The 2022 Central Coast Academy of Sport (CCAS) Underwriting Agencies Australia (UAA) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Talent Identification Day was held on Wednesday, November 23rd, with over 100 students in attendance at Breakers Indoor Sports Centre, Terrigal.
Indigenous students from Central Coast High Schools got the opportunity to come together under the watchful eyes of some of the regions most experienced sports coaches. Five (5) sporting disciplines were again in action including Aussie Rules Football, Basketball, Athletics, Golf, Netball and Functional Movement Screening and Testing.
The concept of an ITID Day was developed in partnership between the Central Coast Academy of Sport and Underwriting Agencies Australia (UAA) with a focus to ‘unearth’ local indigenous talent from the Central Coast region and to then be able to provide full scholarships to CCAS Sports Programs.
The end goal is the Academy will invite the top performers from the day to take part in a six (6) week training program starting term 1, 2023. From here students will be invited to join one of the many sports programs operated by the CCAS throughout 2023.
Michael Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of UAA said of the day, “UAA is committed to supporting pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders to succeed in life and sport may help with that goal. We are delighted to partner with CCAS , as well as 7 other Regional Academies of Sport throughout NSW to provide this unique opportunity locally. This event has run successfully for the past 6 years on the Central Coast and we are excited to see this expanded throughout NSW.”
He continued, “We are delighted with how this event ran and the extension into the CCAS Tabloid Program or the full CCAS Sports Program is just fantastic. I appreciate that coming out of COVID-19 has had some significant considerations for the local high schools and to those schools who saw the benefit of participation, a huge thank you”.
Emily Burgess-Moore, CCAS Events Manager said of the program: “the day was quite remarkable, the level of coaches we had on hand to coordinate the day made this event possible. I can’t thank our coaches enough, they readily volunteer their support and when our office reached out to them for assistance, we were overwhelmed by their willingness to get involved and to make the day the success it was. The Academy really have done something very special in partnership with UAA, so hats off to UAA to provide the financial support to make this day and the scholarships that follow a reality for our region and the athletes who took part. It’s easy to take sport for granted and we found out today just how essential a program like this is for our region.”
The Central Coast Academy of Sport would like to thank and acknowledge the support from the following Indigenous Talent ID Partners:
Underwriting Agencies Australia (UAA), POCHE Indigenous Health Network, University of Newcastle, Jack Newton Junior Golf, AFL NSW/ACT and Netball NSW.
The Central Coast Academy of Sport would like to thank and acknowledge the support from the following Platinum Business Partners: NSW Government, Mingara Recreation Club, Central Coast Council, The University of Newcastle, Greater Bank, ClubsNSW, Southern Cross Austereo (HIT 101.3 and Triple M 107.7), NBN Television, Coast Sport Physio, Oddball Marketing, Underwriting Agencies Australia (UAA) and Steadfast
