For Para-swimmer Ben Popham OAM, the journey to elite competition has come to mean more than just winning medals. While his sights are firmly set on international success in the pool, he’s also engaging in life outside of sport – juggling his scholarship and training at the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) with a part-time role as a Communications Assistant through a collaboration with WAIS and VenuesWest, providing athletes with dual career opportunities.
WAIS’s commitment to athlete development extends beyond performance on the field or in the pool — prioritising holistic care programs that support athletes in all aspects of their lives. A partnership between WAIS and VenuesWest aims to support athletes interested in exploring opportunities in a corporate environment or relevant field to their qualifications or study.
“Throughout my time at WAIS, my Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Advisor, Amanda, has consistently made sure I am on track in terms of where I want to be outside the pool,” explains Ben. “I expressed to her my desire to switch things up for the coming season. Amanda mentioned this program as a possibility and how it could really suit. Flexible hours, high-performing and understanding staff, and proximity to the pool. I was hooked.”
Ben’s story is a testament to the power of dual careers in supporting athlete wellbeing, providing financial stability, and opening doors to new opportunities and experiences beyond sporting pathways. “Working as a Communications Assistant, I love learning as much as I did when I first started swimming. Having swum for close to 20 years, I can always learn, but nothing like when you first start something new, and you’re forced to learn how to adjust and find new processes to help you succeed.” The role aligns well with Ben’s academic background, which includes a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Public Relations and Journalism. This followed his decision to change direction after initially enrolling in Marketing at Curtin University, where he was recognised as Sportsman of the Year.
Why dual careers matter for athlete wellbeing
For many athletes, sport is an all-consuming pursuit. The rigorous training schedules, travel commitments, and competitive pressures leave little room for thinking about ‘what comes next’. Yet, research shows that having a secondary focus – whether through education or work – can significantly improve mental and emotional wellbeing.
Balancing swimming with his part-time work has helped Ben maintain perspective. “Over the past couple of years, accelerated by this opportunity at VenuesWest, I have gained a huge amount of perspective. Swimming isn’t everything, bad results at a single meet won’t ruin your life, or your chances at ever making a team again,” he explains. “A dual career has given me the ability to step back before a race occurs and think about the impact of this singular race. The result is incredibly freeing and has been incredibly beneficial to my performances this year.”
Beyond mental resilience, his role at VenuesWest allows him to develop real-world skills in media and communications. “I really think having a smooth transition from athlete life to retired life is important to me. But to do that, and to be confident in your plan after sport, you must lay the groundwork. I didn’t want to leave a successful career in the pool one day, whether by my decision or not, to no opportunities that appealed to me. I didn’t want to feel that I had to extend my career as an athlete past where I wanted, because I had no better option.”
Ben’s manager at VenuesWest, Lynn O’Driscoll, Senior Manager Corporate Communications and Engagement, has found having an elite swimmer, Paralympian and high performer on the team to be an inspiring and valuable opportunity that benefits the entire group. “Ben quickly became an integral member of our communications team. His career in professional sport has endowed him with a wealth of life experience, which has been invaluable to our team. His ability to perform under pressure and his unwavering commitment to his goals align perfectly with the VenuesWest culture,” explains Lynn.
The flexibility of the VenuesWest program has been crucial in helping Ben manage his workload. He is able to tailor his hours around his training and competition schedule, ensuring he can perform at his best both in and out of the pool.
Lynn adds, “as an agency dedicated to supporting high-performance sport (VenuesWest), we greatly value Ben’s direct exposure and lived experience in this field. His contributions have been, and continue to be, immensely beneficial.”
How the program is supporting dual careers
Ben’s story highlights the importance of structured support programs to help athletes gain work experience without compromising their athletic ambitions.
The program plays a critical role in:
- Providing athletes with hands-on work experience in fields relevant to their interests
- Offering financial stability, reducing stress, and allowing them to focus on performance
- Helping athletes build professional networks that will be invaluable after retirement from competitive sport.
Initiatives like these are essential in fostering athlete wellbeing, ensuring that when the time comes to step away from competition, they are equipped with the skills and confidence to transition successfully.
Ben adds, “It is important to understand where your current opportunities can realistically lead. How much will you be paid? What are the people in the industry/workplace like? What will be required of me in my current and/or desired role? All these questions, in my experience, can only be found through getting into a workplace and working them out for yourself, whether through an internship or a more permanent position.”
Looking ahead
As Ben continues his journey toward team selection in June, he remains committed to both his swimming and his career development. “Swimming was my chosen vehicle to prove to the world that I was still worth something as an athlete and someone with a disability. But after tasting success, it has become quite clear to me that life isn’t about that. I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone. The only person I should be trying to prove anything to is myself, and swimming still allows me to do that, but it isn’t the only thing that can. Knowing I am building something beyond swimming gives me a sense of security and purpose,” he says.
His advice to young athletes? “Enjoy the journey of being in elite sport, but know that it doesn’t last forever and sometimes, unfortunately it’s not up to us as to when it ends. Even if you are not actively pursuing it at times, you must have an exit plan.”
With the right support systems in place, more athletes like Ben can thrive in their dual careers, proving that success isn’t just about what happens in competition – but also about preparing for the journey beyond.
