Water Polo Australia’s National Development program will take flight this July, with a group of Australia’s promising young female water polo athletes set to tour the Netherlands and Hungary with our National Institute Network (NIN) partners.
From 19 July to 3 August, the NIN/WPA Development Tour will see athletes travel to two of Europe’s strongest water polo nations for training sessions and competitive matches against their respective national programs and leading clubs.
The tour forms part of WPA’s ongoing commitment through the recently established National Development Programs to expanding high-quality national and international development opportunities for the next generation of Aussie Stingers and Sharks, with NIN partners NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) and Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) taking a lead role in its delivery.
NIN coaches Neven Cirkovic, Dusan Damjanovic and Kate Pipkin will provide the technical leadership throughout the tour, supported by an all-NIN Performance Support Team.
NSWIS Head Coach, Nevan Cirkovic said the exposure to international competition environments was essential for athletes on the cusp of national team contention.
“Being geographically isolated means athletes do not always have regular opportunities to benchmark themselves against the standards and styles of play they will encounter at major international events,” he said.
“These tours are incredibly important because they help bridge that gap. They expose athletes to different styles of water polo, increase tactical adaptability and game intelligence, and challenge them to develop the resilience and behaviours required to perform consistently on the world stage.”
QAS High Performance Manager Kate Spilsbury said she’s looking forward to seeing the athletes develop and grow against international competition.
“What’s most exciting is the opportunity for athletes to immerse themselves in new environments and test themselves against strong international opposition. Experiences like this are critical for their development and readiness for future international competition.”
Cirkovic said the collaborative nature of the tour, bringing together NSWIS, QAS and WPA under a shared performance framework, will be central to its impact.
“By aligning our programs and combining expertise across coaches and performance support staff, we can provide athletes with consistent messaging and development experiences that reflect the demands and values of the Australian national team.
“These partnerships create a stronger pathway for athletes and ensure that development opportunities are purposeful, connected and centred around producing future Stingers who can compete successfully on the international stage.”
Spilsbury said the importance of collaboration for this tour is important for the development opportunities for the athletes.
“This tour highlights the value of strong national alignment between QAS, NSWIS and Water Polo Australia. By working together, we can deliver targeted international experiences that accelerate athlete development and strengthen the high-performance pathway,” she said.
Beyond the pool, Cirkovic said the experience of collective living and navigating the demands of international travel would be just as formative for the athletes selected.
“Tours like these give athletes a genuine taste of what high performance looks like beyond the pool. They provide opportunities to demonstrate the behaviours, professionalism and standards that align with the values of the Australian teams and Stingers while representing their country and their programs with pride.”
Water Polo Australia would like to congratulate the following athletes on their selection for the NIN/WPA Development Tour:
Saskia Dunn (NSW)
Ella Fraser (NSW)
Samantha Hardingham (NSW)
Samantha Henderson (NSW)
Jasmine Higgs (NSW)
Chelsea Isaac (NSW)
Chelsea Johnson (QLD)
Olivia Mitchell (NSW)
Ebony Nash (NSW)
Sienna Owen (QLD)
Ani Pamp (NSW)
Pippa Pedley (WA)
Layla Smith (NSW)
Charley Stephens (NSW)
Matilda Waugh (NSW)
Alyssa West (SA/QLD)
