The annual multi-day event is part of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Summit program, which provides high performance coaches with cross-sport learning opportunities and an ongoing support network.

Wheelchair Track and Road Coach Louise Sauvage said sharing stories from the recent Olympic and Paralympic Games was particularly beneficial for the growth not only of head coaches but also those aspiring to be head coaches in the future.

“To be with everyone following Paris and everyone else’s competitions is fantastic. To hear the reflections of everyone and what we’ve all been through allows us to learn from it and take everything going forward,” Sauvage said.

For Australian Netball Coach Stacy Marinkovic, who like Sauvage has been in the program since it began in 2022, coming together to share insights with fellow coaches is something she looks forward to every year.

“To be able to come into an environment full of coaching expertise, lived experiences and with a group of people that are open, prepared to share, and engage for the betterment of others, is a highlight to my year,” Marinkovic said.

This year’s summit hosted 26 coaches across 20 sports with dedicated women’s learning groups and elements inspired by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions

such as information-sharing circles, storytelling and yarning.

Australian Diving Coach Adrian (Ady) Hinchliffe believes the First Nations traditions had a powerful impact on fostering a sense of belonging and vulnerability.

“The yarns are just so on the moment and not scripted. They’re very real, and there’s so much learning that can take place when you behave like that,” Hinchliffe said.

Having originally coached in Britain, Hinchliffe is grateful to the AIS Summit Program for connecting him with friends he now considers his coaching family.

“It’s about connection and feeling part of something bigger than myself or my sport. It opens up a sense of belonging to Team Australia and helped me make friendships that will go way beyond my coaching career,” he added.

While coaches dedicate their careers to enhancing the performance of others, the AIS Summit Program provides professional and personal support to enhance the performance of our coaches – an essential step for success leading into Brisbane 2032.