Athlete Accelerate Program
Supporting female athletes who are pursuing career options in sport.
2024 participants
Alison Bai
Tennis
Alison is a former tennis player with a professional career spanning over a decade. She represented Australia in numerous international competitions with a career-high ranking of 305 in women’s singles and 125 in doubles.
Off the court, Alison is passionate about inspiring the next generation of athletes and encouraging females to take up leadership roles within sport.
Amanda Tscharke
Table Tennis
Amanda is a para-table tennis player who made her Commonwealth Games debut 2022 in Birmingham, competing in the women’s singles classes 3-5.
After an accident left her paraplegic in 1997, she began her para-career in javelin, shot put and discus before focussing on her table tennis talent.
Outside of sport, she runs wine tours of the Barossa Valley with her husband and parents two daughters.
Amber Halliday
Rowing
Amber is a three-time rowing world champion and dual Olympian who represented Australia in the Lightweight Double Sculls event.
Since retiring, Amber has achieved international success in track cycling, overcome a traumatic brain injury, obtained a PhD in psychology, and worked as an educator helping to foster resilience, performance, and wellbeing in sport.
Bree Bryant (nee Cole)
Swimming
Bree is a retired Australian diver renowned for her success in synchronised diving, including a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
She has a Bachelor in Teaching and Applied Science and has continued her career working across sport and education in Victoria.
Bronte Barratt
Diving
Bronte is a retired competitive swimmer who represented Australia at three Olympic Games, winning one gold, two silver and one bronze medal in freestyle swimming events. In 2009, she awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Outside of the pool Bronte works as a radiographer and is a Board Member for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee.
Chelsea Forkin
Softball
Chelsea is a retired softball player who represented Australia at five Open World Championships and made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Off the pitch, Chelsea works at a high school in Queensland teaching physical education.
Emma George
Athletics
Emma is a former Australian pole vaulter who soared to fame with her record-breaking performances. Throughout her career, she broke the world record 17 times, won a gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, and competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Emma Snowsill
Triathlon
Emma is an Australian triathlete who retired in 2014 with the honour of being the highest award-winning woman in the sport’s history.
Her career highlights include Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medals, three world championships, 12 international Triathlon Union World Cups, and 23 podium finishes.
In 2009 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2019.
Georgina Gotch
Rowing
Georgina is a former Australian rower. During her sporting career she was a four-time national champion, reserve at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and medallist at the 2019 World Rowing Championships.
In between competitions, she completed a Bachelor of Business majoring in management and continues to add to build on her corporate career today.
Kasey Brown
Squash
Kasey is a former squash player who represented Australia at two Commonwealth Games, winning three bronze medals and one gold medal across singles and doubles events.
She reached a career-high ranking of World No. 5 in 2011 before deciding to retire in 2014.
Off the court, she has a degree in psychology and strives to be a mentor and role model to young athletes.
Kylie Palmer
Swimming
Kylie represented Australia in distance freestyle swimming. She made her Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games, winning gold in the 4 x 200m freestyle relay and taking sixth in the 800m freestyle.
She followed this up with multiple Commonwealth Games and World Championship medals before winning a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
After retiring in 2016, Kylie became a coach and mentor and is an ambassador for various charities and organisations.
Monique Murphy
Swimming
Monique is a para-swimmer who won silver in the 400m Freestyle S10 at her debut Paralympic Games in Rio 2016.
Outside of the pool, Monique is a passionate advocate for women’s health and wellbeing.
Natalie Butler (nee Medhurst)
Netball
Natalie retired from her career in netball in 2020 after playing professionally for 17 years, including 10 years in the Australian Netball Diamonds.
During her career she won three world championships and took home gold and silver medals at the Commonwealth Games.
She’s also considered a trailblazer within sport, having been the former president of the Australian Netball Players’ Association and now working as Player Development Manager at WA Cricket.
Rachel Orchard
Volleyball
Rachel is one of Australia’s most decorated volleyball players. Over a 14 year career, she played in 10 professional leagues around the world and represented Australia in the women’s national volleyball team, the Volleyroos, on several occasions.
Since retiring in 2020, Rachel has worked as an assistant coach for the Volleyroos and launched her own kombucha business while raising two daughters.
Rose Stackpole
Artistic Swimming
Rose proudly represented Australia in Artistic Swimming for four years, a career which culminated in wearing the green and gold at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games where she competed in both the team and duet events.
Now retired, Rose continues to work as an artistic swimming coach while completing a PhD in psychology.
Past year participants
2023 Participants
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2022 Participants
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2021 Participants
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