The EFA education pathway incorporates Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping, Show Horse, Carriage Driving and Vaulting.

The EFA coach education structures are managed by the EFA National Education Manager, whose role is facilitated by the EFA’s National NCAS Committee, comprising elected representatives from each branch.

The EFA aims to train coaches who meet the needs of the equestrian community. Since the 1983, the EFA has trained and accredited over 2,000 equestrian coaches. The lower level courses (Introductory) are for beginner coaches to coach basic competitive riders within the learner levels of the sport. The higher-level courses (level 3) provide skills and knowledge relating to all aspects of elite coaching.

All EFA coaching courses are delivered by EFA (national and branch) together with highly trained and experienced coaches who work in the equestrian sport industry. These ‘industry coaches’, known as EFA Coach Educators, are required to keep up-to-date with industry progress and developments, and in particular the EFA coach education scheme.

The EFA aims to produce coaches who can meet the needs of the equestrian ‘sport recreation’ and ‘performance’ sectors. All EFA accredited coaches are recognized nationally (and in part, internationally) and have the benefit of a comprehensive insurance cover.

The EFA is a membership organization, dedicated to helping coaches with professional development and thus allowing them to apply their craft more effectively within the Australian Community. In this regard, the EFA has created a comprehensive ‘Coach Development Pathway’

The MEM/EFA/NCAS, in line with the Australian Sports Commision and vocational training policy, has incorporated the principles of Recognition of Current Competency into its coach training and accreditation program at all levels.

Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) is an acknowledgement that all people gain skills and knowledge in many different ways. This may through prior learning via formal training and/or life and work experiences.

RCC is also a system that ensures that all relevant skills and knowledge that someone has gained before a coaching course is started can be taken into account, thereby avoiding trainees having to participate in unnecessary repeat learning experiences.

Examples of prior learning are:

• Recent (within 4 years) completion of a recognized training program, e.g. a Diploma in Horse Management or another coaching course (here and overseas)
• Recent work with an assistant coach with an appropriately accredited official (CE)
• Recent work as coach learning on-the-job
• Recent acquisition of knowledge through formal and informal self-education by reading relevant material, observing other coaches, discussing methods with other coaches, watching coach education video program and talking with riders.

When trainees start the MEM/EFA/NCAS coaching education program, they already know and are able to perform some of the learning outcomes to the standard required. RCC will assist the trainees to identify these outcomes and assess the skills against the stated learning outcomes at a convenient time rather than doing repeat training before the final assessment. The process must be fair and equitable and the measure valid and reliable, in line with other assessment.

It is up to the trainee to apply for RCC. To be able to do this, they will need help from:

• The Training Coordinator
• Currently registered Coach.

The responsibility for making RCC work lies with all these people. It is the trainees’ responsibility to collect evidence to show that they already have the skills and knowledge for which they are claiming RCC.