News & Updates

Young athletes from across NSW will undergo an intensive education program covering everything from the dangers of drugs in sport to financial literacy, thanks to a new scheme funded by the NSW registered club industry (ClubsNSW) to be distributed by the Regional Academies of Sport (RASi). The program had a ‘soft launch’ at the NSW Parliament House reception in September and all elements of the program are now being delivered to the Regional Academy network throughout the state.

The education program will be rolled out to the Central Coast Academy of Sport’s various programs over the next 12 months where it is expected that over 250 athletes and their parents will participate.

As Major Partner, the club industry has committed $200,000 a year for the next three years towards the program, which will provide a best practice health and wellbeing program to young people across the state.

“The Regional Academy athlete network includes over 3500 athletes annually to have a unified professional and elite education program servicing the talented youth of regional NSW will only develop stronger generations to come” said Chairman of the Regional Academies of Sport Brett O’Farrell.

The new Athlete Education Program curriculum will cover 11 modules including in Year 1; Nutrition, Drugs in Sport, Sports Psychology and Youth Leadership. The program will be delivered both face to face (in regional clubs) and backed up by the development of an online hub. This state of the art training is a game changer for the RAS network and another significant advantage of being a scholarship holder in the regional academies of sport.

“The relationship with RASi is a natural fit for the club industry, given our long-standing commitment to local sport and development of junior athletes,” said ClubsNSW Chairman Peter Newell.

“NSW clubs contribute $65 million to junior sport each and every year, through ClubGRANTS funding, for things like uniforms and equipment, as well as the provision of sporting infrastructure collectively worth billions of dollars.

“Now, through our partnership program with the Regional Academies of Sport, we will be able to provide guidance on off-field issues as well which, all too often, de-rail promising sporting careers”.