Spotlight session: Introduction and Welcome – Richard McInnes (Australian Sports Commission EGM – Sport and Community Capability) - 9-9.40am

The ASC welcomes all attendees to Day 2 of the 2025 Coaching and Officiating Conference. We look forward to learning with you today. We spend time this morning connecting with our fellow attendees through a guided connection activity.

Keynote: Values based leadership – Steve Hocking – 9.40-10.40am

Steve Hocking, CEO of the Geelong Cats, has spent decades shaping AFL and AFLW through his visionary leadership. A driving force behind some of Geelong’s greatest successes, including their 2022 Premiership, Steve will explore how guiding principles drives high performance and builds sustainable success in teams and organisations.

Self-directed activities – All day

On Day 2, we encourage attendees to participate in some of the self-directed facilities on offer. Topics range from operationalising mentoring in community sport to coaching and officiating neuro diverse participants. Space is available to collaborate, problem solve with others and share your reflections on topics of interest.

Human centred design in practice – ASC Coaching and Officiating – 11-12pm

The ASC Coaching and Officiating team will facilitate an interactive session on human centered design and how it can be applied to development opportunities for coaches and officials. This session will include insights and learnings from the development and delivery of the Womens Mentor Program. This session will be facilitator guided and attendee led with a focus on reflection, collaboration and building understanding.

Walk and Talk: What's holding us back? – ASC Coaching and Officiating – 11-11.40am

The ASC Coaching and Officiating team and EGM of Sport and Community Capability, Richard McInnes will lead a guided light walk around the grounds GMHBA Stadium to consider and reflect on the topic of “What’s holding us back”. This session will be facilitator guided and attendee led with an emphasis on discussion and reflection.

Supporting coaches to play more games – Jack Rolfe – 11-12.20pm

Jack Rolfe, Coach consultant, will facilitate a physical workshop on the neighboring Kardinia Park netball courts to explore the role of games in coaching and how they can be used to positively impact participant experience. This session will be facilitator guided with an emphasis on practical application of theory.

Bookings are essential for this session. Please ensure you register through the booking portal, opens in a new tab. Registered attendees will be notified when registrations are open for this session.

Fishbowl: Holistic Development – Anita Keelan – 11-11.20am

Anita Keelan, Head Coach of Pathways at Netball Australia, will share her insights into holistic development and the impact on athlete experience. This session will be speaker led with an opportunity for audience members to participate in the conversation. This session will have an emphasis on discussion and storytelling.

Fishbowl: Coaching and officiating as a means of social connection – Swimming Australia – 11.20-11.40am

Swimming Australia will share their insights into how coaching and officiating can be used to support social connection. This session will be speaker led with an opportunity for audience members to participate in the conversation. This session will have an emphasis on discussion and storytelling.

Inclusive and healing centred sport– Welcoming Clubs – 11:20-12pm

Welcoming Clubs Acting Manager Kate Thomas team will facilitate an interactive workshop for attendees to develop their understanding of the needs and requirements of diverse populations to engage in sport, specifically how coaching and officiating shapes experiences. This session will be facilitator guided and attendee led with an emphasis on storytelling, collaboration and building understanding.

Where do I start? Starting from Scratch – Diving Australia – 11.20-12pm

Diving Australia will explore their journey in beginning to adopt the Modern Approach to coaching and officiating. This session will be speaker led with an opportunity for group discussions and questions. This session will have an emphasis on reflection, building understanding and storytelling.

Leading organisational change – Surf Life Saving Australia – 11.20-12pm

Surf Life Saving Australia will explore how leaders can support and influence change within their organisations, specifically elevating the profile of coaching and officiating and building the case for change. This session will be speaker led with an opportunity for group discussions and questions. This session will have an emphasis on practical strategies, building understanding and process development.

Fishbowl: Coach and Official Relationships – Waterpolo Australia – 11.40-12pm

Waterpolo Australia will share their insights into how organisations and individuals can build positive and collaborative relationships between coaches and officials. This session will be speaker led with an opportunity for audience members to participate in the conversation. This session will have an emphasis on discussion and storytelling.

Operationalising communities of practice – Paralympics Australia – 12-12.40pm

Paralympics Australia will facilitate an interactive workshop to explore how organisations can operationalise communities of practice and social learning in a meaningful way. This session will be facilitator guided and attendee led with a focus on problem solving and collaboration.

Capability frameworks for development of the workforce – ASC High-Performance Coaching – 12-12.40pm

The ASC High-Performance Coaching team will facilitate an interactive workshop to develop attendee understanding on the development and use of capability frameworks. This session will be facilitator guided and attendee led with an emphasis on problem solving, implementable strategies and collaboration.

Managing requirements of International Federations – American Football Australia – 12-12.40pm

American Football Australia will explore their journey in managing expectations and requirements of International Federations as they work to modernise their approach to coaching and officiating. This session will be speaker led with an opportunity for group discussions. This session will have an emphasis on practical strategies and storytelling.

Developing and implementing a new coaching framework – Basketball Australia – 12-1pm

Basketball Australia will share their insights in developing and implementing a new coaching framework. This session will be speaker led with an opportunity for group discussions. This session will have an emphasis on processes and reflection.

Fishbowl: Meaningful safeguarding development – Sport Integrity Australia – 12-12.20pm

Sport Integrity Australia will share their insights into how organisations can create meaningful safeguarding development pathways to keep people in sport safe. This session will be speaker led with an opportunity for audience members to participate in the conversation. This session will have an emphasis on discussion and sharing insights.

Fishbowl: Bystander behaviour and supporting officials – Meredith McGill – 12.20-12.40pm

Meredith McGill, Community Manager of Spartans Basketball in Brisbane will share insights from her work in addressing bystander behaviour to improve experiences for officials. This session will be speaker led with an opportunity for audience members to participate in the conversation. This session will have an emphasis on storytelling and insights.

Fishbowl: What does it mean to be an inclusive coach? – Disability Sports Australia – 12.40-1pm

Disability Sports Australia will explore inclusive practices in coaching to support more people to enjoy and find belonging in sport. This session will be speaker led with an opportunity for audience members to participate in the conversation. This session will have an emphasis on discussion and insights.

Keynote: The impact of participant centred coaching – Leah Englund and Grace Gaby – 1.20-2.20pm

What keeps participants engaged in sport for over a decade? Great coaching. Leah Englund and Grace Gaby’s 14-year partnership is proof of how trust, connection and participant-centred coaching can keep people in the game. Leah’s coaching philosophy at Zodiacs Gymnastics Club has helped participants like Grace thrive—through injuries, life changes and competitive success. Their story highlights why participant-centred coaching is critical to retention, growth and lifelong participation in sport.

Yarning Circle: What is holistic coaching? – ASC Coaching and Officiating – 2.20-3.20pm

The ASC Coaching and Officiating team will facilitate a yarning circle around the grounds of Kardinia Park, “Kardinia” is derived from a word in the local Wadawrrung language that means ‘morning’ or ‘new beginning’. This session will explore what makes an engaging learning environment. This session will be facilitator guided and attendee led with an emphasis on storytelling and reflection.

Adoption of the Modern Approach – AFL – 2.20-3pm

The AFL will share insights from their journey in the adoption of the Modern Approach, the motivation for change, challenges faced along the way and what this change means for the sport. This session will be speaker led with an opportunity for group discussion, this session will have an emphasis on sharing and reflecting insights.

Culture change and creating respectful environments – ASC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – 2.20-3.20pm

The ASC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team will explore insights and strategies to support coaches and officials in creating respectful environments in sport. This session will be speaker led with opportunities for group collaboration and discussion. This session will have an emphasis on sharing insights, building understanding and collaboration.

Facilitation in Practice – Swimming Australia, Bowls Australia, Sport NSW and ASC Coaching and Officiating – 2.20-3.20pm

The ASC Coaching and Officiating team, Swimming Australia, Bowls Australia and Sport NSW will explore the impact of effective facilitation, operational requirements and building capability. This session will include both panel and workshop elements, with an emphasis on building understanding, reinforcing learning and collaboration.

Supporting coaches to play more games – Jack Rolfe – 2.20-3.40pm

Jack Rolfe, Coach consultant, will facilitate a physical workshop on the neighbouring Kardinia Park netball courts on the role of games in coaching and how they can be used to positively impact participant experience. This session will be facilitator guided with an emphasis on practical application of theory.

Bookings are essential for this session. Please ensure you register through our booking portal, opens in a new tab secure a place. Registered attendees will be notified when registrations are open for this session.

Keynote: Storytelling for Influence – Ann Oodong – 3.40-4.40pm

Ann Odong’s groundbreaking career as a media manager and advocate has redefined women’s football in Australia. From founding The Women’s Game to leading the Matildas’ media strategy, Ann’s influence has been profound. Her keynote will highlight the power of storytelling to elevate women’s sport, amplify underrepresented voices and create lasting change.

Spotlight session: Day 2 Summary – ASC Coaching and Officiating 4.40-5pm

The Coaching and Officiating team thank all attendees for their engagement and contributions on Day 2. We reflect on topics discussed and key learnings from todays conference program.