The unexpected day jobs of Australia's female footballers
The dual lives that female athletes have to balance to play at an elite level and have a career is often forgotten.
Caitlin Reid, a 29-year-old surgical registrar at St Vincent's Hospital, juggles her demanding medical career with her role as a player in the Australian Women's Football League (AFLW). Reid, who grew up without exposure to women's football, discovered the sport while enrolled in medical school. She initially considered basketball but opted for AFLW after the NBL1 season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Reid's day begins at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) where she trains with the football team and afternoons are dedicated to the hospital, where she works as a surgical registrar. The AFLPA data shows that 3% of AFLW players work full-time outside of football, down from 6% last year, while 62% of the 540 players in the league work part-time or casual jobs.
Despite the demanding schedule, Reid finds a balance in her passion for both her medical career and her football career, stating, "I love my job at the hospital but I also love my job at the club."
Written by urgent.news from ABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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