Image: L-R Kent Anderson (University of Newcastle), Ian Robilliard (CCAS), Dianne Allen (University of Newcastle), Brett O’Farrell (HAS)
The Hunter (HAS) and Central Coast (CCAS) Academies of Sport have announced the re-signing of a ground-breaking tri-partisan partnership with the University of Newcastle, further strengthening the importance of a ‘Pathway to Enrolment Program’ for regional athletes.
Partnering with the University of Newcastle, HAS and CCAS have established a ‘Pathway to Enrolment Program’, an initiative that has shown great success in familiarising families and young athletes with campus life and education options into the future. In what has been termed as ‘ground-breaking’, all three parties are now closely aligned with the sole objective of providing world class opportunities to future students and a pathway to the elite athlete program at the University.
Through the exclusive education partnership with HAS and CCAS, the University of Newcastle is supporting the dreams of high school athletes and preparing them for a career after sport. The partnership offers the opportunity for high school students to engage with the University of Newcastle to explore the pathways, flexible study options, scholarships and support available to student-athletes.
The University provides the Academies with a major point of difference to other partners, including support through sports science testing, integrated learning for postgraduate students and direct access to the Exercise and Sports Science facility at its Central Coast campus. The partnership will enable access to facilities across the Callaghan and Central Coast campuses, which will be used for education seminars with world-class presenters and cooking classes run by nutritionists.
Each year, HAS and CCAS provide hundreds of regional and rural-based athletes, ranging in ages from 10 to 18, the opportunity to access national and international standard training and development programs within their regional bases.
As a long-time supporter of elite sport development, this partnership will allow the Academies to strengthen their position in Australia’s elite athlete pathway and provide greater educational opportunities for regional-based athletes.
Brett O’Farrell, Chief Executive officer of HAS and CCAS stated, “This partnership is much more than providing world class sporting facilities to young, regional athletes, it’s about providing a pathway to education and creating a strong, job-ready future generation. The development of pre-elite sportspeople we believe, must include a holistic approach with appropriate leadership and careers advice. We thank the University for the long-term support and share their passion in guiding our athlete’s pathway, both in their chosen sport and their education journey.”
Professor Kent Anderson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global of the University followed, saying “We know that athletes make great students, and we want to attract these students to study with us – helping them to balance the demands of their sport with study at the University of Newcastle.
“The Academies have been developing and supporting athletes for many years right across our regions to succeed in their sport and we’ve been doing the same, but with students. We’re very proud of our partnership and we can’t wait to see athletes come through the Academies and combine their achievements on the field, court, track or in the pool with success studying at our University.”
