Program Summary

Program Season: October - July
Age Group: 13-18 Years of Age
Gender: Male and Female

Current Program Status:
2023-2024 Program Concludes 31 July
Nominations Now Open for Indigenous Talent Identification Day

The land on which the South West Sydney Academy of Sport is located, and where our athletes train and compete is the traditional land of the Dharawal people.

In paying our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and with a spirit of reconciliation and recognition of the Traditional owners of Country, the Academy conducts three distinct opportunities for our Indigenous Athletes.

Our Indigenous programs aim to provide talented Indigenous athletes from within both current Academy programs, and Talent Identification days, an increased level of support to inspire both their athletic and personal journey.

Further opportunities to provide coaching and mentor leadership to fellow Indigenous athletes during Academy-run ‘Talent Identification days’ and cultural events may also be provided throughout the program year. 

In conjunction with the Regional Academies of Sport (RASi) network and partnership with UAA, the Academy conducts an annual Indigenous Talent Identification Day, which takes place throughout the second half of each year throughout the South West Sydney region. 

The aim of this day is to provide Indigenous athletes from across the Academy catchment area the opportunity to be talent identified across a number of sports, and undertake education and sport science testing within a high-performance environment, whilst sharing sport within their own Indigenous culture. 

Following on from the Indigenous Talent Identification Day, a number of athletes are selected to participate within the Indigenous Athlete Talent Program.

This program features regular (weekly to fortnightly subject to scheduling) training sessions between October and January, that will assist athletes to develop core individual skills such as passing, catching, speed, agility and change of direction within a squad training environment.

In 2024-2025, this will include training and development using Touch Football as the base sport. 

In addition to the on-field development,  athletes will undertake a supervised Strength and Conditioning program, as well as an Introduction to sports education program.

Subject to the number of athletes selected and completing the program, the Academy may enter teams into various NAIDOC or First Nations tournaments to allow athletes to showcase the skills developed throughout the program. These may take place following the conclusion of the "program".

Following the conclusion of the Indigenous Athlete Talent Program, Indigenous athletes from within the Athlete Talent Program, along with Indigenous Athletes who have been selected within the Academy's remaining Sport Programs will be invited to participate within the Indigenous Cultural Education Program.

This program will take place between January and July, through a series of regular (ie Monthly) gatherings and provides an increased level of support to inspire both their athletic and personal journey, as an Indigenous athlete.

A large range of athlete appropriate education workshops such as sport psychology, nutrition, drugs in sport awareness, public speaking, resilience, media training, sports medicine and injury prevention are also undertaken as a part of the athlete's regular sport program.

Additional support and education specific to the Indigenous Cultural Education Program include; 

• Indigenous significance in sport,
• Indigenous health,  
• Connection to land and culture , and
• Indigenous symbols, totems and artwork. 

Athlete Eligibility

• Male and Female Athletes must be between 13 and 18 years of age as of 31 December 2025. 
  • ie born 2007-2012
• Athletes must reside in, or attend school, or compete for a sporting association within the Academy area of Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool or Wollondilly local Government areas.

In addition;

• Athletes wishing to participate must recognise as Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander, and may be asked to provide evidence of their claim.
• Athletes participating within an existing Academy Sport Program must also meet the age or gender specific requirements of that sport program. 

Selection Process

Indigenous Athlete Talent Program

• Athletes must attend the Indigenous Athlete Talent Identification Day
• If an athlete is unable to attend the Indigenous Athlete Talent Identification Day, they must provide a reason in writing, to gain an exemption. 
• Following the day, the Academy may invite up to 30 athletes across both Male and Female Genders to participate in the Indigenous Athlete Talent program. 
• The Academy will select a squad, the forming of teams will not be the primary intent of the Indigenous Athlete Talent program. 
• Final selections, number of athletes and squad composition will be made dependant on the talent available during the talent identification process. 
• Successful athletes will be advised within seven (7) days of the Indigenous Talent Identification Day, this may also include notification to the school liaison officer. 

Indigenous Cultural Education Program

• Athletes must participate in the appropriate Academy Sport Program trial or selection process, and be selected.
• Following the sport program squad selection, the Academy may invite up to an additional 30 athletes across both Male and Female Genders to participate in the Indigenous Cultural Education Program, alongside athletes pre-selected from within the Indigenous Athlete Talent Program. 
• Successful athletes will be advised within seven (7) days of the the final trial, this may also include notification to the school liaison officer. 

Athlete Scholarship Levy

• Due to the financial support of Underwriting Agencies of Australia (UAA), there is no cost for athletes to participate in the Academy's Indigenous Athlete Programs. 

• However, Athletes who are selected via an Academy Sport Program, and participate within that program, may be required to pay the athlete levy and/or additional camp levies associated with that program, to be eligible to participate within the Indigenous Cultural Education Program.

  Subject to funding availability, the relevant Sport Program Athlete Scholarship Levy may be reduced or waived for participants in the Indigenous Cultural Education Program.  

   

  Program Inclusions include;

• Athlete uniform consisting of an Academy Indigenous Polo Shirt, Walkout Shorts and Indigenous Gym T-shirt, Water Bottle, Athlete Journal and Annual Awards Dinner admission. 

• Education and Support Services including online access to programs / XPS network, targeted sports education lectures and workshops with guest presenters, sport specific strength and conditioning program with an Academy S&C partner facility, sport science testing, and access to athlete wellbeing and support service network providers.

Squad and Support Staff

2024-2025 UAA Indigenous Athlete Talent Program and Indigenous Cultural Education Program Squad and Coaching Staff will be announced after the selection date. 

Macquarie Fields Campus

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