Helping our elite athletes to thrive

Being a young athlete is exciting. It also comes with huge demands on your body, your time, and your resources.

Our elite athletes – those who compete at a State and National level - work hard every day to balance their training with their school work. And, being passionate sportspeople, they also want to be involved in their clubs through coaching and umpiring. It’s no surprise that the conflicting demands can sometimes leave these girls feeling lost and exhausted. 

The Elite Sports Program nurtures talented student-athletes. It gives them a place where they can be mentored, supported and given opportunities to foster the girls’ individual sporting potential while balancing the demands of school life.

The philosophy of the program is to give these girls the space physically and mentally to manage their workload so that they can reach their potential both in the sports arena and academically. 

The need: An Elite Sports Program

Those girls who excel in their sports often choose to represent their code at State or National level. For these students, balancing their commitments at school and sport can be challenging both mentally and physically. They can often train up to 25 hours a week, as well as participate in school sports and IGSSA sport.

The Elite Sports Program is designed to create a space to give them the ability to pursue excellence in their chosen sport, while building life skills that will help them to flourish both on and off the field.

Helping them thrive:

• To enter the program, the student must apply and be currently representing their sport at an elite level.

• Each participant will be mentored to ensure they meet their sports, academic and wellbeing goals.

• A speakers program designed to assist the girls understand media, finance, community contribution and ethics.

• Opportunities to contribute to the community through coaching, umpiring, speaking, volunteering and work experience.

• A tribe of peers who can share their experiences and provide support for each other.

Creating a healthy space to thrive

As the pressure on young athletes to achieve is applied by external clubs, St Hilda’s believes that these girls need a space to take time out of their hectic schedules and build healthy routines that will serve them both mentally and physically.

The ESP Hub

The ESP Hub will provide the girls with a safe place to regenerate, access support and learn important lessons in nutrition.

• Cooking facilities with healthy ingredients will be available.

• Locker space for additional sports equipment.

• Quiet areas for stretching and meditation.

• Study areas for homework.

• Consulting area for one on one coaching and goal setting.

Giving them opportunities to pay it forward

Community service is embedded in the St Hilda’s culture. It teaches our girls that contribution to the community is a priority. With privilege comes responsibility.

The Elite Sports Program will promote and support the girls’ service to the community through opportunities to engage in service in sports.

The program will ensure they have the skills and accreditations required to volunteer in this capacity.

Community Service Opportunities

• Coaching for younger students at the school and external clubs.

• Umpiring for younger students at the school and external clubs.

• Fundraising responsibilities for groups such as Shooting Stars

• Work experience with sports organisations such as West Coast Fever, Hockey WA, Eagles, WAIS etc. 

“Through my own personal elite sporting journey I inherently understand the challenges faced when juggling elite sporting pathways with school, this was the driving force behind building a holistic framework supported by a team of professional and experienced personnel.”

Kobie McGurk

Head of Sport, St Hilda’s

Kobie McGurk is a former Olympic and Commonwealth Games hockey player who now heads up St Hilda’s sport program. She is passionate about providing pathways for girls to reach their best through sport. Her belief is that a healthy body is linked to a healthy mind and this underpins her teaching.

In her words: “Elite sport is exciting, dynamic and most of all challenging. To be fortunate enough to design and implement our very own Elite Athlete Program will provide our talented students with the foundation and support they require to help pursue their sporting goals.”