The Illawarra Academy of Sport is proud to announce the continuation of the 40-year partnership with BlueScope and WIN as part of the highly successful BlueScopeWIN Community Partners Program.
As part of the program, the Illawarra Academy of Sport will receive funding that will be attributed to the suite of education programs currently offered to the athletes.
All Illawarra Academy of Sport scholarship holders are required to complete an education curriculum covering a variety of sport-specific topics to support their personal development and prepare them for life as a professional athlete. Topics include nutrition, mental fitness, clean sport, strength and conditioning, rest and recovery, public speaking/media training, financial fitness, female health and well-being, male health and well-being, concussion, social media pitfalls, ethics and integrity, cultural awareness, and leadership training.
Funding will be used to cover venue hire costs across the five local Government areas (Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven and Wingecarribee) and professional services eg. Guest presenters/speakers, photographers/videographers, resources/materials, signage, administration etc
Further to this, the Illawarra Academy of Sport has partnered with TAFE NSW to introduce a skillset comprising of three nationally recognised units. The units provide students with auto-credits towards full qualifications that they can study in the future. The aim is to support up to 20 Illawarra Academy of Sport scholarship holders aged 15-17 years with the opportunity to undertake the Statement of Attainment in High Performance Athletic Development (Strength & Conditioning), with the assistance of the BlueScopeWIN Community Partners Program.
Illawarra Academy of Sport CEO Salv Carmusciano thanked BlueScope and WIN for their ongoing support and said the Academy is proud to be associated with such iconic, local businesses.
“To be continually supported via the BlueScopeWIN Community Partners Program is a real honour and speaks volumes about the work the Illawarra Academy of Sport does in making a difference locally,” Carmusciano said.
“We are incredibly grateful and extend our thanks to both BlueScope and WIN for their ongoing faith and support.
“We are incredibly proud of the education program we have in place and the influence it is, and has had, on many young people over the years. It’s simply not possible without the tremendous support of the BlueScopeWIN Community Partners Program.”
Bill Wilkins, Chair of the BlueScopeWIN Community Partners Program, said the organisations share the same values as the Illawarra Academy of Sport and he is proud to continue the ongoing, successful partnership.
“BlueScopeWIN Community Partners have been proud sponsors of the Illawarra Academy of Sport since its inception 40 years ago,” Wilkins said.
“The Illawarra Academy of Sport programs resonate well with our key themes including youth, diversity, health and education. We are delighted with the achievements of so many young athletes who have been involved with the Illawarra Academy of Sport at all levels, and at the highest level including multiple Olympians over the last 40 years.
“We wish the Illawarra Academy of Sport many more years of success in developing the youth of our community to achieve their full potential, in both sport and in their personal development.”
Illawarra Academy of Sport athletes had the chance to recognise and thank BlueScope and WIN for their support during two media skills workshops held at the University of Wollongong and the Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre, only a couple of weeks after the new agreement.
The media skills workshops were delivered by WIN News Illawarra sport journalists Jared Constable and Tim Robinson, with the Illawarra Academy of Sport athletes learning valuable media skills training as they continue on their journey to becoming a professional athlete.
Illawarra Academy of Sport surf life saving athlete Nate Jennett said he enjoyed the media skills workshops and praised BlueScope and WIN for their support.
“Thank you to BlueScope and WIN for their ongoing support towards the Illawarra Academy of Sport,” Jennett said after the media skills workshop at the University of Wollongong.
“Education sessions such as the media skills workshop are important for us athletes to learn and develop new skills as we continue to grow into a professional athlete.”
