70 recipients will undertake a range of professional development and training through the 2023-24 Change Our Game Professional Development Scholarships Program.
The Change Our Game Professional Development Scholarships Program supports women accessing professional development opportunities to develop and strengthen the specialist skills needed for their roles in the sport and active recreation sector. It helps place them in the best position to obtain and thrive in leadership roles.
Director of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, Sarah Styles said, the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation congratulates this year’s program recipients and looks forward to seeing the impact of these opportunities on more women securing leadership roles across the sector.
The 2023-24 program recipients represent a wide range of sports and organisations, including lacrosse, lifesaving, basketball, cricket, sport climbing and disability sports, among many others.
4 streams of development opportunities to support women at every stage of their career were offered as part of this year’s program, from early careers through to aspiring and current executives and directors, including grants to complete professional development courses, access to leading career coaches to support aspiring executives develop their career pathway and skills, and access to a leading sports governance course.
Sophie Byrnes, Metropolitan Development Coordinator for Football Victoria, will undertake a New Leader Development Course to gain skills and insights into effective leadership as part of the program’s Learning stream.
I am extremely grateful for this opportunity provided by the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation. I have been privileged to know so many amazing women to look up to, not only through my studies, but also my career. My passion has always been to help women and girls experience an inclusive and supportive sporting environment. I am humbled I now get the opportunity to extend my own professional development and in turn, continue working towards gender equality in sport.Sophie Byrnes, Metropolitan Development Coordinator for Football Victoria
A full list of successful applicants is below.
Name | Organisation |
Abby Freney | Golf Australia |
Aylish Frusher | Richmond Football Club |
Bronya Kondzior | Tennis Victoria |
Chloe Quarmby | St Kilda Football Club |
Danielle Levin | Maccabi Victoria Inc |
Joanne Ritson | ACHPER Victoria |
Katherine Gourley | Basketball Victoria Inc |
Megan Lester | Hawthorn Football Club |
Rita Mankowska | Professional Footballers Australia |
Ruth Clare | Maccabi Victoria Inc |
Sophie Byrnes | Football Victoria Inc. |
Name | Organisation |
Airlie Tudhope | Richmond Football Club |
Alexandra Ash | Gymnastics Australia |
Amy Hill | YMCA Victoria |
Angela Collins | Professional Footballers Australia |
Annie Kearney | Netball Australia |
Caitlin Honey | Skate Australia |
Clare Walker | Badminton Australia Inc |
Claudia Haeger | Tennis Victoria |
Hayley O'Callaghan | Melbourne Rebels Rugby Union |
Kate Simpson | Life Saving Victoria Limited |
Karen Ferguson | GippSport Inc. |
Meaghan Densley | Australian Sailing Limited |
Meghan Mayman | Regional Sport Victoria |
Peta Searle | Essendon Football Club |
Sally McNeilly | Hawthorn Football Club |
Name | Organisation |
Becki McWhinnie | City of Port Phillip Council |
Becky Cooke | Cricket Victoria |
Carien Hesselberg | YMCA Victoria |
Eliza Harvey | Equestrian Victoria |
Jacqui Ward | Cricket Australia |
Jessie Mulholland | Melbourne Football Club |
Katrina Stopinski | Cricket Victoria |
Katy Dawson | Netball Australia |
Lydia Badoer | Collingwood Football Club |
Melanie Pratt | Cardinia Shire Council |
Melissa Gmeiner | Hockey Australia |
Monica Priyanka- Chouhan | Cricket Australia |
Monique FitzGerald | ACHPER Victoria |
Rebecca Murray | Netball Australia |
Rebekah Linsell | Richmond Football Club |
Samantha Smith | Richmond Football Club |
Sheryl Ng | Cricket Australia |
Stacey Oates | North Melbourne Football Club |
Taylah Perry | Victorian Athletic League |
Teal Gove | Cricket Australia |
Name | Organisation |
Abbie Brice | Lacrosse Australia |
Allison Dodd | Keilor Basketball Association |
Amy Silver | Allens |
April Wilson | Nillumbik Shire Council |
Carissa Harris | Regional Sport Victoria |
Claire Davis | 13th Beach Surf Lifesaving Club |
Donna Stelling | Women's Sports Alliance |
Ella McConnell | Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League |
Fiona Walker | Tennis Victoria board |
Janine Briggs | Aberfeldie Jets Basketball Club |
Jasmina Stanic | City of Melbourne |
Jo Hansen | City of Melbourne |
Karen Bell | Moonee Valley Football Club |
Karen Powell | Sport Climbing Victoria |
Kaz Rothwell | Bowls Victoria Board |
Kira Ryan | Hamilton Basketball Association |
Kristin Rutherford | Disability Sport and Recreation |
Marina Krasic | Layer 2 Intelligence |
Marissa Cofield | Ballarat Gold Swimming Club |
Mary Patrickson | Warragul and District Amateur Basketball Association |
Patrice Berthold | Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games |
Prateeti Sabhlok | Artistic Swimming Australia |
Rana Hussain | Good Human. |
Sarah Austin | Lacrosse Victoria |
Page last updated: 13 September 2024
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