Coaching and leadership centre opens at the AIS

Australia's top coaches and sporting leaders have welcomed the opening of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Centre for Performance Coaching and Leadership.

Opening the Centre and its first induction of 30 participants, Federal Minister for Kate Lundy emphasised the vital role coaches and leaders play in Australia's sporting success.

Senator Lundy explained "if we want our athletes to achieve the targets we have set for them, then we need to set the bar high for our best coaches and sporting leaders and provide them with the support they need.

"That's why when we announced Australia's Winning Edge late last year one of the key priority actions identified was greater investment in coaches and high performance personnel.

"This Centre will deliver world best approaches to learning and development and formalise education pathways for coaches and performance leaders."

The Minister was joined at the launch by high profile sporting coaches, leaders and program faculty members including swimming coach and performance consultant Bill Sweetenham AM and canoe/kayak coach and United States political analyst Bill Endicott.

The programs have been developed in partnership with Melbourne Business School-Mt Eliza Executive Education and will be delivered via a series of face-to-face residential labs.

The inaugural intake includes 15 leaders and 15 coaches including Richard Fox (Canoeing), Sara Carrigan and Brad Mcgee (Cycling) and Michelle den Dekker (Netball).

In addition, the AIS Centre for Performance Coaching and Leadership will offer a range of open learning opportunities throughout the year including seminars and international study tours to a wider range of participants.

Senator Lundy added "the Centre positions the AIS as a global leader in performance coaching and leadership."

AIS Director Matt Favier said he was excited about the outcomes the centre will bring to Australian sport, concluding "we are tailoring these programs to coaches and leaders who have the capacity and capability to deliver outstanding results for Australia over the next decade."

The Australian Government will invest more than $330 million in our sport system in 2013-14, including $169.5 million for high performance sport.

As part of Australia's Winning Edge, the Australian Sports Commission recently announced record Government funding of $120 million for Australia's National Sporting Organisations in 2013-14 which includes a $5 million boost in direct grants to Olympic and Paralympic sports.

The Commission also announced that, together with the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, it will increase payments to world-class athletes through its Direct Athlete Support scheme by $3 million in 2013, which will bring the total investment in the scheme to $11.4 million for the calendar year.

The AIS Centre for Performance Coaching and Leadership will be funded by an annual investment of $1.5 million.

http://www.ausport.gov.au/cpcl