Queensland University of Technology has partnered with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), on a scholarship to support elite athletes.
The new sporting scholarship initiative will see $100,000 in cash distributed to 10 elite athletes who are Nationally recognised by the AIS's categorisation framework and competing in AIS funded high performance sports.
Successful applicants will receive a $10,000 cash-based scholarship which will aid athletes in offsetting the costs of living while focused on competing and studying concurrently. QUT is the first university to establish a partnership with the AIS to provide elite athlete scholarships.
QUT's Executive Director of Student Services and Wellbeing Adam Williams said the scholarships would enhance the student athlete experience while providing greatly needed resources to future Australian representatives.
"The establishment of this scholarship initiative aims to alleviate some of the financial pressures experienced by athletes, whilst building closer alignments between the University and Australia's peak sporting bodies," Mr. Williams said.
"With the recent announcement of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, QUT acknowledges the importance in establishing closer linkages with National and State high-performance strategies.
"This includes developing relationships with several National Sporting Organisations and QUT is taking a larger role to reaffirm the role of universities in high-performance sport, and a component of this is in ensuring student-athletes are well supported."
AIS Director of People Development and Wellbeing, Matti Clements, said the AIS was pleased to announce the partnership with QUT.
"This $100,000 scholarship pilot will provide categorised athletes, who meet criteria, with valuable support for their education and career pursuits outside of sport," Clements said.
"The AIS encourages Australian athletes to develop these education pathways to enable them to learn, thrive and contribute to the community during their time in high-performance sport and life afterwards.
"This is an exciting announcement and further demonstrates the value of the Elite Athlete Education Network to high-performance sport."
In addition to cash-funding, successful applicants will be provided with membership to QUT's Elite Athlete Program where they'll be given academic-support provisions and professional development opportunities.
Athletes will also have access to the Australian Institute of Sport's Career Practitioner Referral Network, and opportunities to engage in National wellbeing programs and campaigns.
To be eligible for the scholarships, athletes are required to enrol, or already be enrolled at a course provided by the Queensland University of Technology and are required to be a current athlete categorised by the Australia Institute of Sport.
QUT's Elite Athlete Program was highlighted in the recent Tokyo Olympics, and the upcoming Paralympics, involving seven students and two alumni. Former successful QUT Scholarship recipients have included the likes of Tokyo silver medallist Jack McLoughlin.
