Create an experience with Joel Thompson

ABOUT JOEL

Joel Thompson is a proud Ngiyampaa man from Ivanhoe, in far west NSW. 

Joel is an accomplished and highly respected Australian professional rugby league footballer having played 13 years in the National Rugby League (NRL). Joel also played for one season with the 2020 Championship Winners, St Helens R.F.C. in the Betfred Super League, which is the highest the top tier competition for rugby league in the United Kingdom.

The last club Joel played for in Australia was the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and he also represented the National Indigenous All-Stars from 2010-2020, having the honour of captaining the team in 2020.

Throughout Joels football career, Joel was selected as a board member for the Rugby League Players Association and was a proud member of the Indigenous Leadership Group, which played a major roll in advocating for change for Indigenous players in the NRL.

Joel has now retired from professional football and is currently working as a Business Development Manager and Indigenous Engagement for a Brisbane based railway company.

Off the field: A PASSION & PURPOSE TO HELP OTHERS 

Joel developed a mental health and wellbeing initiative in 2012 after discovering his passion in helping others through his own journey and transformation. 

MASTERING RESILIENCE.

Having grown-up in a remote community in NSW around domestic violence, unstable housing, and drug and alcohol abuse, his resulting self-destructive behaviour threatened to destroy his professional rugby career and personal relationships. He found himself struggling with his mental health over the years, even at the height of his success.

After a breakdown in 2011, Joel finally sought professional help. Taking the opportunity to address his demons, and through a lot of personal development work, he managed to develop the mindset he needed to reshape his own path, and the resilience to deal with setbacks. As a result of his hard work, his passion to help, and his personal understanding of a tough upbringing, Joel was invited to share his journey with many schools, sports clubs, cultural and business organisations over the last 8 years.

Joel has delivered countless workshops and facilitated events throughout regional and metro corporates and schools in NSW, ACT and QLD.

Through these speaking experiences, Joel  developed into an inspirational and motivational  key note speaker. 

HEAR JOEL THOMPSON'S STORY ON PICKSTAR'S OFF-FIELD PODCAST