The Academy presents a number of awards at its annual Athlete Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner each year.
Following the introduction of the Regional Academy of Sport (RAS) NSW State-wide awards in 2023, and with the Academy celebrating both 25 years of operation, and 20 years as an Incorporated organisation in 2022, the Academy introduced significant changes to its awards structure in 2023.
Click on the buttons below to view the winners of the Academy's Major Sport Awards, and view the criteria for the current list of awards.
Major Academy Award Winners
The 'Campbelltown Catholic Club' South West Sydney Academy of Sport Chairperson Award was established in 1998 and is presented annually to an outstanding Athlete in recognition of the virtues of the Academy.
1998 - Patrick Donachie
1999 - James Darby & Nicole Boyles
2000 - Nathan Cain & Tenille Peronis
2001 - Jeff Hunt & Melanie Browne
2002 - Sam Pearson & Jamie Blewitt
2003 - Tate Elliott
2004 - Josh White
2005 - Danielle Hemingway
2006 - Kirsty May
2007 - Kellie White
2008 - Emily Chalker (Smith)
2009 - Kayne Kajan
2010 - Julia McCann
2011 - Brooke Lawrence
2012 - Mason Rossi
2013 - Kara Styles
2014 - Ben Clapham
2015 - Jessica Cronje
2016 - Jessica Cronje & Blake Jackson
2017 - Harrison Pudner
2018 - Nakeisha Brimble
2019 - Rory Southwell
2020 - Not Awarded
2021 - Thomas Noakes
2022 - Ryan Carter & Thomas Noakes
2023 - Max Brown-Tjakuapi
The 'South 32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal' South West Sydney Academy of Sport Athlete of the Year Award was established in 2008 and is presented annually.
From 2008 until 2022, the Athlete of the Year award was awarded alongside the Chairperson Award, in recognition of the athletes outstanding achievements.
From 2023 the Athlete of the Year award criteria has changed slightly, recognising the South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal Athlete of the Year, and the Athlete with Disability (AWD) Athlete of the Year, with their own individual awards.
Athlete of the Year:
2008 - Emily Chalker (Smith)
2009 - Kayne Kajan
2010 - Julia McCann
2011 - Brooke Lawrence
2012 - Mason Rossi
2013 - Kara Styles
2014 - Ben Clapham
2015 - Jessica Cronje
2016 - Jessica Cronje & Blake Jackson
2017 - Harrison Pudner
2018 - Nakeisha Brimble
2019 - Rory Southwell
2020 - Not Awarded
2021 - Thomas Noakes
2022 - Ryan Carter & Thomas Noakes
2023 - Adam Bates
Athlete with a Disability (AWD) Athlete of the Year:
2023 - Daniel Lill
The Regional Academies of Sport (RASi) network established a state-wide awards presentation in 2023.
The Categories of these awards include:
- Athlete of the Year Award
- Steadfast Athlete Leadership Award
- Steadfast Coach Leadership Award
- Underwriting Agencies Australia (UAA) Indigenous Athlete of the Year Award
- AWD (Athlete with Disability) of the Year Award.
The South West Sydney Academy of Sport nominees, and the overall winner of the award are listed below:
2023
- Athlete of the Year
- SWSAS nominee - Ryan Carter;
- Winner - Alesha Bennets (Western Region Academy of Sport)
- Athlete Leadership
- SWSAS nominee - Thomas Noakes;
- Winner - Mia Parker (Illawarra Academy of Sport)
- Coach Leadership
- SWSAS nominee - Van Nguyen;
- Winner - Robyn Low-Hart (Central Coast Academy of Sport)
- Indigenous Athlete of the Year
- SWSAS nominee - Kai Allie;
- Winner - Telaya Blacksmith (Illawarra Academy of Sport)
- AWD Athlete of the Year
- SWSAS nominee - Kaden Smith;
- Winner - Josh Hanlon (Southern Sports Academy)
Current Awards and Criteria
The Academy’s most prestigious award, recognising the values of and the athlete’s commitment to the Academy, is the Chairperson’s Award.
The Chairpersons Award recipient will be selected by the Academy Chairperson from one of the Nominee’s.
The recipient is presented with the Campbelltown Catholic Club Chairperson's Award at the Annual Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner.
Each Sport Program nominates one athlete for the Chairperson’s Award. Each Nominee is also recognised and presented with an Athlete Achievement Award at the Annual Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner, recognising their nomination.
This award is designed to recognise the athlete who most embodies the characteristics and development aims of the Academy. The identified athlete will be selected from across all Academy sport programs.
The criteria to be included for consideration includes:
- Commitment to the Academy
- degree to which the athlete has embraced the Academy & its core values
- maintained a high level of attendance at all sport program requirements and extra curricular activities
- Communication and Relational Development
- relationships with peers and staff
- effectivly communicates
- actively develops fellow athletes alongside themselves
- Demonstrated Leadership
- positive example through words and actions
- helps others achieve their goals
- promotes citizenship attributes within squad
- Individual Skill Development
- active role in developing all facets of sporting performance
- Commitment to maintaining growth as an athlete
- Achieved or potential to achieve sporting “podium” success
- Community Citizenship
- Level of respect and responsibility taken in training, interaction with coaches, umpires and peers
- Commitment to maintaining growth as a person
- Actively engages and promotes value and benefit of Academy within the local community
- Actively transfers learned skills from Academy into local community club / representative environment
The Western Sydney University Award for Educational Excellence is presented to one outstanding athlete each year, through an internal nomination process.
The winner is presented the Award for Educational Excellence at the Annual Graduation and Sports Awards Dinner.
This award recognises the athlete's achievements to maintaining a high standard of excellence throughout their sport program, including attendance and participation in training, sports education, strength and conditioning programs and commitment to personal development.
The Indigenous Person of the Year award is presented to an Indigenous Athlete from within the Academy's sport programs, including the Indigenous Athlete Program.
The recipient is presented the Indigenous Person of the Year Award at the Annual Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner.
This award recognises the Academy's Indigenous athlete who best meets the criteria of the Chairperson Award, including;
- Commitment to the Academy
- Communication and Relational Development
- Demonstrated Leadership
- Individual Skill Development
- Community and Cultural Citizenship
The South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal Athlete of the Year Award is awarded to the highest achieving athlete, based on athletic performance and or podium success.
The recipient will be presented the Athlete of the Year award at the Academy’s Annual Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner.
The Athlete of the Year will be selected by a panel from a short list of finalists selected by the Academy.
Up to five (5) finalists will be selected based on information provided in the Sport Program Coaches Award Nominations, as well as any additional information on an athlete's performance available to the Academy within the qualification period of 1 July of the preceding year to June 30 of the current year.
Each Finalist will be presented with an Athlete Achievement Award at the Annual Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner, recognising their achievement.
The criteria to be considered for this award includes;
- Podium success at an International or National event.
- Highest level of sporting achievement and success within the squad, or potential to achieve national selection
- Athletic ability and progression shown within the Academy program in line with program framework and SSO targets
- Demonstrated high level of attendance
- Demonstrated high level of Academy representation including branding, values and meeting program commitments
The South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal AWD (Athlete with a Disability) Athlete of the Year Award is awarded to the highest achieving AWD athlete from within the Academy's sport programs, based on athletic performance and or podium success.
The recipient will be presented the AWD Athlete of the Year award at the Academy’s Annual Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner.
The criteria to be considered for this award includes;
- Recognised as an AWD or Para athlete.
- Podium success at an International or National event.
- Highest level of sporting achievement and success within the squad, or potential to achieve national selection
- Athletic ability and progression shown within the Academy program in line with program framework and SSO targets
- Demonstrated high level of attendance
- Demonstrated high level of Academy representation including branding, values and meeting program commitments
The Volunteer of the Year award will be presented to a coach, manager or volunteer related to a sport program in recognition of a demonstrated high level of leadership within the sport program, including athlete support, coaching staff guidance and mentoring, respect and commitment to the Academy, during the nomination program period of 1 July of the preceding year to June 30 of the current year.
The recipient will be presented the Volunteer of the Year award at the Academy’s Annual Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner.
The recipient/s will be selected by a panel from a short list of finalists selected by the Academy, based on the below criteria.
- Attendance,
- Communication with staff, fellow volunteers and athletes,
- Participation in academy activities,
- Participation in professional development opportunities, and
- Development of coaching staff and/or volunteers.
Multiple awards may be presented in years where there are a number of outstanding nominations.
The Sport Program Coaches Award/s will be presented to selected athlete/s from within each Academy Sport Program at the Annual Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner.
The Winners of this award will be determined by primary criteria established by the Sport Program Head Coach, and where required, in consultation with the support staff of the sport program. The Academy Staff and CEO will vet all nominations prior to presenting the award.
The Sport Program Coaches Award shall be awarded to match one of the following categories.
- Best Performing Athlete
- Most Valuable
- Most Improved
- Best Defensive
- Encouragement / Merit award
- Next Gen (best ‘First Year’ athlete)
- Culture and Commitment Award
Whilst the criteria for these awards is at the discretion and determined by the program head coach, the following criteria should be considered.
- Attendance
- Commitment to Training
- Commitment to Education
- Commitment to Strength and Conditioning
- Promotion of Self and Academy
- Future Potential or Ability to Improve and Grow
- Overall Attitude towards Sport Program
The QUBE Coach Recognition Awards are presented annually to coach and support staff who have achieved a consecutive or total years of service as a volunteer coach or support staff within the Academy sport programs.
The recipient may have held a number of recognised coaching or support roles within their time or service and may have served across a number of sport programs or disciplines.
The Academy Staff determine the recipient/s of this award as per the continuous years of service to the Academy. Academy Staff or Board Members are not eligible for this award.
The recipient/s of these awards are presented at the Annual Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner.
- Recipients who have provide three (3) years of service will be awarded the Bronze Outstanding Service Award
- Recipients who have provided five (5) years of service will be awarded the Silver Outstanding Service Award
- Recipients who have provide seven (7) years of service will be awarded the Gold Outstanding Service Award
- Recipients who have provide ten (10) years of service will be awarded the Platinum Outstanding Service Award, and
- Recipients who have provide fifteen or more (15) years of service will be awarded the Diamond Outstanding Service Award giveaway plaque
The Academy Office keeps a record of coach and support staff service to ensure appropriate and timely recognition.
The Lifetime Achievement Award/s are presented to members of the Academy, whereby staff, volunteer, coach or support staff, or board member achieving twenty (20) years or greater service to the Academy.
A recipient may have held multiple positions within the Academy to qualify, and a break in service may be considered.
The Academy Staff determine the recipient/s of this award as per the continuous years of service to the Academy. Academy Staff or Board Members are eligible to receive this award.
Recipients are presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Annual Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner.
The Academy Office keeps a record of coach and support staff service to ensure appropriate and timely recognition.
It should be noted that this category of award is different to Life Membership, which is determined by the Board, subject to the organisation's Constitution.
