AOC Indigenous Coaching Scholarship holders learn crucial skills in Northern Territory

Six Indigenous track and field coaches have completed the first sessions of their coaching scholarship program, delivering a sports day for Indigenous children at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. 

The coaches joined six others from swimming and hockey received a day of coaching instruction before delivering a hands-on session in their sports as part of their Australian Olympic Indigenous Coach Scholarship program – a partnership between the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and the Toyota Foundation.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll says the coaching scholarships provide practical support for coaches in Olympic sports to further their careers and provide instruction for Indigenous athletes around the country.

“Last year our first scholarship holders completed their training in basketball, in conjunction with Patty Mills’ Indigenous Basketball Australia and our sponsors Toyota. Now we have 12 new scholarship holders in swimming, athletics and hockey benefitting from this program.

“These coaches will receive training in the early part of the week before they put their skills to good use with around 50 young athletes at a sports day at the RAAF Base Tindal. Our thanks to Air Force for their ongoing assistance in bringing Indigenous initiatives to remote communities. This is a highly valued partnership.

The track and field scholarship holders hail from Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, and were selected by Athletics Australia in conjunction with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.

Toyota Australia Senior Manager Marketing Integration Tim Stuckey, congratulating the 12 new recipients, said the Indigenous Coaching Scholarship program reflected Toyota’s values of continuous improvement and respect for people.

“The common theme that’s coming through is the real desire to give back. To have those skills and that knowledge to be able to impart to those athletes is really exciting.

“The coaches are doing it for different reasons – some have had challenges in the past and that’s a great focus area for them. Others have been athletes of some note, and they see an opportunity to give back to the sport that’s given them so much in their developmental years.

“It’s exciting to see firsthand the program come to life and how it’s going to change people’s lives by giving them greater opportunities to be their absolute best and give them a pathway to go as far as they can in their sport. That’s a major contribution to community,” he concluded.

The scholarship holders from athletics are;

• Tiana Brockhurst (QLD) 
• Simone Carre (VIC) 
• Ben Catley (WA) 
• Libby Cook-Black (QLD) 
• Timothy Stephens (QLD) 
• Andrew Thorpe (Vic) 

By the Australian  Olympic Committee
Posted: 18/11/2023