supplement Framework
Sports foods and supplements can play a small but important role in the sports nutrition plans of high-performance athletes. The ABCD Classification system ranks sports foods and supplement ingredients into four groups according to scientific evidence and other practical considerations that determine whether a product is safe, permitted, and effective in improving sports performance. This site is highly recommended to any athlete interested in whether use of a particular supplement is likely to benefit performance, and whether it is safe to consume without breaching the World Anti-Doping Code:
https://www.ais.gov.au/nutrition/supplements
Sports supplements (excluding sports foods like sports drinks and sports gels) are rarely warranted for athletes under 18 years of age, and it is recommended athletes intending to use supplements check with an accredited sports dietitian to confirm their use is warranted for that athlete’s specific circumstances and sporting context.
Concussion in Sport Australia
Concussion in Sport Australia brings together the most contemporary evidence-based information on concussion for athletes, parents, teachers, coaches, and medical practitioners. It contains links to a broad range of resources that can be downloaded, and which are readily understood:
https://www.concussioninsport.gov.au/
Sport Integrity Australia
Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) brings together the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), the National Integrity of Sport (NISU) and the national integrity programs of Sport Australia as one entity providing national coordination and streamlined support to sports. The SIA website contains links to an excellent range of resources including “Check your Substances” and “Therapeutic Use Exemptions”:
https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/
Sports Integrity e-Learning
These online education modules have been developed for athletes, support staff, parents and coaches to gain information about anti-doping and fair and reasonable behaviours in sport, they can be accessed here:
https://elearning.sportintegrity.gov.au/login/index.php
AIS Intense 'Live In' Rehabilitation Program
This program has been developed for athletes competing at an international level to be able to access an intense ‘live in’ program at the AIS when they suffer a significant injury and are in need of intense rehabilitation. To access this program, a National Sporting organisation need to make an application of an athlete's behalf, they are assessed quickly for their suitability and offered a place if they meet certain criteria, more information about the program can be found here:
https://www.ais.gov.au/intensive_rehabilitation
Female Performance Health Initiative
The female performance health initiative is a national support system for developing and elite athletes and the people that support them. There are a significant amount of resources that can cover a wide variety of topics. The link to the program is here:
https://www.ais.gov.au/fphi
Part of this program includes specific Female athlete Education modules that can be completed on line. Some are designed for athletes and their parents with specific modules also available for coaches and medical professionals, the link to these modules is here:
https://www.ais.gov.au/fphi/education
There are also several information sheets that have been developed specifically for female athletes, they cover topics such as contraception, your menstrual cycle and breast health, these resources can be accessed here:
https://www.ais.gov.au/fphi/female-athlete-resources
The final part of this initiative is the Mum-Alete project, this is specifically for athletes that are also Mums, information can be found here:
https://www.ais.gov.au/fphi/the-mum-alete-project
AIS Mental Health Referral Network
The AIS Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) is a group of expert psychologists and mental health clinicians who understand the pressures and complexity of life in a high performance setting.
The MHRN is a service for categorised athletes, alumni, coaches and support staff engaged in the Daily Training Environment.
https://www.ais.gov.au/MHRN
AIS 'Be Heard'
AIS 'Be Heard' is available to current and former athletes, coaches and staff across the Australian high performance sports system. AIS 'Be Heard' is the place anyone in Australian high performance sport (past or present) can turn to for help. Supporting former AIS scholarship athletes who experienced harm from inappropriate practices or abuse.
https://www.ais.gov.au/AISBe-Heard
AIS Mental Performance During Competition
Learn about improving mental performance during competition:
https://www.ais.gov.au/mental_performance_competition#mpc_digital
Moodgym Training Program
Funded by the Australian Commonwealth Department of Health, free for use by all Australians. Moodgym is like an interactive self-help book which helps you to learn and practise skills which can help to prevent and manage symptoms of depression and anxiety.
https://moodgym.com.au
More information is available here:
https://moodgym.com.au/build/pdf/moodgym-Product-Information-Sheet.pdf
'This Way Up' Program
Our range of tailored online programs are designed to teach you proven psychological skills to transform your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours so you can make a positive change in your life. 'This Way Up' is run by clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, researchers, and web technicians based at the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD) - a joint facility of St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of New South Wales.
https://thiswayup.org.au
Mindfulness Program
Learn simple mindfulness strategies for managing stress and boosting your wellbeing with this practical and free online program.
https://thiswayup.org.au/programs/mindfulness-program/
Nutrition and Dietetics
From a sports dietetics perspective, there are some good factsheets on the Sports Dietitians Australia website - these cover general topics like recovery nutrition, hydration, eating before and during sport, as well as individual sports (eg rowing, cycling, hockey, sailing etc):
https://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/factsheets/
Also on the AIS website is a varied collection of recipes which might be helpful:
https://www.ais.gov.au/nutrition/recipes
Disordered eating is a topic athletes and parents might want to learn more about. The AIS intro material to this is quite good too, particularly around what are some of the signs and symptoms to watch out for:
https://www.ais.gov.au/disorderedeating
Meat and Livestock Australia Nutrition Resource factsheets are excellent resources - colourful and concise:
https://www.mlahealthymeals.com.au/resources/