When Elissa Kent was pregnant with her first child she was the Melbourne Kestrels’ midcourt specialist. Even though it was the end of her playing career it was just the beginning of a new one. Now a mum of four she juggles life as the VIS Development Coach and is also part of the AIS Gen32 Coach Program.
Life at the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) begins differently for everyone, but the high-performance atmosphere and the wealth of opportunities it provides often leave an indelible mark on those who walk through its doors.
The VIS is proud to be a leader within gender equality and sport with over half the high-performance expert and senior roles filled by women. VIS Para-cyclist, triple Paralympian and nine-time world champion, Carol Cooke, is an ambassador for the Change Our Game initiative, which works to level the playing field for women and girls in sport.
A gender inclusive culture makes for a strong organisation. Much of the success among VIS athletes can be attributed to the high value placed on the retention of excellent coaches, many of which are female.