Athlete Support Advisor

The purpose of an Athlete Support Advisor is to help athletes combine sporting goals with education, career and other life aspirations and encouraging athletes to succeed both on and off the sporting stage. Each AUT Sports Excellence Scholarship recipient has access to an Athlete Advisor who co-ordinates career, educational and professional development support to assist athletes to better manage their personal, study and sporting commitments and prepare them for life after sport. In conjunction the AUT Athlete Advisor will refer where appropriate students to AUT's extensive student support services network.

Athlete Support Advisors offer support on -

• Career planning and development for athletes
• Assistance when arranging time off from studies because of sporting commitments (in conjunction with AUT Student Support Services)
• Advice with setting goals for study, sport and life balance
• Employment information and tips
• Referral to other AUT services particularly AUT Student Support Services
• Referral to external agencies
• Advice on time management and educational guidance

AUT Athlete Advisor is.

• Lusi Atiga

Lusi Atiga

NZ Academy ACE Advisor, Career Counsellor

AUT’s athlete’s advisor and mother of All Black Ben Atiga

Lusi through her role at AUT has watched with great interest the development of players like All Black Joe Rokocoko, Super 12 rugby players Paul Williams and Brent Ward as well as Rugby League Warriors such as Motu Tony and Ali Lauiti'iti. Her association with these guys has lead to an appreciation of the difficulty of obtaining a good balance between study and a sporting career.

She feels time management is the key to obtain the right balance and is very willing to help any athlete who needs support in this area. She will work alongside the athlete exploring career options and giving educational guidance together with job search strategies, and of course the best ways to use timetables and diaries. She is adamant that the fun aspects of life must be considered as an important part of the daily routine.

Lusi has personal understanding of the pressurised lifestyle of international players. Her son Ben Atiga was called up as a replacement for the All Blacks during their 2003 World Cup campaign. In the same year he capped off a stunning rugby youth apprenticeship with the world champion NZ Rugby Colts team. Ben is now an integral part of the Auckland Blues franchise and continues his studies via the AUT and Auckland Blues education partnership.

To make an appointment phone 921-9899.

Email: lusi.atiga@aut.ac.nz