Posted by RLPA
AAA and Monash IV unite for game-changing partnership
A new partnership between Monash IVF and the Australian Athletes Alliance (AAA) has been formed to educate and empower athletes to help them take early steps to optimise their reproductive health and give them the best chance of starting families when they are ready to.
As a member of the AAA peak body – which represents player and athlete associations including in AFL, cricket, football, basketball, netball, rugby league and hockey – the Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) will have access to this game-changing partnership with leading fertility care provider Monash IVF.
The partnership will provide athletes with access to a broad range of educational programs, access to a nurse advice line, practical resources to assist player development managers to support their athletes, fertility health assessments and preservation, and medical investigations and treatment when required.
While age and pre-existing conditions are two of the biggest factors impacting fertility in men and women, professional athletes can also face unique fertility challenges due to the impact high-performance sports training and competition can have on their bodies.
AAA General Secretary Jacob Holmes said delivering a comprehensive reproductive care program to past and present athletes was long overdue.
“Many of our athletes have family aspirations like the rest of us but may not have the right information at the right time around fertility health and how their decisions now could impact their fertility in the future,” Mr Holmes said.
“With Monash IVF’s expert team, we aim to help our athletes better understand and manage their fertility health as well as empower positive conversations in this important area.”
Monash IVF Group Chief Executive Michael Knaap said the partnership would help past and present athletes make informed decisions about their reproductive health and fertility.
“As fertility wellness partner for AAA, we will help to educate and empower Australian athletes to ensure they are fertility fit and able to become parents when the time is right for them,” Mr Knaap said.
“Monash IVF is committed to shifting societal attitudes and behaviours in relation to fertility – not just in sport, but across the wider community – to encourage people to take proactive care of their fertility health.”
Monash IVF Group Medical Director, Professor Luk Rombauts, added: “Women athletes who experience significant weight loss, endure high-level exercise and a high degree of physical or psychosocial stress will particularly benefit from this partnership.”
Tracey Holmes, respected sports journalist and ABC presenter, will host the partnership launch at Melbourne Olympic Park – Tennis HQ on Wednesday 29 March at 12.00pm with:
- Jenni Screen, former Australian Opal, Olympic Silver 2008 and Bronze 2012, World Cup Gold 2006, commentator
- Kate Gill, former Australian Matilda, Olympian, Football Australia Hall of Fame, Professional Footballers Australia Co-CEO
- Paul Marsh, AFL Players’ Association CEO
- Kelly Applebee, former Australian cricketer, General Manager – Member Programs & Relations at Australian Cricketers’ Association
- Chloe Dalton OAM, Olympian, Olympic Gold 2016, AFL-W player
- Jo Weston, current Australian Diamond and Melbourne Vixen netballer, ANPA President
- Jacob Holmes, former Australian basketballer, Commonwealth Games Gold medalist, AAA General Secretary and CEO of Australian Basketball Players’ Association
- Fiona Allen, Monash IVF Group Chief Marketing Officer
About Australian Athletes Alliance
The Australian Athletes’ Alliance is the peak body for Australia’s elite professional athletes.
The AAA represents over 4,500 athletes through Australia’s major players’ and athletes’ associations:
- Australian Cricketers’ Association
- AFL Players’ Association
- Australian Netball Players’ Association
- Australian Basketball Players’ Association
- Professional Footballers Australia
- Rugby League Players’ Association
- Australian Swimmers’ Association
- Australian Hockey Players’ Association