EDUCATION
EDUCATION
LEARNING EXCELLENCE
At the Illawarra Academy of Sport we take a hollistic approach to development, producing not only excellent athletes, but well-rounded young people.
IAS Scholarship athletes will complete an education curriculum covering a variety of sport-specific topics including sports nutrition, performance psychology, media skills, physiotherapy and recovery, and female health.
Education sessions take the form of webinars and workshops, integrating interactive and content-based learning. In-person sessions are conducted primarily at the University of Wollongong.
PHYSIO, RECOVERY & CONCUSSION EDUCATION
Presented by Kat Dawson
BaiMed’s partnership with the IAS includes a variety of services and benefits for our athletes, including concussion education sessions, a 10% discount for IAS program participants, physio and sport trainer coverage at camps and events, and athletic testing.
Trained in the UK, Kat Dawson has worked in physiotherapy for over 16 years. She has an extensive history in elite sport across both rugby league and netball, including work with the Irish national rugby team during the 2017 World Cup.
SPORT PSYCHOLOGY
Presented by David Barracosa
Condor’s partnership with the IAS supports our athletes through a number of facets, including sport psychology workshops, discounted 1-on-1 consultation, and sport-specific workshops.
David Barracosa is one of the most sought-after practitioners in the sports psychology industry, and possesses extensive experience working with athletes of all levels. He brings to his work an exceptional passion for, and knowledge of, sport, and believes that there are always opportunities to take performance to the next level by investing time in the mental side of a game.
NUTRITION
Presented by Nicola Jaffrey
Embody’s team of specialised and experienced dietitians provide IAS athletes with the opportunity to learn how best to fuel themselves for sporting success on an elite level. When it comes to sports nutrition, Embody believe that there is no one solution or strategy for all. For this reason, their workshop-based sessions with IAS scholarship holders seek to instill our athletes with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to navigate their own pathway to excellence.
FEMALE HEALTH
Presented by Jess Stoll
Project FEM is a comprehensive education program for female athletes, presented by female health physiotherapists. Modules cover essential topics such as the menstrual cycle, breast health, REDS and female athlete injuries, offering essential information on how athletes can achieve optimum health and performance.
Jess Stoll is a women’s health/musculoskeletal physio and the founding director of The Female Collective, a female-only physiotherapy practice based in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions. She has extensive experience working in professional and elite women’s sport, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the program. She is the head physio of St George Illawarra Dragons NRLW team and female health educator for the NRL.
LEADERSHIP
Presented by Julia Symons
Athletes for Hope is a non-profit organisation founded in the United States by elite sportspeople with a shared passion for giving back. These founders joined forces to bring athletes together, to educate, inspire, and empower them to make a difference. Athletes for Hope works closely with the IAS’ young people, their workshops assisting athletes to identify areas of interest, skill, and strength, and explore opportunities to create meaningful positive impact.
MEDIA SKILLS
Presented by Tim Robinson & Jared Constable
Tim and Jared have worked with the IAS for a number of years to develop our athletes’ interview skills, confidence, and essential media training. Their experience and expertise assist our young people to put their best foot forward in navigating the media landscape.
