The 2023 National She Can Coach Program presented by BHP commenced last weekend, with 24 emerging coaches participating in this year's program.

Natalie Pribil, the 2022 BHP Community Coach of the Year, was one of the coaches selected for the program.

The She Can Coach Program presented by BHP was established to increase the number of women in coaching, improve their capacity, increase the visibility of coaching role models for women, and develop a network of women in coaching across all levels of the game.

BHP President Australia Geraldine Slattery congratulated Pribil on being recognised as the Community Coach of the Year and continuing her development in the She Can Coach program.

“Congratulations to Natalie on being awarded the 2022 BHP Community Coach of the Year. Natalie’s ability to create connections while fostering a safe, inclusive and fun environment for the young girls under her care is to be celebrated,” Slattery said.

“BHP is proud to continue our support of the 2023 She Can Coach program that Natalie is taking part in. 

"Grassroots football is the backbone of so many communities – and it’s leaders such as Natalie and those in the She Can Coach program that help make this accessible, while also progressing the representation and empowerment of women and girls in sport across Australia.”

2022 BHP Community Coach of the Year

The BHP Community Coach Award recognises the outstanding performance and contribution community coaches make to progressing women’s football and shaping their local community.

Natalie Pribil was acknowledged for her hard work and dedication as the head coach of the Beaumaris Junior Football Club’s Under 14 Girls Division 1 team at the W Awards in 2022.

AFL GM Women’s Football, Nicole Livingstone said Pribil’s coaching philosophy of connection, kindness and fun drew the judging panel’s attention when determining the winner.

“Natalie’s contribution to our game from the beginning of her journey as a runner for Mordi Brae Football Club, to a premiership winning head coach is inspiring to many, and now the Beaumaris Junior Football Club is richer for having her,” Livingstone said.

“Arguably, her greatest achievement as a coach is standing as a female role model and leader in our game and the significant impact she has had on inspiring and connecting young girls with footy.

"Her philosophy around instilling the love of the game in these girls through kindness, creating connections and fun, embodies the vision that we have for women’s football.”

The 2023 BHP Community Coach of the Year Award will be open for nominations in May.

Community members can nominate coaches here who demonstrate exceptional support of girl's and women’s football and gender equality in the community.

2023 She Can Coach presented by BHP participants

The AFL is committed to progressing the game for women and girls and achieving the AFL’s Women’s Football Vision 2030.

The BHP Women’s Coaching Academy - now in its fifth year - sees the best emerging women coaches undertake a 12-month program to expedite their development as coaches. They complete the National AFL Level 3 Coaching Accreditation Course and build their skills across leadership, mental fitness, and communication. 28 women coaches have already graduated from the program, including senior coaches Lauren Arnell (Port Adelaide) and Natalie Wood (Essendon). 

The AFL’s Women’s Coaching Acceleration Program co-funds nine full-time positions for women coaches at AFL clubs, along with soft-cap exemptions. The program involves a formal mentorship with a senior men’s AFL coach and a Level 3 AFL Coaching Accreditation over a two-year period.

The AFL created the Leadership Advisory Group to provide guidance and assist the AFL to deliver on the outcomes set in the Women and Girls Game Development Action Plan, to create equal opportunities for women to play, coach, umpire, officiate, administer, and govern the game. The group is co-chaired by Susan Alberti AC and Rob Auld.

The AFL’s Women in Football Talent Program is a six-month program designed to accelerate women’s progression into leadership roles within club football departments. Five women across the AFL and clubs were provided opportunities to develop their capabilities in the areas such as recruiting, list management, TPP and soft cap management, governance and integrity, training and match day operations, and media.

The AFL has appointed Umpire Recruitment, Retention and Development Leads in each state, allowing a significantly greater focus on the experiences of community umpires and how we can support community leagues and clubs to recruit, retain and develop umpires nationally.
GenW Executive Leadership Program is a bespoke executive leadership program for eight senior women working in the AFL industry. Participants include trailblazers Trisha Squires, Elisa Koch, Debbie Lee, Laura Kane, Natalie Fagg, Kerrie Brewer, Kasey Passmore and Sarah Albon.

The AFL has committed $5 million in new investment to fund phase one of the Women and Girls Action Plan for the next three years, designed to drive participation and representation for women and girls across all aspects of community football nationally, from playing to coaching, umpiring, and administering. 

The AFL appointed Australian Football Hall of Famer Debbie Lee to the role of National Women and Girls Action Plan Lead to help drive the implementation of the Women and Girls Action Plan, including supporting more women and girls into umpiring and working to ensure umpire associations and clubs provide a safe physical and cultural environment. 

Lisa Lawry was appointed as General Manager Umpiring. Lisa was previously General Manager of People at Essendon Football Club and has a long history of driving cultural change and opportunities for women.

The number of women and girls umpiring at a community level has increased by 7%, with current registrations up 6% compared to this time last year.
More female umpires were selected for the AFLW Season Seven panel (63% increase), with 46% of goal umpires being female.

As a result of the increase in female representation, more female umpires were selected for AFLW Season Seven finals (8% increase), with 50/50 representation in grand final selection for goal umpires.

The AFL have invested $400,000 each year over the next three years to the development of umpire coaches at a community level, including increasing their skills and ability to create safe and inclusive environments in umpiring clubs.

Facility investment in gender neutral umpire changerooms resulting in now being at 52% up from 39% in 2017