Rachel Bailey, an elite coach based at Pennant Hills Golf Club in Sydney, has been accepted into the Australian Institute of Sport’s Elevate Coach Program.

Bailey was nominated by Golf Australia to be one of the first coaches in the country to be involved in the exclusive six month program which focuses on female coaches within high performance across a vast array of sports.

The program has been developed to build upon the successful Elevate e-Coach Program piloted in 2020 and was expected to begin with a two day intensive workshop in Tweed Heads.

However, due to COVID-19 lockdowns across much of the country, the initial face-to-face workshop was replaced with a two-day intensive online course.

In a unique blend of face-to-face and online workshops, lecturers work collaboratively with coaches to allow them to set their own learning objectives and ensure the content meets individual needs.

“I have done a lot of study over the last 20 years and this is the first course I have done where the students set the learning outcomes. It’s a great way to learn,” Bailey said.

“Even though the course has just begun, I have already had many in-depth discussions with coaches from other sports. I can see how much I can learn from them and their experience within the elite pathways across all sports.  

“I am excited for the applied learning phase coming up where we set goals for our own coaching, test and then reflect on the process and outcomes with the other coaches. It is extremely interactive and a great way to learn and push myself.”

Coaches were nominated by their respective NSO’s based on numerous criteria which included coaches who are currently working with athletes who are nationally categorised as emerging, developing, or podium potential level.

“I am greatly appreciative of the learning opportunity I have been given by Golf Australia to better my coaching and help guide those athletes within the club and elite development pathways,” Bailey said. 

Dan Whyley, Royal Melbourne Golf Club, was also nominated and accepted into the AIS Elevate Coach program in the second cohort of former athletes who have transitioned into a coaching role.

The program will be delivered as part of the AIS Performance Pathways Elevate series in collaboration with La Trobe University, University of Sydney and University of Queensland.