Goals for Girls Celebrates Women in Sport

On the eve of International Women’s Day the Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) partnered with Sport NSW to host Goals for Girls: Careers for Women in Sport for local high school students. Followed by a healthy breakfast the girls were treated to a panel discussion which included two of Sport NSW’s Directors in Carolyn Campbell (CEO, Netball NSW) and Tracie Edmondson (Head of Public Affairs, NSW Rugby League) as well as Sport NSW Ambassador Alex Blackwell (Australian and NSW Cricketer).

Rounding out the panel of inspirational women were Shannon Byrne (ABC Grandstand Reporter as panel moderator), Raelene Castle (Chief Executive, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Rugby League Club), Simone Freeman (Australian Softballer and Strength & Conditioning Coach, GWS Giants) and Mikah Van Gogh (Head of Department Health Science, ACPE).

The breakfast was part of Sydney Olympic Park’s Women’s Sports Festival and highlighted the diversity of careers on offer in sport for young women. The panel shared stories on how they had forged their way to their current roles including many making the big move from country and regional towns to the ‘big smoke’ of Sydney.

Students had the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists to glean key insights on the challenges and barriers they’ve had to overcome, seek advice as young women desiring to work in sport as well as hear their thoughts on how women’s sport has progressed recently in terms of both coverage and pay.

The discussion was followed by a round robin to meet sports stars in smaller groups, with athletes from the GWS Giants AFLW team, NSW Swifts netball and ACPE’s Elite Athlete Program providing the school girls with an opportunity to hear what it’s like being an elite sports woman.

The morning finished with photo opportunities for the girls with the sports stars and a tour of the ACPE campus.