A Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) student and member of La Trobe’s Elite Athlete Program (LEAP), Charlotte was a training partner with the Melbourne Vixens, named in the VNL Team of the Year after another strong season with the Bendigo Strikers Netball and claimed the club’s MVP award. But the ultimate highlight came when she represented Australia at the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar, helping the team bring home gold.
"The moment that stands out the most would have to be representing Australia and winning the World Youth Cup with the Under 21 team," Charlotte said.
"Representing my country was already such an incredible honour, but standing on court as world champions, celebrating with my teammates after we had beaten New Zealand in the final, was a feeling that I'll never forget."
Charlotte says her motivation and balance come from the people around her.
"I'm really lucky to have such a supportive network of family and friends as well as people within each team that make what I do so enjoyable," she said.
"Although it is tough at times to manage the different demands from each team and somehow still find a balance between sport, study and my personal life, it's worth it when I remind myself how far I've come.
"I stay motivated by focusing on the bigger picture and keep pushing when things get hectic because I know that with hard work, opportunities will present themselves."
As part of La Trobe’s Elite Athlete Program (LEAP), Charlotte has found vital support in managing the challenges of elite sport and university life.
"The LEAP program has honestly been a lifesaver this year - with the World Youth Cup, VNL and my commitments as a Vixens training partner, there were times when balancing study and training would've felt almost impossible," Charlotte said.
"They helped me manage extensions, organise my placement and stay on top of my workload when I was missing classes whilst travelling or in heavy training blocks. Having that level of support made it possible to give my full focus to netball when I needed to, without falling behind in my classes this year."
Organisation and flexibility have also been key.
"It definitely takes a lot of organisation and a bit of flexibility too. This year I was often training multiple times a week, playing for Bendigo Strikers and travelling for Vixens Academy games on weekends, all while keeping up with uni. I’ve learnt to plan ahead, communicate early with lecturers and coaches and make time to rest when I can. Having good people around me and living with housemates who understand the demands of both sport and study makes a huge difference."
For Charlotte, representing Bendigo on the national and world stage is a source of deep pride.
"It means a lot - growing up in Bendigo, I had so many great coaches, teams and local opportunities that helped shape me as a player," Charlotte said.
"When Strikers was added to the VNL two years ago, without a doubt I knew I had to be a part of it and winning the champs MVP again was so special and not something I had ever expected considering the growth of the club.
"To be able to represent not just Australia, but also the regional community that supported me from the start, is something I’m really proud of. I hope to show young regional players that opportunities like this are possible no matter where you're from."
Interested in how La Trobe supports elite athletes like Charlotte? Learn more about our Elite Athlete Program — part of the nationally accredited Elite Athlete Education Network by the Australian Institute of Sport https://brnw.ch/21wXp8J
