A fresh face at the Saints, Bree Van Rysywk is set to play a key role across the Danny Frawley Centre and the club's AFLW team as Player Development Manager and Psychologist.
As part of our spotlight series for 2023 International Women's Day, she sat down with us to discuss her journey, what she's instantly loved about the Saints, and what she's hoping to implement at the club.
What’s been your journey at the Saints?
Having only started working at the club at the beginning of the year, I guess I’m one of the new kids on the block. I’m a Clinical Psychologist, with a background in clinical and community work.
In the past year I have transitioned towards working specifically with athletes, coaches and leadership, and now in my new role at the Saints I’m looking forward to doing so in a high-performance environment.
What are the key parts of your role?
I split my time between the AFLW as its Player Development Manager and Psychologist, and the Danny Frawley Centre.
My role with the women’s program is to help players succeed both on and off the field, by providing support and guidance on a range of things, including mental health, career development and life skills.
At the Danny Frawley Centre, I work to develop and implement best practice mental health and wellbeing programs to the local community.
What do you love about working at the Saints?
Throughout my journey I’ve noted the importance of community and how sporting clubs are often the centrepiece of that.
Upon starting with the club, I instantly felt comfortable, which is often an uncommon feeling when beginning a new role. This speaks to the community and culture at the Saints, and I feel lucky to be surrounded by the friendly faces, passion and support.
The club’s impact on the wider community is what I really find special. Whether it’s through the club’s community arm or the Danny Frawley Centre, I love that we are focused on more than just good footy.
What does it mean to you as a female to work in a largely male-dominated industry?
For me, it means advocating for the AFLW Program, the players and promoting women’s empowerment in all aspects of the industry. The AFLW is a continually growing space and the players navigate some unique challenges, whether it’s gender-based discrimination or the pressure to balance family, career and football.
I am passionate about ensuring the players have a safe, well integrated and supportive environment that enables them to thrive, and I look forward to seeing even more progress in the years to come.
