A program aimed at creating the coaches to guide our athletes in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics has delivered its first cohort or graduates.
Run in collaboration between the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), national sporting organisations and state sport institutes and academies, the National Gen32 Program provides early-career coaches a two-year paid internship within national sporting programs.
Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins said the initiative aimed at providing a pathway to the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games coaching ranks.
Mr Perkins said coaches representing 20 different sports gathered at the AIS in Canberra this week for their official graduation from the program.
“In order to have world best athletes who achieve incredible results you need exceptional and world class coaches,” he said.
“The Gen32 Coaches are on track to be just that. Over the past two years we have seen the former athletes and early career coaches blossom through experience in national sporting programs, with many in Paris to directly support their Olympians and Paralympians.
“Increasing the depth and diversity of our coaching ranks is key to Australian sport’s united vision to win well and create sustainable success in the lead up to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.”
Mr Perkins said 20 of the female coaches would undertake a third year of the Gen32 Program due to a $3.9 million funding boost provided by the Federal Government last year.
He said the funding was part of the drive to get more women into high performance coaching roles in Australian sport and supported the work being done by the AIS Women in High Performance Sport Action Plan.
