NSWIS support NSW Government’s vision for women in sport

In line with the NSW Government’s release of the Her Sport Her Way strategy, the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) has emphasised its ongoing commitment to supporting positive change for women and girls in sport.

The newly announced four-year strategy incorporates a continued partnership between NSWIS and the State Government to attract, develop, retain and progress high performance female coaches in New South Wales.

NSWIS CEO Professor Kevin Thompson spoke about the Institute’s continued focus on women in sport.

“We share the NSW Government’s vision to increase female participation across all areas of sport”, he said.

“NSWIS has long-supported a workplace environment that is representative of the community it serves, and we are confident the new strategy will help to see this represented across the entire industry”.

Women currently represent more than 50% of the Institute’s athlete scholarship holders and over 40% of the coaching network. Over the past eight financial years between 44% & 51% of NSWIS employees have been female.

Thompson continued, “We are proud to have illustrated equality across our workforce and athlete scholarship holders, with some of our female coaches among the world’s best in their respective fields”.

In 2018 alone, Myriam Fox – recently named NSWIS Coach of the Year – led Jessica Fox to victory in the K1 and C1 Canoe Slalom World Championship while Louise Savage – Sport NSW’s Coach of the Year – was crucial to Madison de Rozario claiming two Commonwealth Games gold medals and winning the London Marathon.

In August, Thomas Cornish broke the World Record to become Junior World Champion in the 1km Time-Trial event, with the 18-year-old dedicating much of his success to long-term coach Jenny Triggs.

Meanwhile, the Institute has been active in looking to develop the next generation of world class female coaches, engaging a number of current athletes and supporting their gradual transition into the next phase of their sporting lives.

Commonwealth Games Champions Melissa Wu (diving) and Kaarle McCulloch (track cycling) have begun part-time coaching duties with NSWIS talent groups while former mogul skier Nicole Parks recently started her coaching career in association with Ski and Snowboard Australia.

Her Sport Her Way was developed by the NSW Government following consultation with almost 800 sports, stakeholders and industry thought leaders. To download a copy, visit www.sport.nsw.gov.au.