Educating, empowering and motivating female athletes

AFTER a highly successful inaugural event, The Female Athlete Networking and Education Event is back for 2022, but with an expanded offering to be held over two days at Deakin University’s waterfront campus.

The industry event is delivered by Female Athlete Network founder, pharmacist and AFLW engagement manager Emily Shears with the aim of educating, empowering and motivating female athletes and the people who support them – whether that be a parent, partner or practitioner – and it offers an opportunity to expand knowledge, connect with like-minded individuals, and build awareness of services available that cater to the unique needs of the female athlete.

According to Ms Shears, it is an incredible time to be a female athlete in Australia.

“We have just witnessed a hugely successful Commonwealth Games campaign, and we have sporting codes across the nation embracing traditionally male-dominated codes with expansion into women’s leagues and many superstar female athletes excelling in their chosen pursuit,” she said.

But how do we sustain and build on the success of those who have paved the way? How do we ensure that the up-and-coming female athlete has the knowledge, support, and opportunity to perform on the world stage at future events such as a home Olympics in Brisbane in 2032?”

With the concepts of lifestyle medicine and genuine collaboration front of mind, The Female Athlete Network has gathered a range of health and medical professionals, researchers, notable coaches and athletes from across the country in order to provide a space for sub-elite female athletes, and all involved in the athlete journey, to learn more.

Ms Shears believes that through sharing lived experience, creative ideas, and evidence-based research, those in attendance will be able to better understand themselves as female athletes and enable those supporting these athletes to positively impact both health and overall wellbeing, and therefore, performance outcomes.

“We hope to inspire those who are looking to pave their way in a career working with female athletes,” she said.

“Our greatest performances can only be achieved through optimising our health first and foremost, and this has to be a team effort.”

The conference will feature a Friday night session hosted by race-walker and recent Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jemima Montag, who will facilitate a “changemakers” panel featuring Sarah Styles from the Victorian Government Office of Women in Sport and Recreation, Geelong Cats head of community Sarah Albon, as well as several PhD candidates who will be sharing their research, including Tom Carter from Rugby Australia and Georgia Brown from Football Australia.

The main conference session on Saturday will be hosted by award-winning sports journalist Megan Hustwaite.

It will feature an athlete panel including the likes of Collingwood Magpies netballer Molly Jovic and Australian lacrosse player Stacey Morlang, a coaches’ panel featuring the likes of Australian Women’s Rugby Sevens head coach Tim Walsh, AFLW Geelong Cats physical performance coach Anula Costa, and former professional basketball player and two-time Olympian Chris Anstey, as well as an education stream featuring a psychologist, neuro-rehabilitation physician, obstetrician and gynaecologist, acupuncturist, physiotherapist, naturopath, osteopath and more.

The Female Athlete Networking and Education Event will be held at Deakin University’s Waterfront campus on October 14-15.

Tickets are limited. Head to thefemaleathletenetwork.com.au to purchase.