PICTURED: Scone's Nicolle Western will undertake a performance triathlon course with the help of Australian Government
funding through the 2018 Women Leaders in Sport program.
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, together with Federal Sports Minister, Senator Bridget McKenzie, have congratulated a local Scone triathlete on her successful bid for funding through the 2018 Women Leaders in Sport program.
“I am pleased to announce that Nicolle Western has received $1500 for a Performance Coaching Course through this Australian Government initiative,” Mr Joyce said.
“The triathlon coaching course will deliver the equivalent of level two instruction for Nicolle to develop her skills for the benefit of talented local athletes in the Upper Hunter, particularly those competing at state and national level.”
Ms Western said the course will complement her existing coaching work undertaken with the Hunter Academy of Sport.
“We have about 10 athletes from Scone in that program,” she said.
The course, hosted by the Australian Institute of Sport in May, will also bode well for the Scone community which Ms Western said is aiming to start its own triathlon club in time for next season.
“I want to be able to offer local competitors the same level of high level coaching as metropolitan areas,” she added.
Minister McKenzie announced more than $210,000 in grants for the 2018 Women Leaders in Sport program which provides women with development opportunities to reach their leadership potential in the sports industry.
“More than 300 women from every Australian state and territory, and across 37 different sports, will directly benefit from the expanded Women Leaders in Sport program in 2018,” Minister McKenzie said.
“This funding includes grants to 68 projects, enabling almost 240 athletes, coaches and officials to attend professional development courses in their chosen fields.
“It has been fantastic to see the rise of women’s sport in recent years through professional leagues in AFL, cricket, netball and football, among many other sports. The Women Leaders in Sport program continues the Australian Government’s commitment to helping women pursue their ambitions across other areas of our sporting industry.
“Australian Paralympic Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin, Australian cricket representative Alex Blackwell and Paralympic gold medal swimmer Prue Watt are among the 60 individuals who have been given a grant to pursue professional development courses in leadership, management and governance.”
The Women Leaders in Sport Program is jointly funded by the Australian Sports Commission and the Office for Women. The program has helped more than 23,000 women since its inception.
(ENDS)