The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has launched a $200,000 grants program for 2021 to support the professional development and education of Performance Pathway coaches and practitioners who are working directly with Australia's most talented athletes of the future.
AIS CEO Peter Conde, launched the new grants program following a successful AIS Elevate eConference this month, an annual event to help develop Australia's high performance pathway workforce.
"In sport there is no such thing as overnight success, it takes long-term commitment and dedicated networks to identify, develop, support and progress our talented athletes to reach their potential," Conde said.
"Behind every champion athlete is a support team, so the AIS Elevate Learning Grants Program is about investing in the professional development and capability of those people who are helping guide the success of our future athletes.
"Grants of up to $5,000 are available for areas such as coaching accreditation, conferences, tertiary education and professional development. We encourage National Sporting Organisations to co-contribute so our most promising people are given the best chance to progress their careers in sport."
The AIS, funded by the Australian Government, has strongly invested in pathways for emerging athletes and the sport workforce over the past two years. This includes:
- $13.7m in Pathways Workforce Grants to 36 NSOs, funding the equivalent of more than 45 full-time positions over two years in areas such as pathway leadership, coaching, sport science and sports medicine support.
- $21.6million in Performance Pathways Solutions grants, an initiative that helps sports implement strategies that develop their emerging athletes. In 2020 alone, the AIS has allocated more than $10million in Performance Pathways Solutions Grants for ongoing projects across 23 sports.
"The AIS also believes it's important to invest in the professional development of the people who are on the frontline when it comes to the development of our emerging athletes," Conde said. "The AIS Elevate Learning Grants Program complements programs we've already run in 2020, such as the inaugural AIS Elevate e-Coach program, a unique and innovative 26-week course for 40 pathway coaches from 35 sports working with emerging athletes."
Applications for the AIS Elevate Learning Grants Program are available online at www.ais.gov.au/career-and-education/elevate-learning-grants-program.The first round of applications will close at 5pm (AEDT) on 22 February 2021 and subsequent rounds will be held if funds remain.
