An instantly recognisable figure at 6’4, Caitlin began her professional netball career in Perth debuting at just 16 years old. Her rise in the sport was rapid with an international call up 4 years later and a surprise selection for the 2011 World Championships in Singapore. One of the youngest in the team she proved her selection when she come off the bench to shoot the winning goal in extra time. Fast forward to 2017 and with two World Championship gold medals and a Commonwealth Games gold under her belt Caitlin was named captain of the Australian team.
As a leader, Caitlin’s authentic style focuses on forming strong connections and empowering her teammates to lead alongside her. Off the court, Caitlin enrolled in a Broadcast and Journalism degree which she completed alongside her netball career.
In 2022 after 18 years of playing at the elite level, Caitlin announced her retirement from the game. With so many interests away from netball the options were endless as to which career path to choose. Putting her degree to good use Caitlin works across print, radio and TV and is currently part of the Fox Netball Commentary team. Using her experiences as an elite athlete Caitlin also works with Cricket NSW as a player development manager with the NSW Breakers. Her role is to provide individual guidance and support to players and encourage them to pursue work and study outside of sport.
Passionate about athlete wellbeing Caitlin works closely with the Australian Netball Players Association, the e-Safety Commissioner and Sport Integrity Australia for speaking engagements and presentations. She has a wealth of knowledge across multiple fields and brings enthusiasm and humour to any event she is involved in.
Talking Points
Leadership
Talking points:Leadership
- Leadership experiences, journey and development
- Different leadership styles and how they can be used in different situations
- How to become a better leader.
Key Take aways:
- Leadership can be learned
- You're not just ‘born with it’
- Own your leadership style and lead in a way that’s authentic to you
- Ask for feedback and find a leadership mentor to work with
Teamwork
Talking points: Teamwork
- The importance of different dynamics in a team
- Understanding how to manage different personalities
- Personal anecdotes from working in different high-performing teams
Key takeaways:
- Encouraging and including different personalities in a team
- Ways to manage different personalities and learning styles
- The importance of teamwork in high-performing teams
Motivation
Talking points: Motivation
- Motivation and goal setting
- How I stay motivated including tips and tricks
- Not beating yourself up if you lose motivation
Key takeaways:
- Setting up for success not failure with goals and motivation
- How to help motivate others
- Rewarding good motivation to encourage it.
Performing Under Pressure
Talking points:Performing Under Pressure
- Anecdotes of times I’ve been under pressure and failed
- Ways to practice to have success in pressured situations
- Why we feel pressure in certain situations
Key takeaways:
- Learning from the mistakes of others
- Getting rid of the fear of failure
- When pressure can help us perform
Resilience & Mental Toughness
Talking points: Resilience & Mental Toughness
- Challenges I’ve experienced playing at the elite level
- Big picture thinking
- The importance of asking for help
Key takeaways:
- How to build mental resilience
- Who to go to for help
- Recognising when others need help
