Supported through the Office for Women, the Accelerate Program provides a unique experience for retired women athletes who are pursuing career options in the sports sector.

"Once I had retired as an athlete, I felt like I was in limbo, but with the help and support of the program it gave me that drive again and to understand where I wanted to focus my energy and attention," said Alice, 29, who completed the Accelerate program in 2022.

"By working with everyone in the program, I was able to imagine a better picture of what I wanted to do and how to go about it.

"Without it, I would not have had the communication, wouldn’t have taken the necessary steps to get me to this position."

The program has a career and personal development focus and provides opportunities to acquire knowledge, skills, and tools to navigate a professional career in sport.

Since launching in 2021, it has supported 41 athletes from 21 sports transition after their retirement including cycling great Anna Meares, dual World Cup champion netballer Caitlin Bassett and world champion lawn bowler Karen Murphy.

"Everyone in the program was so supportive and it created such a safe space for everyone to share and bond," Ingley said. "I learnt so much from everyone in the program, it broadened my mind on what is possible, and I feel we helped each other progress."

The program, delivered through a mixture of in-person residential workshops, online learning, and one-on-one career practitioner support, is also tailored to meet the needs of the successful group applicants.

"Although I come from a smaller sport, everyone had many overlapping experiences and it showed how we can work together instead of sticking solely to our own sports," said Ingley, who was appointed Victorian Institute of Sport Archery Coach in January 2023.

"I felt seen with my own experiences, it really helped put me in the right mindset of where I wanted to go with my future in sport."

The AIS is calling for expressions of interest in the 2023 Athlete Accelerate Program which close 26 February.

“I would highly encourage other women to apply for this program. It provided me with so much knowledge and experience I would not have otherwise gotten for myself.

"I was able to work with an incredible group of women that I am so grateful to have met and worked with and the staff were so supportive and always willing to help wherever they could, it is a program that will lift you up and give you the building blocks that you will need to succeed."

Read more on the 2023 AIS Athlete Accelerate Program