The Australian Institute of Sport today called for applications for the first intake into its new Centre for Performance Coaching and Leadership, which aims to give emerging coaches and high performance sports leaders the best possible education and support to succeed.

Minister for Sport Kate Lundy said as well as delivering the world’s best approaches to learning and career development, the Centre will provide a forum for participants to discuss issues and find solutions to coaching and leadership challenges.

Part of the two year coaching program includes a unit delivered by the Melbourne Business School, Mt Eliza Executive Education, aimed at developing a coach’s leadership ability and a unit on improving communication delivered by the famous National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).

“Australia’s coaches are recognised across the globe for being world class. But, we must continue to innovate to keep Australia one step ahead of the competition,” Senator Lundy said.

“We want to develop a cutting edge program that challenges our best young coaches across all sports, which is why we have asked institutions like NIDA to be involved.

“When we launched Australia’s Winning Edge last year, which set out the blueprint for getting Australia back to the top of international sport, the Centre for Performance Coaching and Leadership was listed as a priority action.

“Australia has a great history of producing world best coaches and high performance administrators and the Centre will be looking to make sure the next generation are propertly supported and have access to tailor-made study programs and mentors.”

The programs, which will include residential components at the AIS in Canberra, study tours and individual assessment, will improve and formalise pathways for performance coaches and leaders.

Participants will also receive mentoring from the biggest names in coaching from various sports.

“A contemporary sports system is open to the ideas of coaches and high performance staff sharing knowledge,” Senator Lundy said.

“There is no reason a cricket, football or netball coach or leader cannot learn valuable lessons from a swimming, rowing or athletics coach or vice versa.”

The programs are designed for emerging coaches and high performance leaders in priority national sporting organisations who have the capacity and capability to deliver outstanding results for Australia.

Numbers are limited to a maximum of 15 coaches and 15 leaders each year.

The coach program will be delivered over a two year period while the leaders program will run for one year with the option of extending into a second year.