Aslan Shand
Young women and girls across regional NSW were recently given the opportunity to come together as part of a three-day tennis camp in Mullumbimby, combining on-court coaching with off-court confidence and leadership building.
‘The three-day program combines high-quality on-court coaching with leadership development, wellbeing, nutrition and personal growth, helping participants build the confidence and skills to thrive both on and off the court and build meaningful friendships with girls from across regional NSW,’ said organisers.
The camp was held at the Mullumbimby Tennis Centre and has been created specifically for girls aged 12–16 years and is aimed at increasing participation, supporting player pathways,and creating positive experiences that encourage girls to remain involved in the sport.
Charlotte Brigel, Northern Rivers Tennis Foundation (NRTF) Director, told The Echo that ‘girls in regional areas don’t usually get access to these programs. Having had a career in sport and media, it meant so much to me to be involved and see girls connecting through tennis, and Tennis NSW lean in and trust Mullumbimby Tennis Club to host the first ever “Advantage – Girls Development Camp”.’
Building confidence
The girls learnt from former Australian professional tennis player, Olympian and Tennis NSW Women & Girls Lead Casey Dellacqua, alongside experienced regional coaches, mentors and industry professionals.
Dellacqua said positive women role models and supportive environments play an important role in retaining teenage girls in sport.
‘Tennis has given me opportunities that have shaped my life, and I’m passionate about helping more girls discover what’s possible through the sport.
‘This camp is a chance for girls to build confidence, make connections and learn from women who have taken many different pathways through tennis.’
Leading tennis coach Helen Magill said, ‘For many girls, sport becomes about much more than competition. It’s about belonging, building confidence and discovering what you’re capable of.’
‘The Advantage Girls Development Camp has been intentionally designed to create an environment where girls can develop their tennis while also growing as young people. We want every participant to leave with greater confidence, stronger connections and a renewed belief in what they can achieve, both on and off the court,’ she said.
Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, was among the guests, and later posted publicly about the impact of the day.
‘Their energy, curiosity and love of the game said everything about why events like this matter,’ she wrote, describing the panel as ‘an extraordinary group of women’ and calling the initiative proof that “there’s a place for [young women] in sport, on court and off it.’
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