We are committed to enriching wellbeing in high performance sport environments that empower and support individuals to optimise their potential and enhance their ability to thrive in sporting and non-sporting lives. We promote an ecological systems model for elite athlete mental health and wellbeing as represented in the below diagram.
Wellbeing Programme
Our focus is to ensure that we work system-wide in partnership with NSOs to strive for wellbeing in the same way we strive for podium success.
We believe that being on a high performance pathway should be a rewarding experience. We are focused on growing people and ensuring every individual is empowered to make choices and have their voice heard at every stage of their pathway. The guiding principles that are central to our Wellbeing Programme include transparency (matapihi), inclusion (kūaha) and continuous growth (papa).
We have grounded our narrative using Te Whare Tapa Whā, to articulate what wellbeing means to us, in our unique part of the world.
Wellbeing Programme team
Antoinette (Toni) Minniti
Wellbeing and Engagement Lead
Antoinette (Toni) Minniti, Ph.D., CPsychol, is the Wellbeing and Engagement Lead at High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ). She is a Chartered Psychologist with The British Psychological Society, a registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council, and a full Member of the American Psychological Association. Her previous roles have included clinical work and mental health advocacy, as well as scholarly, academic and regulatory positions. Prior to her role at HPSNZ, she was the Director of the Office of Continuing Education Sponsor Approval at the American Psychological Association for nine years, and before that she was at Nottingham Trent University for 10 years with her final post as Interim Head of Sport Science. She was a competitive runner for 30 years and continues to run most days for her daily dose of wellbeing.
Bruna Lima
Wellbeing Programme Advisor
Bruna Lima serves as a wellbeing programme advisor within the Wellbeing Programme at High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ). As a registered psychologist in New Zealand, she brings applied experience to her role, focusing on the mental health and wellbeing of athletes and staff involved in high performance sport. In her capacity at HPSNZ, Bruna is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of targeted projects that enhance the Wellbeing Programme. She collaborates closely with National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) and other stakeholders to ensure best practices in wellbeing are upheld across the sporting community. Also, Bruna contributes to the creation and implementation of guidance materials and processes designed to support individuals as they progress in sporting organisations. She plays a significant role in developing wellbeing guidance across different processes, ensuring that psychological health is prioritised during key transitions.