Lynsey Clarke accepted into coaching apprenticeship
Right at Home Jackaroo and Queensland Pathways Coach Lynsey Clarke has been accepted into an Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) flagship national apprenticeship coaching program.
Clarke is one of 31 coaches among 22 sports to be recognised as Australian sport strives to become a world leader in coach development ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in Brisbane.
The selected pupils will benefit from paid two-year coaching apprenticeships as part of the inaugural National Generation 2032 Coach Program.
Launched yesterday at the Victorian Institute of Sport in Melbourne, the National Generation 2032 Coach Program is a joint initiative between the AIS, National Institute Network (NIN) partners, and National Sporting Organisations (NSOs).
Clarke said she was ecstatic to be part of such an elite group of coaches, that includes Olympic gold medallists Jared Tallent and Emily Barton, and aims to develop her skill set even further.
“I am so humbled and excited to have been selected as part of the national apprenticeship program, coaching is a real passion of mine and I look forward to developing my skills further,” Clarke said.
“Developing athletes and helping them realise their potential is something I strive for in my role and I cannot wait to discover more ways to assist my charges with their dreams.
“I would like to thank the AIS for accepting me, as well as Bowls Australia’s high performance staff including Gary Willis and Karen Murphy for their guidance.
“Finally, a big thanks must go to Rebecca Van Asch, who has been my guidance and number one supporter and in putting this application together, she has really given me the utmost belief in myself.”
AIS Acting Director Matti Clements is buoyed by the talent within the nation’s high performance outfits, and is eager for positive results that will pave the way for more international success in the future.
“Quality coaching is the foundation for sport at all levels, so it’s wonderful to see the Australian high performance sport system combining forces to develop the next generation of coaches who will guide Australian athletes on the world stage for many years to come,” Clements said.
“The aim is that coaches involved in this apprenticeship program will transition to become Australia’s coaching leaders of the future, and we’d hope to see many of them coaching in Brisbane 2032 and beyond.”
Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins OAM said the program is focused on enhancing the depth and diversity within Australia’s high performance coaching ranks.
“The future success of Australian athletes and sport relies heavily on identifying, developing and retaining our best coaching talent so we can build sustainable success,” Perkins said.
“We want Australia to be a world leader in coach development and this is a big step in that direction. The coaches in this inaugural program are immersed in high performance sporting environments to fast-track their progress. They’ll have guidance from a senior mentor coach, plus they’ll receive formal professional development and education through the AIS and participating NIN partners. It’s a national approach.
“This program also aims to help increase coach diversity across multiple sports. The under-representation of women in high performance coaching roles is common within international high performance sport, so it’s significant that 20 of the 31 places on this program are held by women coaches. Five part-time places on the program are reserved for women coaches enabling them to work flexibly while continuing their professional development.”
