Wests Future Stars

The Wests Future Stars program of the South West Sydney Academy of Sport is a program for high-performing athletes and para-athletes, from within an individual athlete focused, or emerging sport environment.

Regional Academies primarily target athletes within the NSWIS sport catalogue, including Archery, Athletics, Canoe, Cycling, Diving, Rowing, Sailing, Surfing, Swimming, Water Polo, Wheelchair Basketball and Winter Sports.

In conjunction with the Paralympics Australia NSW Regional Academies of Sport Para-Sport Program, high-performing para-athletes are also encouraged to participate in the Wests Future Stars Para-Sport Program.

Additionally, athletes in emerging sports such as Skateboard, Cheerleading, Ice Hockey, Kart/Car Racing, Equestrian, Flag Football and Lacrosse are invited to apply, as are athletes who may be participating in a team-sport not already serviced by an Academy sport program.

Program Objectives

The program’s primary aim is to provide an athlete the additional benefits provided to Academy scholarship holders in the identified Academy Lifecycle, including sports education, sport science strength and conditioning, and access to additional athlete support and wellbeing services.

The program exists to compliment the athletes ongoing individual skill development and performance opportunities currently provided within their chosen sporting field, and with their individual coach or club.

Some components of the program may allow for reimbursement or financial support for ongoing high-performance participation within the athlete’s sport, however this should not be the sole goal, motivation or expectation of an athlete’s participation in the program.

Athlete Benefits

Athletes will participate in a targeted Future Stars program curriculum, designed to support athletes within their individual training and home coaching environment.

This support includes sports education, strength and conditioning, and a Future Stars selective support stream of one-on-one and/or group development sessions.

In consideration of meeting the required attendance of key elements of the program, athletes may be eligible to apply for financial co-payment support to assist in costs for their sport specific skill acquisition training, including general movement and skill acquisition clinics and individual athlete management coaching. 

The Strength and Conditioning program will include the Academy testing battery and strength and conditioning curriculum, as well as include the individuals sport-specific training elements, with relevant tests for each, including Functional Movement Screening, and supervised gym education.

Access to the Academy's pathway education curriculum alongside Academy Sport Programs regular education lecture, workshop or webinar sessions, along with an identified Future Stars selective Performance Wellbeing education stream of one-on-one and/or group development sessions; including Performance Psychology, Nutrition, Media and Sponsorship Skills, Sport Integrity, Financial Fitness and Resilience Pathways. 

Athlete Requirements

Athletes are expected to undertake / provide at minimum,

• Maintain a monthly engagement with the program coordinator, or Academy Performance Support Officer, either online or face to face.

• Complete and update on at least quarterly basis, an Individual Athlete Performance Plan, shared between Future Stars program coordinator and athlete's Home Coach.

• Complete and maintain an Athlete Load Management Journal/Diary (e.g via Athlete Management System - Lumin) in consultation between program coordinator and Home Coach.

• Attend and complete key components of the Future Stars Curriculum, including attendance at group education sessions and webinars, and participation in one-on-one sessions as provided.

• Participate in a regular home gym program, or develop one through a strength and conditioning partner.

Athletes may be required to support the Academy’s Future Stars program corporate funding partner Wests Group Macarthur by, but not limited to;

• Attending promotional opportunities on behalf of the Academy and the partner,
• Feature in media and/or social media articles recognising the partnership,
• If over the age of 18, hold a valid social membership of Wests League Club Campbelltown.

Athlete Eligibility

• Athletes must be aged between 13 and 18 years of age, in the year of nomination. (Born 2007-2012)
   
• Athletes meeting Para-Athlete eligibility may be aged up to 21 years of age in the year of nomination. (Born 2004-2012)
   
• Para-Athletes aged 21 years and older who are identified and selected by Paralympics Australia through the Regional Academies of Sport Talent Search are also eligible for inclusion within the Future Stars program. 

• Athletes must reside in, or attend school, within the Academy area of Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool or Wollondilly local Government areas.

• Athletes must participate within a sport or recreation activity that has a recognised State or National Governing body, which has, or is in the process of establishing, a clearly defined athlete development pathway through to an International level, recognised by Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, or regular International Competition; and

  • Have achieved a notable result at a State and/or National level within that sport in the twelve months prior to applying, or demonstrated potential to do so within the program year, or;

  • Be an NSWIS athlete, or athlete identified meeting the NSWIS Talent Radar / RAS Talent program criteria. 

Note: 
Sporting disciplines with pathways into International High School / Collegiate sporting systems, or similar opportunities, such as the NCAA, may also be considered, with additional supporting documentation relevant to a College showing interest in, the academic records of the athlete applying, and the ability to demonstrate that the undertaking of an Academy scholarship will assist with the athletes pathway into an International High School / Collegiate system.

Selection Process

What to Expect:

Selections will take place based on information supplied as a part of the nomination form. Athletes will be requested to attend an interview, whether online or in person at the Academy office prior to selection. 

During the interview, the athlete may be asked questions to develop the following as a part of the selection criteria;

• Athlete knowledge of the Academy, their sport and their sport's high performance pathway.
• Why the athlete wants to be a part of the Academy and what they hope to achieve by being a member of the Academy.
• The athlete's goals and objectives within their chosen sport.
• The athlete's challenges, successes and failures within their chosen sport.
• Any other sport specific information required by the selection panel to make an informed selection decision.

Selection Process:

• Athletes must complete a South West Sydney Academy of Sport Athlete Nomination Form prior to the advertised closing date. 
  • Following the closing date, athletes will be requested to attend an interview.
  • Not all athletes who nominate may be interviewed. The Academy reserves the right to reject any nomination without reason.

• At the conclusion of the nomination period, athletes will be advised in writing if they are Successful or Unsuccessful. 

• Returning Athletes who have concluded their scholarship must re-apply for re-selection for the Future Stars program on an annual basis. 

• For the purposes of Athlete Benefits, An athletes Future Stars scholarship will be deemed valid until 30 June of the year following inclusion (i.e 30 June 2026). Future Star athletes may still be invited and included in activities up until the Annual Athlete Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner. 

• The Future Stars program may contain up to thirty (30) scholarship holders at any one time.

• To be eligible for re-selection, athletes must have demonstrated of compliance the athlete requirements and maintain eligibility.

Athlete Scholarship Levy

• An Athlete Scholarship levy of $300 inclusive of GST, will apply to all successful athletes. 
• This levy assists in offsetting the program costs of;
  • Annual Athlete Membership including ID Card, Athlete Journal, Annual Awards Dinner admission; 
  • Training and Development including training venue hire, sports equipment, skill development programming, and guest / coaching costs.
  • Education and Support Services including online access to AMS program Lumin, targeted sports education lectures and workshops with guest presenters, sport specific strength and conditioning program with an Academy Strength & Conditioning partner facility, sport science testing, and access to athlete wellbeing and support service network providers.

Additional Fees / Levies

Uniform Costs

• All uniform purchases are to be made via the Academy's uniform supplier ACEIT, utilising their online store. 
• New athletes will be required to purchase uniform consisting of at minimum, Athlete Polo Shirt, Walkout Shorts and Gym T-shirt. The cost of this is approx. $90. 
• New athletes will be provided a discount code to reduce the purchase cost of an Academy tracksuit following confirmation of payment of the Athlete Scholarship Levy. 
• Additional competition uniform costs exist, specific to sport program requirements, which athletes will need to purchase. The required items, if not listed below, will be identified at the sport program induction. 
• Athletes may purchase additional Academy items, that includes Hoodie, Socks, Towel, Sports Bag, Backpacks, and Active Wear. 

Camps, Tours and Tournaments

• Camps, Tours and Tournaments form an important part of each sport program structure. The costs of these events, as with the overall sport program, are heavily subsidised by the Academy and its partners.
• Camp / Tour costs may be applied for certain activities throughout the program year and will be communicated well ahead of the event. These are generally costed at $100-$150 per day and include transport, accommodation and the majority of meal costs, as well as any entry fees associated with tournaments or performance elements of the camp / tour. 
• Tournaments held locally (where the Academy does not provide Accommodation) may attract a nominal fee of between $10 and $50 depending on the sport requirements, and are used to assist in covering the tournament entry, venue hire and any transport costs.

All Athlete levies must be paid in full within 30 days of the invoiced date, or the scholarship offer will be automatically withdrawn; unless financial hardship or payment plan arrangements have been made with the CEO.