About US
Together, our facilitators combine elite sport experience, education and youth development knowledge to support student-athletes in a way that feels authentic, practical and relevant.
The goal is simple:
to help young athletes build the confidence, resilience and identity they need to thrive in sport, school and life.
Meet Malietoa
Malietoa does not just understand the world of young athletes. He has lived it. His journey through the private school and academy system required him to balance people’s expectations, school, sport and his own performance from day one. This journey led to a nine-year professional international rugby career.
Today Malietoa is a teacher and coach who is passionate about helping young athletes navigate the same pathway with perspective and confidence. His coaching philosophy is simple: coach the player first.
Malietoa has worked across elite and school environments, including international women’s rugby, junior high-performance pathways and leading a school First XV program. Through The Whole Athlete Academy, he helps athletes develop the confidence, resilience and identity to thrive beyond the game.
“Sport can be a powerful teacher, but only when young athletes are supported as people first. The Whole Athlete Academy exists to help them build the confidence, resilience and identity to thrive in sport and in life.”
Meet Hannah
Hannah brings a deep understanding of young people and their development to The Whole Athlete Academy. With a background in psychology and social work, her work has focused on supporting young people, families and communities to build confidence, navigate challenges and make positive decisions.
Through years working alongside youth and community organisations, she has seen how environments like school, sport and family shape young people’s wellbeing and identity.
Hannah is known for her warm and engaging style, creating spaces where students feel comfortable to reflect, ask questions and grow. At The Whole Athlete Academy she helps translate youth development research into practical strategies that support student-athletes to thrive.
Questions we get asked...
Who is The Whole Athlete Academy for?
Our programs are designed for student-athletes in Years 7–12 who are balancing sport, school, and personal development.
Sessions are tailored to the developmental stage of each age group, ensuring the content is practical, engaging, and immediately relevant to the pressures young athletes face today.
What topics do you cover in your sessions?
Our programs focus on helping student-athletes perform, learn and thrive under pressure.
Key areas include:
- Building a healthy athletic identity beyond sport
- Developing resilience and coping skills for setbacks and performance pressure
- Managing expectations from sport, school, and life
- Strengthening support systems between athletes, families and schools
- Protecting mental wellbeing in high-performance environments
All sessions are practical and designed to give athletes tools they can use immediately.
Are your programs aligned with the Australian Curriculum?
Yes.
Our workshops support the Health and Physical Education learning area of the Australian Curriculum, while also aligning with broader student wellbeing frameworks used by schools.
The program also integrates best-practice principles from high-performance sport environments, including standards informed by organisations such as the Australian Institute of Sport.
Most importantly, the program is evidence-informed and built around youth athlete wellbeing research.
Do you run sessions for parents and staff?
Yes — and we strongly encourage it.
Supporting young athletes works best when parents, coaches and schools are aligned.
We offer:
- Parent information sessions to help families support athletes through pressure, expectations and identity development
- Staff professional learning to help educators better understand the unique challenges student-athletes face
These sessions create a shared language and support network around the athlete.
What makes The Whole Athlete Academy different?
Many programs focus only on performance or wellbeing.
We focus on the whole athlete.
The Whole Athlete Academy was founded by a former professional rugby player, coach and educator who has experienced elite sport environments firsthand.
Our programs combine:
- Elite sport experience
- Education expertise
- Evidence-based wellbeing strategies
The result is a program that doesn’t just inspire athletes for a day — it helps them build the skills and support systems needed to thrive long-term.
How much do your programs cost?
Program costs vary depending on:
- Session length
- Number of students
- Whether parent or staff sessions are included
- Travel requirements
We offer flexible options for schools, including pilot workshops and extended programs.
Please get in touch for a custom quote tailored to your school community.
Where do you deliver programs?
The Whole Athlete Academy works with schools across Australia.
We offer:
- On-site school workshops
- Multi-session wellbeing programs
- Parent and staff presentations
Travel may apply for regional or interstate bookings.