Jesaulenko Internship seeks to diversify coaching opportunities

Alex Jesaulenko was born in Austria in late 1945, shortly after the Second World War ended in Europe. His parents were Russian and Ukrainian and the family immigrated to Australia in 1949.

Alex lived in Canberra playing Rugby and Soccer until the age of 14 when he was asked to fill in for a friend’s AFL team. This game commenced an extraordinary AFL career which included coaching Carlton and St Kilda for 140 games, culminating in a Premiership for Carlton in 1979. Alex is currently one of only 26 Legends in the AFL’s Hall of Fame.

The Jesaulenko Internship seeks to enable people who have also migrated to Australia to follow Alex’s lead by becoming engaged in the country’s favourite sport, Australian Football.

In collaboration with the Australian Football League and AFL Coaches Association, the GWS GIANTS are looking for a volunteer intern, for up to a 10-week program, commencing in June 2018.

The selected intern will be provided a rare and intimate opportunity to learn about AFL coaching within the heart of the Club’s Football Department.

The following requirements are crucial for success in this role.

Experience:

• A keen interest in Sport and a desire to learn from an elite professional environment
• Experience coaching her/his own team would be preferred
• Understanding of AFL would be preferred, but is not essential

Education:

• The Internship may suit a University student needing to secure a work placement to complete a Degree in a sport or science related discipline

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Characteristics:

• The candidate must have one or more parents born overseas
• Highly developed, demonstrated team work skills
• An interest in learning the skills associated with becoming a lifelong fan of AFL and an AFL Coach at a Community Club
• Moderate computer literacy
• The Intern will be required to make her/his own travel arrangements to and from the Club and to matches

High-Level Overview of Job Requirements:

The selected Intern will be able to perform effectively as follows:

• Attend the Club’s premises one full day per week GWS GIANTS plus at one local game (either AFL or State League) for up to 10 consecutive weeks. Half of each day is envisaged to be spent within the coaching department, accompanying an assistant coach. The second half of the day will either be spent researching set projects or, more likely, assisting the Club’s community staff. The GWS GIANTS will be flexible on days and times to suit the needs of any interested candidate.
• The Intern will not travel interstate to attend games.
• The position is voluntary and will not be paid.
• The Intern will gain access to the Club’s inner sanctum, so the Club may require the Intern to sign a Confidentiality Agreement.
• The Intern will interact with AFL Players and Coaches in a high performance environment and will be required to do so respectfully.
• It is likely the Club’s Community Department will engage the Intern to assist in its community activities.
• The Intern may be required to assist the AFL celebrate Multicultural Round in late July.

The Intern will complete the 10-week program having acquired a skills set to coach or provide assistant coaching skills at an AFL team with a local Community Club, retain a lifelong love of Australia’s game and the GWS GIANTS Football Club.

For further information or to express interest please reach out to:

Jody Masina, General Manager People & Culture GWS GIANTS on jody.masina@gwsgiants.com.au or Nickie Flambouras, Multicultural Program Manager on Nickie.Flambouras@afl.com.au

Expressions of interest will close May 29, 2018.

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