Being an elite athlete while still at school can create many challenges. Finding the balance between schoolwork and the demands of a high-level training program can leave many students depleted emotionally and physically.
St Hilda’s Head of Sport, Kobie McGurk, recognised this challenge and sought to address it through a new program designed for students on a pathway to elite-level sport. The Athlete Development Program (ADP) is designed to support students’ thriving and developing habits that will help their engagement in elite-level sports while maintaining their academic studies at St Hilda’s. The purpose is to build resilient and future-ready athletes who can apply the skills taught in all aspects of their lives.
Arabella (Year 10) is an elite swimmer and part of the ADP, a new initiative in 2024 that was made possible through a generous donation by Geoff Goldsmith in honour of his mother and Old Scholar, Jill Goldsmith (Maxwell, 1952).
Arabella competes in swimming at the state and national level and can train up to 15 hours per week despite a busy academic schedule. The ADP provides her with a comprehensive and holistic approach to managing this and upskills students in leadership, performance management, goal setting, nutrition, injury prevention and well-being.
The program aims to uncover personal meaning in elite sports or redefine and reimagine elite sports in personally meaningful ways. Arabella has found workshops on nutrition particularly helpful, with advice coming directly from visiting sports dietitians. She has applied tips from lessons and guest speakers to her training regime.
Arabella shared,
“Ms McGurk has put so much time and effort into helping athletes at St Hilda get everything they need. As an athlete, she knows how difficult it can be to juggle school and sporting life. She is working to help us with whatever we need, whether a study or rest period, an overloading strength and conditioning session, or even if we just need to chat with her. She is always super helpful and there for us.”
