AIS Summit Program connects world-class coaches
When the Australian Diamonds walked off the court as the 2023 Netball World Cup champions, some of the first people head coach Stacey Marinkovich celebrated with were her fellow Summit coaches.
04 December 2023
When the Australian Diamonds walked off the court as the 2023 Netball World Cup champions, some of the first people head coach Stacey Marinkovich celebrated with were her fellow Summit coaches.
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Summit Program connects top coaches from across the country and provides them with cross-sport learning and development opportunities.
As an inaugural member, Stacey Marinkovich said it was a no-brainer to share her World Cup celebration with the close-knit group.
“It was really natural to contact the coaches that I've been sharing my journey with and to thank them for their contribution in enabling me to be better and to grow through our shared experiences and interactions,” she said.
The Queenslander recently joined the likes of Rohan Taylor and Myriam Fox in Brisbane for the annual AIS Summit camp, which saw 17 of Australia’s leading coaches connect and share learnings from across the system.
"It's a real privilege to be in an environment where there's such knowledge and expertise in the room,” she said.
Australia's top coaches attend 2023 AIS Summit Workshop in Brisbane. Back row, from left, Brad Ness, Adrian Hinchliffe, Belinda Stowell, Stacey Marinkovich, Neil Craig, Mike Barber, Rohan Taylor, Alan McConnell, Paul Perkins, middle row, Myriam Fox, Tracey Menzies-Stegbauer, Laing Harrow, Dan Atkins, front row, Rob Hammond, Gene Bates, Mathew Helm, Louise Sauvage.
Coach wellbeing was a hot topic of conversation throughout the camp, as were preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“It's a very stressful time for a lot of us being so close to the Olympics and Paralympics, so I think having these connections will be very important,” Paralympic legend and wheelchair racing coach Louise Sauvage OAM said.
“We all know what we’re all going through, so to be able to check in and see how everyone is going and offer some support, but also to have them do the same for you will be unbelievable in the lead up to and at the Games.”
Olympic Sailor and AIS Coach Development Lead Belinda Stowell said the support network provided through the program is helping coaches thrive.
“Sometimes coaching feels really lonely because you're the one up there making the final decisions, so to have people that really understand your world and to support you and say, ‘you've got this’ or ‘we're here for you’, I think is something very special.”
Learn more about the AIS Summit Program.
