Eight Strong: Coaching Team Grows at Townsville Judo
Published: 2 July 2025
On Saturday 28 June, Townsville Judo Club proudly hosted a Coaching Accreditation Framework (CAF) course at the Townsville Sports Precinct, led by Shane Alvisio, National Participation Manager at Judo Australia. Shane visited as part of a broader trip up the Queensland coast, engaging with regional clubs to support coach education and club development.
The day followed Shane’s Friday night visit to our dojo, where he joined us for a randori (sparring / freestyle practice) session with some of our senior members. His presence added great energy to the mat as he shared some tips and tricks.
Saturday’s CAF course was designed to equip judo coaches with the tools to deliver safe, inclusive, and engaging judo instruction across all age groups. It included both theoretical presentations and interactive, on-mat activities. Each coach took turns demonstrating games and fundamental techniques to their peers and to Shane, creating a practical and collaborative learning environment.
We are delighted to welcome five new senseis into our growing coaching crew:
Jason Ginn
Boyd McMahon
John Robinson
Peter Shepherd
Vlass Giannikos
They join our existing coaching team of Toni Edkins, Brent Rickards, and Andrew Wright, giving Townsville Judo a strong and diverse group of eight accredited coaches, each bringing a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the mat. Click here to see all our senseis.
In the spirit of regional cooperation, we were also pleased to host Gabby and Oliver from Nippon Seibukan, who joined us for the course. Their presence contributed to a well-rounded and collaborative learning environment and reflects a united effort to elevate judo coaching standards throughout the region.
All participating coaches were required to complete online learning modules beforehand, covering essential coaching skills such as participant engagement, safe session planning, effective communication, stakeholder management, group management, and self-reflection to enhance the overall sporting experience. Additionally, coaches completed the CDC HEADS UP Concussion Course to ensure thorough understanding of concussion awareness, symptom recognition, proper response procedures, and safe return-to-activity management. All our coaches are also required to maintain current Blue Cards, First Aid, and CPR certifications.
The CAF course is a cornerstone of Judo Australia’s national coaching development system. Its focus includes:
Safe coaching practices and child protection
Engaging and age-appropriate instruction
Inclusive training environments that maximise participation
Structured coach progression from entry-level to advanced
Ongoing updates reflecting best-practice coaching
With this latest round of accreditation, Townsville Judo Club now boasts one of the most qualified and well-supported coaching teams in regional Queensland. As we look to expand our class offerings (including sessions for 3–5 year olds in the near future) we are proud to offer our members a safe, professional, and supportive judo experience. All of our coaches are dedicated volunteers supporting our not-for-profit club.
A huge thank you to Shane Alvisio for making the journey north again and sharing his knowledge with us. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this training across our club in the months to come.
