Wallaroos legend Louise Burrows hopes a new scholarship program will pave the way for women to step into elite coaching roles in the future.
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The ACT government will fund 13 scholarships to give women a chance to further their coaching ambitions and break the ceiling which has limited females getting opportunities at the top.
Burrows and former Canberra Capitals skipper Carly Wilson are two of the recipients as they start thinking about life after their playing careers.
Burrows, 41, is still hopeful of being a part of the next women's World Cup in 2021, but is also preparing for a way to stay involved in rugby when the evergreen hooker.
"I know I'm coming towards the end of my elite career, but I hope I've still got a few years left in me," Burrows said.
"You start to think about what's next. Rugby has been a huge part of my life since I started playing in 1995.
"I know that when I do stop playing, I still want to be involved in the game. Coaching is an avenue I'm interested in.
"It would be able to give back to the sport that has given me so much. The game is growing, there's an exciting future for women's rugby."
Women's sport is experiencing a boom of popularity and growth, but there are certain areas still lagging.
Equal pay has been a major bugbear, highlighted by the United States World Cup-winning soccer team earlier this week.
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But a lack of elite female coaches in Australia has been identified as an area that needs attention.
Sport Australia started an AIS leadership program this year, giving 33 female coaches and executives mentoring and training to create more diversity in sport.
There were no female head coaches in the AFLW this year in a startling lack of female representation.
The ACT government is hoping to address that concern, offering scholarships to "bridge the gap".
Karen Breaden (rugby league), Madeleine Fleming (swimming), Kristol Pyke (baseball), Amanda Ingram (touch), Ashley Kara (rugby), Sharon De La Rosa (boxing), Karen Pon (table tennis), Lyndsey Simcoe (netball), Suzan Fulop (athletics), Rebecca Maher and Erin Osborne (cricket) will join with Wilson and Burrows.
"This is a great opportunity because there are no female players who have been at the elite level to help coach that next generation," Burrows said.
"There are more opportunities for females. In years to come, hopefully female coaches across most sports have a chance to make coaching a career, not just a hobby. Programs like this are exciting."