Women in High Performance Coaching
Our Mission
The Women in High Performance Coaching (WiHPC) Project is a key initiative that seeks to increase representation, retention and visibility of women in high performance coaching by driving system change through the Leaky Pipeline Action Plan.
Our Objectives
The WiHPC Project has three objectives.
1.Increase representation The initiative seeks to enhance the number and visibility of women in high performance coaching roles, aiming for a more balanced and inclusive coaching ecosystem by 2032.
2.Address systemic barriers WiHPC focuses on identifying and dismantling cultural and systemic structural barriers that hinder women’s development and progression in coaching careers.
3.Develop supportive pathways The project emphasises creating sustainable pathways for women coaches, including mentorship programs, flexible work arrangements, and targeted leadership development.
Why this work matters!!
Coaching is central to Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy—and the AIS is backing elite coach development to deliver excellence. Great coaches shape athlete, team and program success; lifting women’s representation and experience is essential to a world-class high performance system.
“We must be more inclusive and take action to remove the complexity and challenges facing women coaches.” Matti Clements, Executive General Manager, AIS Performance
The Representation Gap Female athletes represent 50% of our elite athletes, yet approximately 20% of our Head Coaches of HP funded sports are women. This isn't just a statistical imbalance; it represents a systemic loss of talent known as the “Leaky Pipeline”.
Performance delivery Incorporating women coaches diversifies our training approach. Their unique perspectives including female specific health and performance understanding enhance our ability to support athletes effectively.
Athlete performance pathways Having women coaches in HP enhances athlete development programs, embodies inclusion, and ensures a robust pipeline towards podium success and beyond.
World leading knowledge + practice Diverse coaching teams that include women coaches enrich our expertise and knowledge base and keep Australia at the forefront of global sports advancements.
Outstanding people + organisations Increasing women coaches showcases our commitment to diversity and inclusion. By nurturing their talents, we maximise human potential, strengthen internal cohesion and enhance our reputation and ability to attract and retain top talent.
Performance and Innovation Diverse coaching teams bring a wider range of perspectives that drive creativity, adaptability, and better decision-making. This initiative is a foundational enabler of Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.
The Four Strategic Levers of Change
Targeted initiatives and interventions are based upon the Four Strategic Levers of Change.
These levers have been identified based upon what is working and what we need to continue to amplify to Win Well.
The 2032 Vision
By dismantling systemic barriers and building supportive pathways, we move closer to our 2032 vision: a system where we no longer distinguish "women coaches," but simply talk about "coaches". Supporting women in coaching isn't just about equity; it is about honouring our "Win Well" pledge to be custodians of a sport system that is inclusive, representative, and world-leading.
Resource HUB for Women in HP Coaching
The following webpages you will find a range of resources, toolkit and reports. We encourage you to take a journey through the resources and share within your network and contacts.
