The Gold Coast SUNS have today launched an exciting new initiative aimed at developing the next crop of professional female coaches.

The club is offering two scholarships to female coaches across all the SUNS talent regions of the Gold Coast, Northern Rivers, North Queensland and the Northern Territory.

The opportunity would see the two successful women work inside the SUNS AFLW program as a development coach for the equivalent of one training session per week, flexible to suit either an intensive period or stretched across the entire NAB AFLW Season.

SUNS Head of Women’s Football Fiona Sessarago said the scholarship would provide fantastic opportunities for women in the sporting industry.

“We’re really proud as a club to be able to offer a scholarship like this to be able to support the progression of female coaches,” Sessarago said.

“We think it’s extremely important to increase the number of females coaching elite sport and see this as a great way to give exposure to elite level programs.

“This program isn’t just for AFL coaches either, we encourage female coaches from all backgrounds to apply and learn in a new and exciting environment.”

Female coaches make up approximately 10% of the registered football coaches in Queensland, a number the SUNS are committed to seeing rise in the coming years.

It’s already an increase on the proportion of females coaching football in Australia, with 1,537 women making up six per cent of all accredited coaches nationally.

A major benefit of the course offered by the SUNS will be the fully-covered inclusion of the AFL Level Two coaching course for the successful applicants.

Each applicant will also be assigned a mentor coach to support their learning needs and provided an individual development plan. The program also includes match-day AFLW experience and professional development opportunities with established AFL and AFLW coaches.

Applications are open until Friday October 8.

Click here for more information and to submit an application.