The CCAS Underwriting Agencies Australia (UAA) Indigenous Talent ID Day for 2020 has been run as a COVID safe event at the Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium.
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; AFL, Basketball, Netball, Golf and Test & Measurements.
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 ITID strategy is unique to the Central Coast, it is an event not done anywhere else in NSW.
The end goal is the Academy will invite the top performers from the day to take part in an eight (8) week training program starting term 1, 2021. From here students will be invited to join one of the twelve (12) sports programs operated by the CCAS throughout 2021.
Another highlight from the day was seeing the success the 2019-20 program has had. There were nine (9) returning athletes who have completed the program early 2020 and are looking to pick up scholarships again in 2021.
Michael Murphy the CEO of UAA said of the ITID 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 the Central Coast Academy of Sport to provide this unique opportunity locally. I understand this program is un-matched across NSW so we are delighted to be supporting something very unique to the Central Coast. UAA has watched closely for a number of years and the growth and acceptance of this program is really impressive, my very sincere thanks to the coaches who support our mutual endeavours. It was particularly satisfying that we had a number of new schools participate in the program this year. We are delighted with how the event is run and the extension into the CCAS Tabloid Program or the full CCAS Sports Program is just fantastic. I appreciate that coming out of CV-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 the 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.”
