When Libby Cook-Black launched The Female Co, her vision was clear: she wanted to create and nurture a platform that would empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to access resources, support and opportunities. By doing so – whether focused on sport, in the workplace or in the classroom – she hoped they could get closer to turning their dreams into reality
The Female Co is a Cairns-based not-for-profit organisation whose reach extends throughout Far North Queensland to deliver a range of high-performance programs aimed at nurturing and promoting female talent at various stages of their athletic journeys.
Young female athletes can be part of an Emerging Athlete Program, or an Elite Athlete Program, with access to mentoring and educational sessions, as well as positive promotion of their peers and pursuits.
Equipping young women with skills and confidence
The Female Co’s First Nations Academy officially launched this December, with Cook-Black describing her unique vision for the Academy as much more than just a program. She says it’s a pathway and a foundation that’s purpose-built to equip young women with the skills and confidence they need to step into high-performance spaces and thrive.
“We are really excited because this is a pathway program to supporting our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes to understand what it takes to commit to a high-performance program,” Cook-Black says.
“And this is their taste of what it would be like to be a part of either the emerging or elite program for next year.”
Through sport and high-performance principles, Cook-Black says it’s about helping young women prepare to stand with the best – giving them the tools, mindset and support to be top performers in all aspects of life, both off and on the sports field.
The Female Co’s declared mission is to close the opportunity gap for women, fostering a community where every woman and girl can achieve her full potential and feel set up for success. Cook-Black says the organisation will do this by ensuring women have access to “every skill, every support, and every chance to make their dreams a reality”.
“I guess the way we are using this is to get Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes together, give them a taste in the gym…recovery, give them education around what it takes to commit to a high-performance program within sport, and then hoping they will continue the journey with us next year and in the emerging or elite programs.”
