On the 27th of August 2024, over 120 Indigenous athletes registered for the UAA Indigenous Talent Identification Day at Western Sydney University in Kingswood. The event was a resounding success, showcasing a range of athletic talent across testing sessions in netball, volleyball, rowing, cycling, golf, and AFL, as well as testing for speed & agility and strength & conditioning.
The day provided an opportunity for Indigenous athletes to participate in various skill sessions and demonstrate their abilities. Through this process, we sought to identify individuals with exceptional skills and personal qualities that could potentially lead them to become high-performance athletes within our Academy programs, particularly the Future Stars program.
We extend our gratitude to our program partners, UAA and Western Sydney University, for their invaluable support in making this event possible. HRDKaw Strength, our Future Stars strength and conditioning partner, and the GWS Giants AFL played a pivotal role in facilitating athlete testing during the event. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the contributions of the state sporting organisations, clubs, and partners that assisted us on the day. A special thank you to Volleyball NSW, AusCycling, Netball NSW, Nepean Rowing Club, and Jack Newton Junior Golf for their expertise in identifying emerging talent.
Special mentions go out to the following who helped us throughout the day:
- Sarah Kennedy from Western Sydney University and her team of research students who assisted in the conduction of testing
- Our guest speakers for the day: Glen Liddiard, Tyrone Peachey, Courtney Jones, Malcolm Lynch, and Dr. Andrew Bennie
- Mike Thompson and Brooke Bowne from AFL Giants
- Rebecca Di Cello from NSWIS representing AusCycling
- David Oakley representing Jack Newton Junior Golf
- Jenny Moroney and Varnie Ramin representing Netball NSW
- Elliot Shackcloth Bertinetti representing Rowing NSW,
- Mikaela Stevens representing Volleyball NSW; and
- Melissa Wu representing HRDKaw Strength
We would also like to thank our Academy coaches for all their help and assistance on the day:
- James Sweeney (WSAS Triathlon Head Coach)
- Daniel Waddell (WSAS Rowing Head Coach)
- Brad Ward (WSAS Golf Head Coach)
- Lauren Knussen and Mark Ireland (WSAS Netball)
- Kevin Sturgiss and Sath Silva (WSAS Volleyball)
- Pierre Dubier (WSAS Cycling Head Coach); and
- Melissa Wu (HrdKaw Strength)
Western Sydney carries an abundance of athletic talent making it essential to provide our Indigenous athletes with the necessary opportunities, pathways, and access to thrive and transition to higher levels of competition. By doing so, we can help them develop their skills, achieve their goals, and make positive contributions to the broader communities.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all Indigenous athletes, local schools, and parents who participated in the event. We wish all athletes continued success in their future endeavours!
For any media inquiries, please contact:
Denise – Marketing, Communications, and Events Coordinator
0428 473 970
denise@wsas.com.au