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Sports Psychologists support amateur and professional athletes, helping them develop a winning mindset and cope with the pressures of competition They are fully qualified psychologists and registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
As a Sports Psychologist you could be researching a psychological issue that may be impacting the performance of a client, teaching a visualisation technique to use before a game, carrying out a goal-setting session, listening to a client explain their mental state during a recent competition, or having a weekly support session with a client who is injured and wants to sustain their motivation to recover and compete again.
The average salary for Sports Psychologists in Australia is $107,432 per annum. There are opportunities to earn larger salaries in high-profile positions that support international sporting teams and globally recognised athletes.
There are approximately 1,200 specialist psychologists working in Australia right now, some of these are Sports Psychologists. They are employed by corporate sports teams, gyms and sports centres, community-based sporting organisations, government agencies, universities and schools, as well as private clients.
To become a Sports Psychologist you will need to complete a Bachelor’s degree in psychology that has been approved by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Examples include: Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Psychological Science, and Bachelor of Science (Psychology). Be sure to choose electives in sports psychology and exercise science. Some institutions offer an additional Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science as a double degree.
To become a fully registered Sports Psychologist, you will also need to complete a Master of Psychology (Sport and Exercise), undertake a one-year internship, and then pass the National Psychology Exam.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights 2023
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Here are some potential career pathways within psychology and sport coaching. Click on an occupation to learn more about the role and the qualifications that can help you get started in this industry.
Psychology
Art Therapist
$1,250 weekly pay
Behaviour Therapist
Counsellor
$1,450 weekly pay
Family Therapist
$1,652 weekly pay
Mental Health Case Manager
Mental Health Practitioner
$1,500 weekly pay
Mental Health Worker
$1,440 weekly pay
Music Therapist
Psychological Researcher
Academic Psychologist
Behaviour Support Specialist
$1,730 weekly pay
Behavioural Psychologist
$2,066 weekly pay
Child Psychologist
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Clinical Psychologist
$1,920 weekly pay
Community Psychologist
Counselling Psychologist
Developmental Psychologist
EAP Psychologist
Educational Psychologist
Forensic Psychologist
Health Psychologist
Neuropsychologist
Occupational Psychologist
Organisational Psychologist
Psychologist
Registered Psychologist
Research Psychologist
School Psychologist
Social Psychologist
Sport Coaching
Sports Coach
$960 weekly pay
Swimming Instructor
Athlete
High Performance Coach
$1,350 weekly pay
Performance Coach
$1,860 weekly pay
Personal Trainer
$1,150 weekly pay
Sports Analyst
Sports Scientist
Athletic Director
$2,710 weekly pay
Exercise Physiologist
Sports Development Manager