Photo Credit: LinkedIn Profile Photo of Joanne Broadbent OAM
Cricket Australia (CA) has announced the three new members of the Female Match Referee Talent Pathway Program.
Joanne Broadbent (QLD), Sarah Elliott (Vic) and Janine Stainer (NSW) were the successful applicants and will join our Match Referee Program for the duration of the summer and throughout the 2024-25 season.
The Female Match Referee Talent Pathway Program is part of CA’s commitment to providing greater opportunities for women in various roles across Australian Cricket.
Broadbent and Elliott are both former Australian players and Stainer is a leading administrator, and they will bring with them a wealth of experience at all levels of the game.
As part of the program, they will be mentored by a current Match Referee in the remaining months of this season before receiving more training over the off-season and into season 2024-25.
Sarah Elliott, Australian Test player and Female Match Referee Talent Pathway Program member said:
“I’m really pleased to be part of the program and looking forward to learning more about the role with a view to joining the panel.
“It is important that women are given opportunities to contribute to all areas of the game and I’m really glad this program will give three of us the chance to use our experience to benefit cricket.”
Luke O’Brien, CA Match Officials Manager, said:
“Joanne, Sarah and Janine already have a wonderful standing in the game, and we were delighted to have women of their calibre apply for the program.
“They all come with strong cricket pedigrees and from a range of different backgrounds, and I’m confident they will enhance match officiating in this country and inspire more women to participate in this area of the game.”
Joanne Broadbent OAM: Had a distinguished playing career for South Australia, Queensland and Australia playing 10 Tests and 60 ODIs and was the first Australian woman to score a Test match double hundred when she hit 200 against England in Guildford in 1998.
She has had an extensive coaching career in Australia and New Zealand and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours for service to cricket.
Sarah Elliott: Represented Australia in three Tests, 22 ODIs and 14 T20Is and was a member of the successful 2010 World Cup team and several Ashes campaigns including 2013 when she scored a century against England at Wormsley.
She will combine match refereeing with her roles as a Paediatric Physiotherapist and Head of Cricket at Melbourne’s Caulfield Grammar.
Janine Stainer: An experienced cricket administrator, Stainer was the Australian and Australia U21 team manager from 2000-2009, was a Victoria and NSW selector and was a member of the Cricket NSW Women’s Advisory Committee.
She undertook the Cricket Australia Female Match Referee Scholarship in 2018 and works for SSI, a not-for-profit organisation that settles and supports refugees.
