feb.15.2006

Mel Tantrum from Australia has commenced working in the TTOC office as part of a joint project of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Sport Development Program, Australian Sports Commission, Victorian Government and Australian Volunteers International. Mel will be setting up a Sport Development Program in the area of Athlete Talent Identification and Coach Education that will benefit the development of future athletes in Trinidad and Tobago.

Currently living in Perth, Western Australia, Mel works as a Principal Lecturer at Central TAFE. In this role, Mel prepares students for employment in the Sport and Recreation industry as Development Officers. Mel also coaches swimming at West Coast Swimming Club, the 2 nd overall club at the recent Commonwealth Games Swimming Trials in Melbourne. Two members from Mel’s team were selected to represent Australia at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Several other team members have been selected on other Australian and Youth teams.

Originally from New Zealand, Mel has a Bachelor of Physical Education (1991) and Master of Physical Education (1996) from the University of Otago, New Zealand. In addition, Mel completed a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training (2002). Mel is a Silver License (Level 2) Swimming Coach and often conducts coach education clinics and seminars for coaches.

Mel has previous experience working in the capacity of a Development Manager for New Zealand Swimming Federation and a Development Officer for Western Australian Swimming Association. In these roles, she was actively involved in a broad range of activities including conducting coaching clinics and camps, promoting and coordinating swim meets, working with the media and volunteers to promote the sport, and conducting Talent ID and coach education programs.

Mel will be based at the TTOC office until the end of June. She will be traveling back to Australia briefly in March for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games where she will working at the swimming competition as a Team Liaison Officer for several Caribbean teams, including Trinidad and Tobago.