Minister for Sport Mark Arbib today welcomed the re-signing of Australian Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth, who was retained by Hockey Australia until 2014.

Senator Arbib said Charlesworth had long been regarded as one of Australia’s finest coaches.

“Ric Charlesworth’s achievements in hockey are second to none and his current record with the Kookaburras underlines his ability,” Senator Arbib said.

“His dedication to the role has seen the Kookaburras dominate on the world stage since he assumed the job following the Beijing Games.

“The next year is an important one for the Kookaburras as they look to turn their recent success into a gold medal in London and his re-signing will offer the group stability and continuity.”

The Australian Government is a strong supporter of Hockey, providing more than $6.7 million in annual funding to support the development of the sport at both the elite and grassroots level.

“It is pleasing to see that the Australian Government’s support through the Australian Institute of Sport is helping our sports retain world class coaches like Ric Charlesworth,” Senator Arbib said.

The Kookaburras and Hockeyroos were granted an additional $180,000 as part of the Green and Gold Project, which was set up to give Australian athletes and teams the best possible training and preparation ahead of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympics Games.

Following the conclusion of the London Games, Charlesworth will lead the Kookaburras to the 2014 World Cup in The Netherlands, while his last tournament will be the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.