Head Coach/ Director

With over 38 years of Dance experience training in Cheer, Jazz, Tap, Classical, and Musical Theatre. Sonia has performed professionally in professional children's entertainment for many years, working regulary for Nickelodeon, Warner Bros, Entertainment Store, Showtime Attraction, Cartoon Network, ABC Kids and Disney.  Performing in Live Children's Entertainment as a compere and dancer which includes suit characters both in Australia and Asia.  Sonia also has an extensive background in Musical Theatre, Corporate Functions, Cabaret Shows and Cheerleading at NRL, WNBL and Big V.

Sonia has coached dance since her early teens including choreographing many sporting and corporate events. Her travels around the world landed her in the United Kingdom for 3 years when asked by a professional soccer club to take on a small group of young girls to coach cheerleading.  Embracing her new squad Sonia built a very successful program with the club along with coaching in several primary and secondary schools. There she gained her first cheer coaching qualifications with NCSSE and has gained further qualifications with USASF and AACCA in Australia.  After returning to Melbourne end of 2006 she soon opened the doors of Cheer Factor for the very first time in 2007 introducing Cheerleading to the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne

Sonia has well and truly embraced Cheer and is now in her 10th year of running Cheer Factor. She is also a very busy mum and wife and with the great support of her family and friends ,finds a way of juggling both aspects of her life. 

Pom Dance, Tinies and Mini Novice Coach and Administration

After working as a professional performer both in Australia and overseas and continues to work in children’s live entertainment. Shelley ran her own theatrical dance school for 18 years teaching all facets of dance to all ages. During that time, she became head cheer coach for the Hume City Broncos and provided entertainment at the '93 VBL Men's grand final. Since joining Cheer Factor All Stars, Shelley has gone on to gain her cheer qualifications through Gymnastics Australia and USASF.

Shelley has been a part of the CFAS coaching team and admin since CFAS opened its doors in 2007.

Tumble and Cheer Coach

Amanda started at CFAS as a Cheer mum before show her gymnastics skills and knowledge. She is now a very import part of the CFAS Coaching and Admin department.  

At the age of 6 competing at state level till her late teens. She began coaching at the age of 15 at Gisbourn and Romsey Gymnastics club. Amanda also trained at MSAC as a Spring board and platform diver before starting a family.
Now embracing the sport of Cheer, she is a USASF qualified cheer coach, joining our coaching team at the start of 2012. Amanda is a very busy mum who is also studying Nursing. 

Dance and Cheer Coach

Brendan has been a part of the CFAS family for many years now predominantly as a Dance/Pom coach but has now also embraced cheer. He involved in performing arts and gymnastics since he was just 6 years old. He competed with the state gymnastics team before commencing his performing arts training. He is trained in all aspects of performing arts and holds a Cert II in Dance and Cert IV in Professional Entertainment. He has worked professionally in the corporate entertainment scene for many years as a dancer/singer working with many high profile people. He also works extensively in children’s entertainment and has toured Australia and New Zealand with many companies including Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Brendan teaches at many schools in Victoria from babies to adults, as well as VET in the VCE, for which he holds a Cert IV in Training and Assessment.
Brendan is in demand as a Creative Director and Choreographer and has worked for many large, well known corporate clients, has been seen in nightclub shows, flash mob’s, corporate events and private events. He also conceived and created his own cab-burlesque group, Qetesh who perform regularly around Melbourne.

Tumble and Cheer Coach

Kelly graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. She was a member of their Cheerleading team and the Dance team during her years at EMU.

A former staff member for the Universal Cheerleaders Association and    Master Choreographer for V!ROC (Varisty Cheer) 

Kelly competed level 6 for 7 years representing Michigan Xtreme Cheer and Dance where she coached levels 1-5.  Kelly has coached and choreographed several teams to the USASF Worlds .

With a strong dance background, beginning at age 3 and going on to be a competitor on the Michigan Xtreme Volume Open Hip Hop team ,she has competed at the USASF Dance worlds three times. Kelly also coaches and choreographs for many All-Star dance teams around the US.

In 2012 Kelly moved to California where she continued to pursue her passion for coaching and choreography at Desert Elite Mavericks and started her own company, AWARD Choreography. Kelly also judges for many event producers in the United States as well as Internationally and is a certified safety judge. Kelly is ACCA certified and USASF certified in all areas level 1-5. 

Cheer Coach

Sam’s athletic career started at a small gymnastics club in Adelaide. At the age of 7, after moving to

Victoria, She began training at an international level at the Victorian Women’s High Performance Centre 

(AKA The National Centre of Excellence). In 2009, age 12, I retired as an International level 10 athlete. 

In 2010, successfully completing the Advanced Adults class at the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), 

Sam then started competitive cheerleading at the end of 2010 with SCC level 1. In 2011 continuing cheer 

in L1 then Senior Co-ed 4 with SCC and Glitz Diamonds respectively. 

In 2012 joining Team Australia and The Australian Dream Girls at the ICU and IASF Cheerleading World 

Championships competing at Level 5 All Girl, placing bronze (ICU) and 10th (IASF). 

In 2013, Sam again represented Team Australia at the ICU Cheerleading World Championships  

competing in Level 5 All Girl, and placed silver. 

A torn ACL and had a full knee reconstruction that year slowed her down but after extensive 

physiotherapy, It was only 4 months of recovery before returning to the Mat. 

Competing with the Dream Girls since 2012 to now as a L6 Athlete. 

Recently completing Year 12 at Melbourne Girls College and will be full time coach and Admin in 2016 

along with taking Sports and Recreational course in admin

Sam is an all round cheerleader and an awesome new member to our team.

Cheer Coach

Shan has been a part of Cheer Factor for 9 years, since first opening in 2007.

After trying all kinds of sports, nothing kept her interested until she heard about Cheer Factor and 

wanted to give it a try. Competing in levels 1- 4 the first 6 years until unfortunate knee injury stopped 

Shan from competing. I still wanting cheerleading to be part of her life, coaching was the next step. This 

year will be my third year, coaching levels ½. 

Shan loves that she gets the opportunity to share her knowledge and love of this fast growing sport to 

current and new cheerleaders. 

Currently studying to be a Sports Therapist as well as studying Remedial Massage and Dry Needling. This 

allows me to learn about injuries and how to manage and prevent them in our Cheerleaders.

Shan hopes to use her knowledge towards cheerleading and help athletes manage injuries and prevent 

future ones from happening.

 She would love cheerleading, especially Cheer Factor to be part of her forever.

"Cheerleading is a display of discipline, practice, dedication, determination, skill and athleticism"

Cheer Coach

Dee started out with CFAS over 6 years ago after taking part in one of our High School Programs and

absolutely loved it. After several years as a student Dee showed great interest in coaching starting with 

Recreational classes followed by 3 years coaching Squad Teams. Currently a Level 2 USASF qualified 

coach.

Outside of Cheer Deanne is studying Criminology and Psychology at RMIT.

Cheer Coach and Tumble Instructor

A former elite gymnast training at the AIS amongst Australia's best, some of which represented 

Australia at Olympics. Val retired young in 2003, but quickly went from student to teacher, 

coaching at a local club down in Melbourne, learning from a former Olympic coach. Coming out 

of retirement in 2012 to start his cheerleading career, his dedication and commitment quickly 

earn't him a spot on the SCC Legacy International Coed Level 6 team, where they went up 

against the worlds best to compete at the 2014 World Championships. As a key tumbler on the 

team, and an all around athlete, his reputation is well known in the cheer community. Now 

taking his expertise and experience to coaching, moulding the young athletes of tomorrow.

Guest Cheer Coach and Tumble Instructor

Riarnne joined our coaching team in 2009 as a young coach with lots of zest and skill. She stayed on to become our head coach for many years. 

She competed at both state and national championships for over 11 years in a number of sports including gymnastics, sports acrobatics, diving, tumbling and cheerleading. In 2009 she competed at the International Cheer Union World Cup, and the Cheerleading and Dance World Championships in Orlando Florida as a member of the Australian Outlaws. She has many qualifications including level 1 gymnastics coach, Austswim teacher, first aid and level 4 USASF cheerleading coach.

Riarnne is now taking a step back from full coaching and will now be guest coaching as she takes on her final year studying Nursing. 

International Coach

Joe is a coach that is very much in demand all over the world for his amazing knowledge in cheer and his fantastic choreography skills. He had coached at the World Champion Maryland Twisters for the last 10 years as a Cheerleading, Tumbling coach and choreographer. Recognised in American Cheerleader Magazines 'Who's Who in All Star Cheerleading' and in 2013 being names in the top 35 of Most Influential Professionals in the Cheer Industry.

His teams have won many regional, state, national and world titles.  Joe has travelled the world choreographing for many teams at All Star, High School and College level as well as assisting choreography for the 2011 film 'At the Top of the Pyramid'.

Joe is a part of the Cheer Factor's extended family for 6 years and visits on a yearly basis to work with our cheerleaders and is the Head of Choreography.

His teams have won many regional, state, national and world titles.  Joe has travelled the world choreographing for many teams at All Star, High School and College level as well as assisting choreography for the 2011 film 'At the Top of the Pyramid'.

Joe is a part of the Cheer Factor's extended family and visits on a yearly basis to work with our cheerleaders and is the Head of Choreography.

Tumble Instructor

Janay started gymnastics when she was 8 years old. After trying many sports she knew that Gymnastics

was the sport for her. 

She was a competitive artistic gymnast who reached National Level 5 and State Level 7. 

Janay has coached Gymnastics for 3 years for Recreation and National level children. 

In 2014 after Cheerleading became an elective at Overnewton Anglican Community College, Janay 

decided to join the team and put her Gymnastic skills to use on the cheer mat.  After being named State 

Champions in OACC’s first year Cheerleading, Janay continued with the team in 2015.

Now completing year 12 she will be studying Urban and Regional Planning at University for 2016 and will 

be joining the CFAS team as one of our new tumbling coaches. 

This is an exciting change for Janay getting to use her Gymnastic background in a different way. 

Having worked with her at OACC we are so excited to have her on board.

Tumble Instructor

Eamon started gymnastics when I was 5 years old after watching his older brother training. He then 

continued to train 11 years in Men’s Artistic Gymnastsics. As a competitive gymnast, reaching 

International Level 7, in 2007, Eamon was the first Athlete in Victoria offered to train at the High 

Performance Centre for two years, which lead to me making the Victorian team. 

Eamon has been a coach for gymnastics for almost 2 years for Recreation and National level children. 

This year (2016) at University he will be undertaking an Associate Degree in Design Furniture, whilst also 

coaching tumbling at Cheer Factor. We are excited to have him on board this year.