The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) will host the inaugural National Talent Identification and Development (NTID) program’s coaching conference taking place in Canberra from 15 to 16 June 2010.

In a first for Australian sport, the ASC’s NTID coaching conference will bring together 80 specialist pre-elite coaches and sport experts, providing them with an opportunity to network, share ideas and expertise with their peers on the key theme of ‘talent’ identification.

A key goal of the NTID conference is to support and reinforce an integrated training and development pathway for emerging Australian coaches (in full-time, part-time, casual and volunteer roles) through the national talent network.

General Manager of the ASC’s NTID program Dr Jason Gulbin says it’s an exciting time for the evolution of coaching in national talent identification, which is a key focus of the Australian Government’s new vision for sport: Australian sport: Pathways to Success.

‘This NTID conference recognises that Australian coaches play a crucial role in supporting and bridging gaps in the delivery of talent identification and development programs and ‘pre elite’ sporting pathways,’ Dr Gulbin said.

‘Now more than at any other time in Australian sport, there is unprecedented focus and resources dedicated to reinvigorating our ‘whole of sport’ pathways through talent identification.

‘The Australian Government’s whole-of-sport approach: Australian sport: pathways to success will provide a tremendous boost to strengthening talent identification sporting pathways from grassroots to elite levels.

‘This conference aims to challenge, inspire and unite Australia’s leading pre-elite coaches coming through the talent identification development pathway.’

Program highlights will include fascinating presentations and case studies ranging from talent recruitment processes for the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Ballet School, talent selection in the past, present and future, technological support for coaches and athletes and exploring future NTID themes.

The conference will provide participants with new strategies and ideas on strengthening the national talent identification system, well as facilitate continuous improvement and learning in coaching. 

Invited conference participants include NTID pre-elite coaches and targeted NSO representatives.