Overseas Coaching Opportunity

2010 AUSTRALIAN YOUTH AMBASSADORS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Australian Government, as part of its overseas aid program, conducts a program called the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program (AYAD).

The aim of the program is to send young Australians aged 18 – 30 years of age into countries in the Pacific area, to undertake development work with local people.

FIBA Oceania has been a partner with the AYAD program for almost 10 years, and in that time we have sent nine Basketball Development Officers in the countries of Tonga, Fiji (3 AYAD’s), PNG, Vanuatu (2 AYAD’s), Solomon Islands and Samoa.

In 2010 it is proposed that FIBA Oceania will send two AYAD’s – 1 person to Vanuatu and 1 person to Tonga. The 12 month assignments will run from July 2010 until July 2011.

The Role of a Basketball Development AYAD:
You will work on a daily basis with the local National Basketball Development Officer (NBDO), undertaking a broad range of basketball activities to help develop the game. This might include school clinics, education workshops and sponsorship meetings.

You will work from the National Olympic headquarters, and your work will involve every facet of basketball from coaching in miniball programs through to working with National teams; from Federation administration through to coaching and refereeing.

You will help the NBDO develop their skills, and you will have a hand in setting the strategic direction of the Federation.

During the 12 month assignment, you will accrue 4 weeks of holidays, which you are able to take during the year, in agreement with the local Basketball Federation. Friends and family are able to visit you in Tonga and Vanuatu, and you are able to return to Australia during that period for special events, at your own cost, should you need to.

What It Takes to be a Basketball Development AYD:
You will need to be a highly motivated person, who can work unsupervised. You will need to be able to find solutions to problems – you must have a ‘can do’ attitude.

You will need to have a flexible attitude, and be prepared to live in a culture that is significantly different to yours.

You will need to be a basketball ‘jack-of-all-trades’ – that is, you will need to know something about coaching, refereeing, competition and association administration, sponsorship, strategic planning and marketing. While this is a difficult call, as people tend to specialize in one or two of those areas, you will need to up-skill yourself in areas that you may not feel qualified. But we will help you with that up-skilling. NCAS level 1 qualifications are expected, but experience is given a priority.

More Information About the Program:
While this program is classified as a ‘volunteer’ program, the following expenses are paid for you:

You will need to be a basketball ‘jack-of-all-trades’ – that is, you will need to know something about coaching, refereeing, competition and association administration, sponsorship, strategic planning and marketing. While this is a difficult call, as people tend to specialize in one or two of those areas, you will need to up-skill yourself in areas that you may not feel qualified. But we will help you with that up-skilling. NCAS level 1 qualifications are expected, but experience is given a priority.

More Information About the Program:
While this program is classified as a ‘volunteer’ program, the following expenses are paid for you:

• International return air fares to Tonga and Vanuatu.

• A monthly living allowance that is sufficient to cover your rent, food and general expenses.

• An allowance prior to departure that assists you to purchase specific clothing or equipment you might need to undertake your AYAD assignment.

• All your medical expenses (checkups, injections etc) prior to departure

• An additional living and travel allowance from FIBA Oceania.
  
  

Think You’ve Got What it Takes to be a Basketball AYAD?

• The first thing you should do is go to the AYAD website and read about the program at www.ayad.com.au
  
• If you are still keen about the program, send your resume to Judy Smith at the FIBA Oceania office. Your resume must include names and contact details for 3 people whom I can contact for references. Email is judy@fibaoceania.com If you want to email first with questions about the program, please do so.
  
• Divide your resume into two sections:
• The first should be your basketball CV. Tell me about your qualifications (Level 1 coach etc), your playing, coaching, refereeing and administration experience, with emphasis on the past 2 – 3 years.
• The second part should include your educational qualifications and employment record.
• You must be prepared to spend 12 months in either Vanuatu or Tonga, and you must be ready to depart around July 2010.
  

Timelines:

• 1^st December 2009: Written applications are to be with Judy Smith, via email.

• January 2010: Interviews conducted.

• End of January 2010: Successful candidates notified
• Late February 2010: FIBA Oceania notified that the assignment is approved
• June 2010: Pre-departure training for all intake 28 candidates
• July 2010: Assignment commencement date