When Gymnastics Waitara received its 2025 Voice of Participant results, one message from gymnasts and families stood out: they wanted to see more coaches on the floor. The club listened and, by reaching out through its membership and wider community, has welcomed three new coaches and one student coach to the team.

The response highlighted the strong connections that already exist around the club. One new coach is a former gymnast whose daughter is now part of the competitive programme, bringing her full circle back to the sport she grew up in. Another is a parent from within the club community who brings a background in jiu-jitsu and was looking for a rewarding change into coaching. Their new student coach is a current competitive gymnast eager to start giving back to the club that has been part of her own experience, while another parent, also a former competitive gymnast and with two children currently in the club’s programmes, has stepped forward to give a few hours each week back to her community.

Each new coach has completed the required onboarding process and joined the wider coaching team, where weekly catch-ups provide an opportunity to share ideas, support each other and work through challenges. An in-house coaching clinic is also planned for later this term to continue building their skills and confidence.

As Centre Manager Hayley has watched the new coaches settle in, it’s their growing confidence and connection with the gymnasts that has stood out.

“One of the best parts of this whole process has been watching their confidence grow in training — straight up on the bars and beams, joining in with the gymnasts, building relationships, and clearly having a ball. They’ve fitted into our club culture so naturally; it already feels like they’ve always been here.”

The club is also developing its existing coaching team, with one coach progressing into a full-time GFA coach role after first coming through Gymnastics Waitara’s programmes as a participant herself. She is now working through her coaching qualifications while continuing to build her skills and experience.

For Gymnastics Waitara’s members, more coaches on the floor means more support, attention and opportunities to get the most from their time in the gym. But the response to their feedback has also strengthened the club in another way — drawing on people already connected to the club and creating new opportunities for them to contribute.

As Hayley reflected, “We felt our families deserved to have their feedback taken on board.” By telling the club what mattered to them, participants and families have helped Gymnastics Waitara make a practical change that will benefit their experience while continuing to strengthen the community around the club.