Eighteen Queenslanders named in SLSA's Women's Mentoring Program

Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) is proud to announce the launch of the second Women’s Mentoring Program with 42 women from Club’s across the country to take part in the 12-month program.

The new group of 21 mentors and 21 mentees have been selected to participate in the program designed to strengthen leadership skills and develop the next generation of female leaders.

18 of those selected to participate in the program are Queenslanders. 

Sharlene Kelly (Noosa), Lisa Maddison (Kurrawa, Surfers & Miami), Rachael Clarke (Pacific), Carol Templeton (Southport), Ruth Kelly (Alexandra Headland) and Jenny Miller (BMD Northcliffe) will be mentors. 

While Abbey Holyman (Currumbin), Aleisha Edwards (Metropolitan Caloundra), Bailie Nash (Kirra), Claudia Fien (Point Danger Branch), Georgia Martin (Elliott Heads), Irene Cats (Port Douglas), Jessica Simpson (Dicky Beach), Leigh McCready (Noosa), Lisa Scott (Yeppoon), Natalie Kuhnemann (Mermaid Beach), Sonita Leng-Cole (Kurrawa & Alexandra Headland) and Tara Emery (Dicky Beach) are the mentees.

SLSA Life Member and Board Director, Suzanne Storrie, a key driver behind the Women’s Mentoring Program said she was delighted with the progress of the initial program and equally as excited about the second.

“We were overwhelmed by the quality of applicants initially received and are proud to be able to launch a new group of mentors and mentees only eight months after our first group,” said Storrie.

“The program allows us to connect the many talented females within our movement and the growth and development that has occurred with our initial group has been nothing short of inspirational.

“It has been incredible to listen and watch both the mentees and mentors learn and grow from this experience, with many discovering passions, securing new jobs and of course using their experience to strengthen and enrich their own Surf Life Saving community.”

SLSA is thankful for the generous support of McCarthy Mentoring for helping to make this initiative possible.

The second intake will continue until January 2022 with successful applicants as follows:

MENTORS – Sandy Clarke (Mullaloo, WA), Susie Paliskis (Toowoon Bay, NSW), Melanie Rainey (Coogee Beach, WA), Joanne Stolp (Carlton Park, TAS), Sharlene Kelly (Noosa, QLD), Lisa Maddison (Kurrawa, Surfers, Miami, QLD), Ngiare Brown (Coledale, NSW), Jacinta Day (Seacliff, SA), Rachael Clarke (Pacific, QLD), Carol Templeton (Southport, QLD), Gail Henderson (Redhead, NSW), Lauren Darge (Esperance Goldfields, WA), Ruth Kelly (Alexandra Headland, QLD), Rebecca Langdon (Salt, NSW), Cheryl McCarthy (Bermagui, NSW), Roslyn Manuel (Clovelly, NSW), Nicole Krite (Bondi, NSW), Jenny Miller (BMD Northcliffe, QLD), Jenny Taylor (Trigg Island, WA), Robyn Wonson (Fingal Rovers, NSW), Rosie Taliano (North Bondi, NSW).

MENTEES – Abbey Holyman (Currumbin Vikings, QLD), Aleisha Edwards (Metropolitan Caloundra, QLD), Bailie Nash (Kirra, QLD), Claudia Fien (Point Danger Branch, QLD), Courtney Franz (Cottesloe, WA), Elise Stallard (Coogee Beach, WA), Georgia Martin (Elliott Heads, QLD), Irene Cats (Port Douglas, QLD), Jemma Oldroyd (Shellharbour, NSW), Jessica Simpson (Fremantle & Dicky Beach, WA), Leigh McCready (Noosa, QLD), Lisa Scott (Yeppoon, QLD), Mollie Murphy (Umina, NSW), Natalie Kuhnemann (Mermaid Beach, QLD), Nicola Logan (Coogee, NSW), Sally McKenzie (Geraldton, WA), Sarah Richardson (Moruya, NSW), Sharon Deans (Coogee, NSW), Shelley Smith (Ocean Baths & Umina, NSW), Sonita Leng-Cole (Kurrawa & Alexandra Headland, QLD), Tara Emery (Dicky Beach, QLD).

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Surf Life Saving Australia created the Women’s Mentoring Program in 2020, which is designed to strengthen and support females in positions of leadership in Surf Life Saving.

The program pairs 21 mentors with 21 mentees who will support each other across the next 12 months. Facilitating empowerment, support and leadership skills will all be part of the program, which participants can then use and apply to their paid roles inside and outside of Surf Life Saving, volunteer activities and everyday life.