RDA National Assessor
“I am passionate about RDA, that is why I have been involved since 1988 and I continue to be today.”
RDA Centres play a vital role in the community, not only for the activities provided for the riders and drivers, but for the volunteers. There is a sense of belonging to an RDA Centre, where people from all walks of life can get together to benefit the participants.
Volunteers are well trained in the roles they must perform and this too builds confidence and self-esteem.
RDA National Assessors play an important role in the development of, not only RDA Centres, but the people that work within them too.
National Assessors have 3 roles to play:
- Mentor
- Coach Educator
- National Assessor
As a Mentor, the Centre can be established and guidance given on horse acquisition and training, fundraising, finding a suitable venue and communicating with Disability service groups or schools to find participants for the program.
As a Coach Educator, volunteers are trained the RDA way, the safest way, to handle horses, assist participants and then teach. Suitable, willing coach candidates are trained with expert guidance, allowing for their own individual coaching style to develop. There is a mutual respect between Assessors and Coach Candidates. Coaches must have the respect of the volunteers they are working with too, so it is important that the Centre Committee endorses the candidate for training as a Coach.
As an Assessor, on Assessment day for the Coach Candidate, there will be nerves, deriving from the respect for the Assessor. It is helpful for the Assessor and Candidate to know each other prior to this day to help alleviate the nerves!
I have been in all of the above situations: a new volunteer, not knowing if riders understood English, to a Coach Candidate with a Mentor and then Assessor that I respected but was so nervous of because I didn’t really know them!
As an RDAA Coach Educator and National Assessor now, I try very hard not to make people nervous. This can be very hard and sometimes I have had to hide behind the mounting ramp! Riders can get nervous too if they have not met you before which is why being a Mentor to the Centre can break the ice and help you become more familiar to everyone involved.
My experience in RDA includes begin a Centre Coach, Region Coordinator, State Coach, Mentor, Coach Educator and National Assessor. Without the support of some wonderful RDA Coaches, I would not have had this experience and therefore would not be able to assist riders, volunteers and Coaches as I do today.
I am passionate about RDA, that is why I have been involved since 1988 and I continue to be today.
Sally Watson RDA Victoria
Sally Watson was acknowledged for her many, many years of voluntary service to RDA, winning the RDA National Volunteer Service Excellence Award in 2018!