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In its second year, the program welcomes a wide range of coaching talent across Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports, including the likes of gymnastics, hockey, surfing and para-archery.

The coaches will come together online once a fortnight over the next six months to share insights, develop strategies and test new ideas. AIS HP Coach Development Advisor Dr Paul Perkins said the program is unlike traditional coach education.

”Research shows that most coaches prefer to learn through collaborating and socialising with other coaches rather than through formal learning methods, and this program offers exactly that,” Dr Perkins said.

”This informal approach also helps us better understand the unique demands and challenges HP coaches face, which then allows us to better support their ongoing development.

Head Coach of Para-Table Tennis Alios Rosario will soon graduate from the 2021 cohort and said the experience has been invaluable.

”We have many things in common and the ability to share ideas is vital for the collective intelligence of coaches in Australia,” Rosario said. ”We often get caught up in the bubble and the trials of our own sport. Speaking to other coaches can broaden our thinking and encourage us to think outside the box of our own coaching ideas. I’ve been able to implement some of the learnings from the sessions and have made some key changes to the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ program.”

The first cohort will wrap up with a two-day summit in Alice Springs this September, however it certainly won’t be the closing of a chapter.

”This program has seen coaches form strong friendships and we look forward to seeing the influence it has in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Perkins.