Volleyball WA is happy to be welcoming two new staff members, Kirsten Tyson, Club and People Development Coordinator and Michelle Hilbrands Discover Volleyball Coordinator (Social & All Abilities).

Kirsten is joining the Marketing and Communications Team, part-time to start while she completes her Sport & Recreation Management degree at Notre Dame. She started her working life as an Enrolled Nurse but following some work for a local soccer club the positive experience inspired her to pursue a career in sport.

Kirsten is a hockey player and currently a Team Manager at the Curtin University Football Club so sport is an obvious natural fit.

She is one of the only classmates to have secured a full-time role prior to graduating which she is grateful for and is looking forward to gaining a better understanding of volleyball and meeting and working with the clubs.

Michelle Hilbrands is someone many of you will already know as she has been part of the volleyball community for some time. She is joining the Participation Team, part-time on a short-term contract, and will be focused on building our All-Abilities program and social volley events.

Her Volleyball career started in Year 8 at Rossmoyne SHS in 1994. She has played in Schools Cups in Canberra and Melbourne, State Junior teams (1995-2001), and AVL teams in 2003, 2004, and 2006, and now enjoys coaching and being involved in the Balcatta Volleyball Club Committee.

Professionally, she is a Chartered Accountant and has worked for Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and several start-ups. In 2021 she finished a Honours in History at UWA, her thesis investigated the colonial attitudes that contributed to the transportation of Aboriginal prisoners from the Pilbara to Rottnest Prison between 1867 and 1902 and the conditions endured by those prisoners under colonial rule.

Michelle is excited to be involved in this exciting new space that Volleyball WA are expanding into with massive scope to introduce volleyball to a new demographic. She is hoping to expand the reach of volleyball and introduce the sport to people in a modified and adaptive format that will encourage the improvement of overall wellbeing and quality of life through physical movement, active engagement, and participation in a fun and supportive environment.

To get in touch with either of these people please feel free to call the office on 9228 8522 or via their email.