![](https://www.tennis.com.au/wa/files/2023/07/MicrosoftTeams-image-17-e1689799113316-700x450.jpg)
The inaugural Learn to Lead Leadership Program aimed at building leadership, life skills, and confidence in young women through tennis kicked off at the State Tennis Centre last Saturday.
Ten young women aged between 14 and 18 years old from around Perth and Western Australia participated in the course which commenced with a face-to-face full day session.
The eight-week youth leadership program continues weekly with six online sessions each Wednesday followed by a final face to face workshop and graduation at the State Tennis Centre.
Participants are supported by youth leadership experts in face to face, online and individual learning sessions, a digital learning platform and a supportive community of like-minded young people.
Ensuring they apply their learnings into real life experience, participants will also be guided to develop and implement an Action Learning Project to solve an issue in their local tennis communities.
Tennis West Women and Girls Coordinator Tamieka Whitefield was excited to see these young women continue to develop their leadership skills throughout the sessions.
“We know there are barriers for young women and gender diverse young people – from challenges in getting involved in tennis to connecting to your own power and stepping into leadership roles.”
“This program will equip these young women with the skills, confidence and knowledge for leadership,” said Whitefield.
“Amplifying the voices of young women in local tennis communities is vital to keeping them involved in the sport and in ensuring our tennis clubs are as welcoming and inclusive as possible,” Tennis Australia Head of Women and Girls Andrea Buckeridge said.
“We’ve seen many examples of the benefits of tennis participation, from creating more social connection to improving health and wellbeing. Providing further growth and leadership opportunities will help to keep young women involved in tennis and become leaders in their communities.”