W32: Carlile Foundation and SwimAus Join Forces

“OUR object is not to produce a champion but to provide an atmosphere where champions are inevitable.”

And for the Carlile Swimming Team this also means paving the way for female coaches.

Today, Swimming Australia is proud to announce the next intake of high-potential female coaching talent as part of its W32 Project, proudly supported by the Carlile Foundation.

Now in its second year, W32 is a project to mentor and support talented female coaches as they progress through the ranks towards Dolphin representation.

The project is enthusiastically supported by funding from the Carlile Foundation, in recognition of Ursula Carlile, who was and remains the only female Head Coach of the Australian Olympic swim team.

And in the Carlile’s Michaela Pattinson, the legacy lives on.

The initiative has already supported 28 female coaches with the likes of Pattinson, coach of Olympic and World Championship gold-medallist, Olivia Wunsch, mentoring the likes of Jodi Armstrong, an inaugural member of Project W32.

“It’s vitally important that the pipeline of female coaching talent is strengthened and supported by practical opportunities to learn and develop, by providing access to mentorship and professional networks, and by overcoming workplace environments that have been less than inclusive for female coaches,” Tim Ford, board member of Swimming Australia and Director of the Carlile Foundation, said.

“Forbes and Ursula Carlile, would be passionately supportive of this project given the trailblazing path that Ursula trod in her courageous and determined pursuit to be recognised as one of Australia’s most successful and impactful coaches.”

Swimming Australia’s vision is to build an inclusive pathway that ensures that every woman, from grassroots to elite performance levels, has the tools and support to excel and elevate their coaching career in Australia.

Pattinson, an elite coach of more than two decades, said: “W32 is a great initiative providing inspiration to the future of our female coaching cohort.”

“The education and learnings provided in the program ensure that coaches feel empowered with the knowledge and tools to continue to develop Australia’s future Dolphins.

“And initiatives like this enable women to not only develop but stay in coaching. It is with Carlile’s support I’m pregnant with my second – and still on pool deck at Commonwealth Games Trials in Sydney.

“This is world best practice – and I am so proud to be part of a club that has been visionary since 1946.”

2026 W32 Cohort List

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