AFHA WELCOMES SHAUN SPENCE TO THE TEAM

Born and raised in Griffith, New South Wales Shaun dreamed of playing professional rugby league.

In 2013 that dream came true as Shaun hit the field representing the Wests Tigers; only to have his dream tragically cut short after nine matches. Forced into early retirement as a result of multiple concussion injuries, Shaun quickly moved into thinking about his off-field career - and he was determined to make a positive impact in community through fundraising.

While part of the Wests program Shaun experienced what it was like to be an athlete in community and the impact he and his team mates could have. “I was always amazed at the impact that I could have, just by being introduced as an athlete and wearing our club polo.“

Providing support at a reading program for disadvantaged youth was an eye-opening experience Shaun will never forget.

”I vividly remember being part of a weekly reading program with disadvantaged youth and being told by the teachers that by having the program to look forward to each week, the children were incentivised to behave well and be engaged, which led to them improving their reading skills significantly. This showed me the important role that myself and other athletes could play and one that I wanted to continue to replicate,” said Spence.

Having worked in a number of fundraising roles post NRL retirement (Wests Tigers, Beyond Blue and the Hawthorn Football Club) Shaun has always had a passion for supporting mental health initiatives and people living with disability. A highlight for Shaun was coaching the Australian Physical Disability Rugby League team, where he still remains close with a number of the players.

Shaun garners great enjoyment through his impactful work, and it’s what excited him about joining the team at Athletes for Hope Australia as Growth and Partnerships Manager. “I have really enjoyed finding like minded people and discovering ways that we can partner together to create impact.”

Athletes for Hope Chief Impact Officer Julia Symons is thrilled to have Shaun join the team. “When we first spoke to Shaun about the role, it was clear that our vision, to ensure that every athlete has a sense of purpose and connection through community contribution, was something he personally identified and connected with. We're excited to have him join the team here at AFHA."

Written by Sally Phillips, Guest Writer & Director at AFHA