As part of National Careers Week, we are celebrating the many pathways’ athletes can pursue alongside elite sport and highlighting the importance of developing identity, skills, and passions beyond competition. This week shines a spotlight on inspiring individuals who are balancing high-performance sport with meaningful careers and study opportunities.

One of those athletes is Laura Hingston, one of Australia’s top 10-metre platform divers who has built an impressive career both in and out of the pool. Alongside her diving commitments, Laura works as a freelance professional speaker, presenter, and broadcast journalist, combining her passion for storytelling, performance, and elite sport to inspire audiences across Australia.

Tell us a little about your work outside of diving.

Outside of diving, I work as a professional speaker, presenter, and qualified broadcast journalist. Where I can, around training commitments, I work in broadcast for major sporting events, like working as an Associate Producer for the Olympics, which gives me a real appreciation for elite sport from a different angle. I also MC events and deliver keynote presentations across a wide range of audiences and topics, from speaking to young students in schools about resilience, all the way through to business leaders on high-performance mindset. In many ways, it all connects back to diving. The mental and physical skills I've developed in the water directly inform the conversations I have during my work.

How did you get into it and what led you in that direction?

I actually wanted to be a doctor! But starting university and a brand-new sport at the same time, I knew I'd be stretched too thin, and I was determined to give diving a real go. Working with the VIS, we looked at my other interests, and I was fascinated by television and media, so that's where journalism came into the picture.

University really challenged me. I was naturally a maths and science student, but I enjoyed being challenged. Alongside my studies, I started delivering presentations to schools through the VIS Be Fit Be Well program, and I found I really loved speaking to a live audience. That experience was where I first developed my skills in storytelling and presenting, and in many ways, it set the foundation for everything I do on stage today.

How do you juggle the requirements of elite diving and work?

It comes down to planning and proactive communication with my support team. Freelancing by nature can be unpredictable, but by working closely with my coach and the people around me, we can map things out in a way that keeps me on track both in and out of the pool.

Some weeks the balance is harder to find than others — I won't pretend otherwise! But honestly, having a career outside of diving has been crucial for me as a person. It gives me perspective, purpose, and an identity beyond the sport, which I think ultimately makes me a better athlete too.

What would you say to someone starting out in elite diving and maybe nearing the end of school who is looking at career options and combining it with sport?

First, sit down and work out what you enjoy and where your passions lie. But also know that you don't need to have it all figured out — you just need to take those first steps to set you on your way.

Pursuing a dual career will make you a better athlete and person. The skills, discipline, and perspective you build outside of the pool feed directly back into your performance and mental wellbeing.

And honestly, I still don't know exactly what my dream job looks like, and that's okay! Follow your passions, say yes to opportunities that align with your values, and trust that you will end up exactly where you're meant to be.

Anything else you would like to share with us?

I wouldn't be where I am without the people around me — Diving Australia (DA), Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS), my coaches, my family, and my friends. They've not only supported my diving but encouraged me to pursue who I am beyond the sport. That kind of holistic support is something I don't take for granted, and I'd encourage all athletes to lean into the expertise of the people who are there to support them. You don't have to figure it all out alone.

Also, athlete identity is something our sporting community is talking about more and more, and rightly so. So much of a young athlete's sense of self gets wrapped up in their sport and results, and when that ends, it can be really confronting. Having a career alongside diving has meant I've always had more than one answer to the question, “Who are you?” And I think that's made me a happier person and, honestly, a better competitor.