Coach and Official Profiles
Sharon Hannan - Athletics Coach
Creating supportive environments for women and girls
From regional Little Athletics to Olympic gold medallists, Sharon Hannan’s coaching journey runs the full gamut.
Sharon began coaching in Far North Queensland around 40 years ago when her 9-year-old daughter’s Little Athletics session changed from the weekend to a weekday afternoon. The venue was too far from Sharon’s work to get there on time. Several other families were in the same situation, so together they started their own Cairns-based Little Athletics. This led to an opportunity to take a coaching course, and Sharon never looked back.
Now a High Performance Sprints and Hurdles Coach, Sharon and her husband Peter run a track and field coaching business on the Gold Coast for both junior and champion athletes. This includes Olympic gold medal hurdler Sally Pearson and national champion and Olympic hurdler Liz Clay.
"Coaching is so rewarding on a number of fronts. The young kids, they absolutely go off when they do something really well. And to see young or older people do personal bests or master a technique, wow that feels amazing,” says Sharon.
Sharon encourages everyone to celebrate each other’s successes, “Every day there’s achievements. While not everyone gets to go to nationals, they’ll always high five each other and say well done when someone’s done a great job".
Creating this supportive environment – especially for women and girls – also means ensuring respect through clear expectations.
"For example, I don’t accept swearing. I just say ‘Oi!’ and they know it’s not tolerated. I think you have to have your language radar up all the time – listen to how boys speak to girls, and vice versa, and ask them to modify if need be."
Another important aspect is having respectful boundaries for squad members’ behaviour towards each other. Sharon says despite sometimes being surprised at first, the “kids respond really well to boundaries”.
"When chatting with other coaches, I highlight the small ways that their daily training environments can be enhanced by keeping an eye on behaviours that may not necessarily be derogatory, but that can be belittling, unsettling, non-inclusive, or dismissive of another squad member."
In addition, Sharon buddies up new starters to make sure no one is excluded.
"It's not just boys that I’m reminding about ways and means of being more inclusive. Sometimes even if they’re not excluding, the girls don’t realise they’re not including someone new. So, I put kids of like mind, similar age if possible, and interest together, to encourage them to talk with the new athlete."
This contributes to an environment where athletes look out for each other, including those who might be struggling, injured or unwell.
There are also 2 simple sports rules – no false starts and run an extra metre each time, to make sure they don’t pull up short. As well as reinforcing expected behaviours, this prepares the athletes for competition.
After 4 decades of helping athletes reach their potential, Sharon’s love of coaching is as strong as ever: "Everything about coaching is just happiness personified".
Josh Ungerer - Water polo coach
Supporting girls to build self-confidence and develop their skills
Growing up in South Africa, John Ungerer began participating in water polo at high school. Over 4 years, Josh represented his school’s 1st side 150 times, setting a school record and receiving honours for his achievement and contribution to the game. He also developed good relationships with the coaching staff.
"That was something that was very rewarding for me - building on that communication and the positive relations that can be developed from that. And I think that very organically led to me to wanting to repeat that and become a coach myself," says Josh.
Now an experienced coach and teacher, Josh is a selector and assistant development coach for Water Polo Queensland's 14 & U Girls Development Squad. The program prepares the athletes for their competitive journey.
As a male coach of a teenage girls who are more used to female coaches, Josh is mindful of taking the right approach.
"In some areas of youth sport, there are negative connotations around the stereotype of a shouty, aggressive male coach, so I consciously steer myself away from that."
Instead, he actively models positive behaviour: "I role model my interactions in a very positive and calm way, and display to them that they can have male coaches who are going to treat them respectfully and help to create a positive experience".
The development squad training includes working on tactical understanding and skill development. This means making time during training sessions for conversations with the girls to pinpoint any challenges that might be holding them back.
"It's rewarding helping with problem solving,” says Josh. “I enjoy guiding them to understand the challenge or problem, and then working with them to solve it – to move through it and unlock something that they didn't have previously."
He has found that involving the team in planning their training also creates a sense of agency among the squad.
"This quickly promotes a sense of confidence that their ideas and thoughts are valued."
Similarly, involving the girls in goal setting is important to create ownership and help them define what success means to them.
"It's good to have very achievable, bite sized goals that they can at reach by the end of a session, and that they can build on over a series of weeks of training plans."
As with any group of teenagers, sometimes social pressures and friction among the team can become an issue. Josh has found that rather than trying to handle social or cultural issues in isolation, it can be helpful to involve others, such as a sports coordinator, in more difficult conversations with the team and their parents.
Coaching for Josh is a process of constant review, and he regularly seeks feedback on his training sessions and coaching.
Alex Zarb - Canoe Slalom Coach
Not your average girl band – encouraging teenagers to learn whitewater skills
Canoe slalom is not traditionally a sport that attracts young teen girls. However, interest is increasing thanks to the visibility of champions like Jessica Fox and programs like the Slay Squad at Western Sydney Whitewater Club. The squad is a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to get more girls involved in this whitewater sport.
"efore Jess, no one really knew about the sport, but now more girls realise it’s just not random paddling on the river but an actual sport they can fall in love with," says Slay Squad coach Alex Zarb.
True to its slogan, Not your average girl band, the Slay Squad empowers young girls to try something new, learn whitewater skills and hone their confidence on the water.
"Girls can tend to define themselves as sporty or not, which can be a barrier,’ says Alex. “What we try to do is communicate that it doesn’t matter your level of fitness, we just try to get them to come out and give it go, enjoy the water and make some new friends. It’s always about the community, that’s what we try to grow."
Developing a supportive environment for teenage girls – who have a lot going on socially, physically and emotionally – is a big part of Alex’s approach to coaching. This includes letting the girls talk about their day for the first few minutes of a training session.
"They have so much on their mind if they’ve come straight from school, so it helps to just allow a little time for all the talking and socialising that they need to do. This also helps create the bond between them all."
Building confidence and self-belief is also key. To help with this, Alex talks through what the girls find challenging or feel anxious about, reassuring them that she is there to support them every step of the way.
"Some girls put so much pressure that they have to be good straight away – but everyone does everything at a different pace. So, it’s always about trying to find those aspects they are good at and focus on those, while slowly progressing to add the other skills."
Achieving this requires Alex to adapt her approach to suit each girl’s individual thinking patterns and how they respond to different situations.
"You can see who’s a bit more reserved, who’s not as shy, who has less fear factor and who needs that bit extra to help them push through. Words can’t even describe how good it is to see them achieve something, especially if it’s something they are scared of initially."
While the sport is still male dominated, changes like the Slay Squad program and having more female coaches and role models, are starting to create a less intimidating and more inclusive environment for girls.
Based on the success of the Slay Squad, Western Sydney Whitewater Club is starting a second round of the initiative to inspire even more girls to participate and progress in the sport.
Isabel O'Callaghan - North Brisbane Weightlifting Association athlete and Olympic weightlifting coach
Supporting women of all ages to find their strength
Isabel O’Callaghan never expected to be a coach.
She attended a weekly Crossfit class during university, as exercise helped with her mental health. After a few years, she was invited to help coach a children’s class.
"I decided I'd like to be able to learn and help, and to show kids and the younger females that it's pretty cool to be strong," says Isabel.
Isabel met her now husband at the same gym, and he became a mentor and coach for her, encouraging her interest in both competing and coaching. Now she’s an active member of the Queensland Weightlifting Association, competitor and coach for women of all ages.
Isabel enjoys seeing girls gain in strength and hopes to offer them the opportunity and support to pursue sport as a career, while for the older women she says, "it's absolutely insane seeing women in their 60s and 70s lift weights above their heads"
"I love watching people’s confidence grow. Coaching to me isn't just about directing someone how to perform a movement. It's about being a positive role model and offering support to help them reach their goals – whether that's learning new skills, being able to compete at an elite level, or getting out of the house once or twice a week to a safe space."
From her own learning experience, Isabel understands the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment where no one feels judged as they learn the basics and improve at their own pace.
"I always start by having a chat about their history and their personal goals – it's about starting a discussion and establishing a relationship. They might have been an elite athlete and they’re coming back from giving birth, or they might be going through menopause. You figure out where they’re at and educate yourself about how you can help them achieve their goals."
This requires a good understanding of their individual physiology, such as their body proportions, mobility and risks of injury, and always focusing on technique before weight.
The other essential skill is learning how to communicate with people.
"Communication is a skill in itself and learning when to encourage someone to push their boundaries versus when to encourage them just to move can be a huge turning point in a relationship between coach and athlete. This all comes back to their personal goals and having an understanding of their general day-to-day mental and physical state, which is beneficial for long-term results."
In May this year, Isabel took another step in her coaching career, beginning the Women’s Mentor Pilot Program, funded by the Australian Sports Commission. The 10-week program trains upcoming coaches into community coaching roles within their clubs and supports female coaches to drive gender equity and positive sport experiences for women and girls.
"The future for women in sport is not just about having more females in higher roles or having more exposure on TV, but also being able to educate and influence the younger generation of males to see how strong females are."
Kareena Preston - Swim coach
Building trust with teenage girls
Kareena Preston has been swim coaching for more than 30 years, producing swimmers to state, national and international levels, as well as record holders at World and Paralympic level.
Head Coach at the Kwinana Swimming Club in Perth, Kareena is also a Masters swimmer – combining her job and her passion.
"The kids ask what my favourite event is and I say, I just love swimming. Doesn't matter if it's 50 metre butterfly or 10K open water – I just love it," says Kareena.
She has a similar attitude towards coaching: "I'm going to get just as excited for my 8-year-old to get a personal best as I am for a medallist to get gold – the reward from that feels the same".
One distinction she does recognise, however, is the benefit of taking an individual approach to developing good rapport with the women and girls she coaches. This includes building relationships that can include taking an interest in their lives beyond the pool.
"Some girls respond well to praise on their progress, technique or swim times, but for others, it’s also about noticing how they are going on a more personal level."
This approach helps Kareena connect with her swimmers and build relationships based on openness and trust. As a result, her swimmers know they can talk to her honestly, without embarrassment, including about changes teenage girls experience.
"I've had girls previously be upset because they wake up on the morning of a competition and they have their period. And I say but that’s fantastic, you're going to have such a good day today because your hormone levels will spike. It's society that's been telling them when they get their period they have to hide away under a blanket – I'm trying to change the stigma attached to that."
Kareena also keeps a well-stocked pencil case in her bag that the girls can access if they need tampons or pads.
Another important part of building relationships is encouraging inclusion and respect. This starts with the basics – always saying hello and thank you at training.
"They'll get out of the water and say thank you, walk away and say thank you, go grab their bag and they'll say thank you – it just goes on and on," laughs Kareena. "They're very sweet, and it's every, single kid."
"It comes back to engagement and respect, and it goes both ways."
Kareena also ensures her swimmers understand that the process is more important than the outcome.
"he medal or the time is the outcome, but the process is far more important – so the relationship we have, how we train, how they present themselves, how they are as a person, how they are developing."
When one young girl recently won a national race, she was more intent on getting back into the pool quickly to swim down and prepare for her next race.
"It was the perfect example that I had done my job with her, and the outcome was not the priority. It was great, it was beautiful."
Renae Nottage - Netball coach
Balancing the social and competitive - encouraging girls to enjoy sport
Renae Nottage found herself on a sharp learning curve after being "collared" to coach her 6-year-old daughter’s netball team.
"I got thrown into it, so it’s been a bit of a journey. But I really enjoy learning about different aspects of the game, and enjoy developing myself,” says Renae. “I also realised I like teaching, trying to impart some of the knowledge I’ve gained to the girls – and the reward is seeing something on court that you’ve taught them."
After 6 years, Renae is still coaching her daughter’s team, now a 12–13 A grade team, as well as a 16–17 B grade team and an under 14s representative team.
Along the way she has learnt how to adjust her coaching style to suit the different ages and motivations of the players.
"Working with the 12–13s there is pressure because they compete at state level. The under 14s representative side are the top 10 players, so their skills are next level and we really up the ante in terms of court craft. Whereas with the 16–17s it's about developing skills but also enjoyment in something that is away from whatever else is going on in their life, helping to take a bit of pressure off, so they have fun and build a sense of belonging."
Renae has introduced some rituals to help bond the teams and counteract anxiety. To focus before a game, they gather in a circle and ground themselves with a breathing technique, or they write down what is worrying them and burn the paper in a tin can so they can let their worries go for the duration of the game.
Through her recent participation in the Australian Sports Commission’s Women’s Mentor Pilot Program, Renae has learnt to better communicate with her players and improve her own self-reflection.
"I've found that taking the time to really get to know your players helps you work out the right ways to empower them. For example, teenage girls can find body contact uncomfortable especially when their own bodies are developing. But I help them overcome this by speaking one-on-one and acknowledging that while they feel awkward about it now, to grow and get better they need to be able to embrace it because it is part of the game sometimes."
She also "sandwiches" positive and constructive feedback, supporting players to celebrate what has gone well and think about what can improve.
Renae is pleased that her club, Arncliffe Scots Netball Club in southern Sydney, makes an effort to be inclusive and welcoming to a diverse range of participants. Recent changes to the uniform policy allowed long sleeves, leg and head coverings, and swapped dresses for shorts to help more players participate and feel comfortable.
"You've got to read the crowd and adapt. It’s about creating a fun and supportive environment where they feel safe and can just enjoy being on the court throwing the ball around, where nothing else matters."
Molly Godsell - Football Referee
NSW Football Referee Molly Godsell’s rise from grassroots matches to the A-League has been buoyed by a strong network of family, mentors and peers who believed in her and opened doors to new opportunities. Her story shows how positive community support can empower officials, especially young women, to grow in confidence and reach their full potential.
The power of community to shape an officiating journey
For NSW State League Football Referee, Molly Godsell, every step from her first grassroots match to the A-League has been supported by people who believed in her.
Molly started playing football early and began refereeing at 13 after her mother suggested an introductory course at the local club. “We were always at the soccer field, so my mum said, ‘You may as well get paid for it’,” Molly laughs.
For years she officiated without realising there was a pathway beyond community matches. That changed when a branch coach sat her down and explained the opportunities ahead.
“I didn’t even know there was a next step,” Molly says. “From there it was tournament after tournament… and here I am at A-League.”
Along the way, Molly’s promise as a referee saw her selected for the Football NSW Referee Academy, the National Referee Academy and a Legacy Referee Coach scholarship, which qualified her to coach junior referees.
“Once I figured out it could be a career and something you could pursue, it really did happen fast. The whole thing has been a pretty wild and quick journey,” says Molly
Behind the rapid rise was a strong network. “My family, my fiancé and coaches at every level did everything they could to support me to keep going. It’s like an extended family – I’m incredibly lucky. If I didn’t have each and every one of them, I wouldn’t be in this position,” she reflects.
Molly also draws confidence from the players she referees. “You can see when players listen to you, and their choice not to bite back – that respect contributes to self-confidence and knowing what you’re doing in the job.”
Even in tough moments, like dealing with online abuse after her A-League debut, the football community rallied. “I even had guys from the men’s panel messaging me who I’d never met. It was that sense of connection – they’d clearly been there. It was nice to hear others say that’s not okay.”
Molly has her sights set on eventually refereeing at an international level, and she wants others – especially young girls – to also see what’s possible.
She’s excited about a new mentoring program for female referees in New South Wales, understanding the importance of having pathways to success. “Just knowing there’s somewhere to go, even if it’s just moving up an age group, is so important. And there’s a lot of people making really good courses, so it’s important to make sure that the right audiences see those things.”
For officials, Molly’s journey is a reminder that talent and hard work matter, but that the encouragement, trust and support of others can be the difference between staying local and stepping onto the national stage.
Janet Coleman - Netball Umpire convenor
Creating a supportive community of umpires scattered across different clubs is central to Janet Coleman’s approach. As umpire convenor, Janet promotes a supportive culture through mentorship, education and recognition – encouraging connection and downtime among umpires, and fostering safe spaces for them to grow.
Building a supportive community for women and girls
In community sport, officials can be seen as the ‘police’ enforcing the rules from the sidelines – but for Janet Coleman, umpire convener at Underwood Park Netball Association in Queensland, it’s all about building confidence and community for women and girls.
Janet’s involvement with umpiring began after a move from the United Kingdom to Australia some 20 years ago. “I joined a mum’s team... then my daughters started playing, and I broke my arm, as you do, so I started doing more umpiring,” she laughs.
That turning point led to Janet gaining her C Badge accreditation and being asked to become her local association’s umpire convener – a role she’s proudly held since 2011.
Now, Janet is responsible for developing and supporting around 90 umpires across 11 clubs. Her approach is about far more than technical skills. “You’ve got to instil a culture of support in these umpires, that abuse of umpires is not tolerated and that the association supports them and makes sure there is a pathway for them,” she explains.
This supportive culture is built through mentorship, education and recognition. Janet fosters safe spaces, both physical and emotional, for umpires to grow. From a designated ‘safe room’ where umpires can rest and debrief in private, to decorating sessions for umpire kits, she creates opportunities for connection and downtime. “Umpiring is a very mental game, the number of decisions you have to make in a very short period of time. You have to give mental downtime to these girls.”
She also emphasises the power of explaining the logistics of officiating. “People say ‘just have confidence’, but they don’t know what that means. So you change the narrative. You say we, as umpires, are about communicating with players. So, blow your whistle louder, project your voice, make your hand signals clearer – that’s how we communicate. That gives the appearance of confidence, and then players respond, and suddenly, they feel confident.”
Inclusivity is another key value. For example, rather than stipulating all white uniforms, Janet promotes a more flexible and practical uniform policy that encourages greater participation: “They can just wear a white shirt and whatever black bottoms they’re comfortable running in,” she says.
Perhaps most importantly, Janet ensures her umpires feel like they belong. “Even though they’re scattered across courts, they are part of a team. There’s always somebody they can go to, and we encourage them to make friends, get to know the umpire they’re on call with, introduce themselves to the umpire on the other side. And once they know each other, they’ve got a network. They see familiar faces at carnivals and competitions, and that changes everything.”
For Janet, success isn't measured in badges alone. It’s in the resilience of young officials who return week after week, and in the strength of a community that sees and supports them. “You’re not just enforcing rules. You’re also nurturing people and creating a space where everyone grows.”
Tiffany Ferguson-Blight - AFL Coach
AFL coach Tiffany Ferguson-Blight uses a strengths-based approach to help young women recognise their abilities, build confidence, and thrive both on and off the field. Drawing on her own experiences as an athlete, she fosters supportive, inclusive environments and believes growth comes when both players and coaches learn, adapt and improve together.
Building confidence from the ground up: coaching girls in sport
For AFL Coach Tiffany Ferguson-Blight, coaching isn’t just about developing skills on the field – it’s about helping young women discover their strengths, build lasting confidence, and thrive both on and off the field.
Tiffany’s coaching journey began unexpectedly when an osteoarthritis diagnosis interrupted her budding career with the West Australian Football League Women’s. “I had to stop playing, but I wanted to stay involved,” she recalls.
An initial assistant coaching role quickly evolved into more senior responsibilities, and she’s never looked back. “When I couldn’t play anymore, I was really craving that community and camaraderie. And then I saw an opportunity to offer that same sense of community to other women and girls, and it’s just grown into this huge passion of mine.”
Tiffany’s approach centres on a strengths-based philosophy. “When I look at a player, I don’t focus on their weaknesses. The key is helping them recognise and lean into their strengths so they’re getting the best out of themselves,” she explains.
This means asking players what strengths they bring to the team and designing their game around those attributes. “Even if you’re just 4 games into your career, and you haven’t played this sport before, knowing there’s something you bring to the team every week is invaluable.”
Tiffany believes confidence is as critical as skill. “Especially in amateur or local women's leagues, if you can go out there and hit a ball at pace because you feel really confident, you’re going to win it – there’s not many people who can stop that.”
Her experience as an athlete shapes how she supports her players. She understands the unique challenges many women face – from balancing work and study to managing health and family commitments. Juggling multiple responsibilities herself, Tiffany makes sure to acknowledge this as a coach, to help create a supportive environment that welcomes everyone.
“The more diversity you’ve got in your staff, the more insight you’ll have into different things. Gender, age, Indigenous and non-Indigenous – the more diverse, the better the program will be.”
Tiffany also values learning from her players, adapting her communication and game strategies to suit different experience levels and age groups. She actively invites feedback, believing that improvement should be a two-way street: “The program doesn’t get better just because the players get better. The program gets better because everyone gets better.”
For Tiffany, the reward is seeing players grow both on and off the field. “I love watching girls discover they can do something they never thought they could. That confidence doesn’t just stay on the field – it stays with them for life.”
Mhairi Doherty - Swimming official
Mhairi Doherty’s journey from injured swimmer to confident swimming official shows how inclusive, supportive environments can empower young women in sport. Her story highlights the importance of community, and creating spaces where girls have the confidence to learn and lead.
Putting women and girls at the centre of officiating
Becoming a swimming technical official wasn’t part of Mhairi Doherty’s original plan – it started with an injury and a joke about free snacks. But what began as a way to pass the time turned into a rewarding passion and powerful example of how community sport can support and uplift young women.
“I was a competitive swimmer until I was about 13, then I got injured,” Mhairi explains. “I still had to go to swimming competitions because my two younger brothers competed and my Dad was an official. And I heard officials got free food and drinks, so I thought, why not?”
From there, Mhairi worked her way through roles, starting in the computer room and running papers, then participating in an officials’ course before moving into check starting, and eventually judging strokes. “A lot of it’s just walking alongside senior officials who know what they’re doing and learning from them. A lot of doing it to learn it, really,” says Mhairi.
As one of the youngest officials in Western Australia at the time, Mhairi found herself surrounded by older people. But instead of feeling isolated, she found belonging. “They brought me out of my shell. They looked after me. It felt like a family community.”
That supportive environment has had a lasting impact. “My self-confidence has gone from very low to very high because of officiating,” she says. “It’s improved my interpersonal and communication skills, and even my ability to do my job outside of officiating.”
For Mhairi, putting the needs of women and girls at the centre of officiating is about being unbiased and treating everyone fairly. “We try to be as fair as we can, recognising what the athletes need, especially the younger ones, while also keeping the fairness of sport intact.”
In July, Mhairi travelled to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra to officiate at the Next Wave Invitational Competition Camp 2025. There, she had the opportunity to meet other young officials as well as talk with coaches. “A lot of the coaches were saying ‘Oh, we always see the officials as scary
people, whereas you guys are really easy to talk to and ask questions’ – so that integration of different groups was great.”
Her advice for those considering officiating: “Just do it. It might feel daunting at first, but you’re not an outsider for long if you don’t want to be. Once you’re in the door, you realise it’s an environment where females do feel supported and looked after. You meet people who become your life mentors and who you can speak to about everything.”
Mhairi’s success highlights how powerful community sport can be when inclusivity and mentorship are built into its foundations. For officials in any sport, her story is a reminder that making spaces for girls to lead, learn and belong builds stronger communities for everyone.