MEMBERSHIP OVERVIEW

The WestVic Academy of Sport (WVAS) Individual Membership Program is available to athletes from Western Victoria; and aims to provide services to these athletes that focus on providing what’s not already in place for athletes which could be in place to give them a better opportunity to develop and progress - working with athletes and their supporters to deliver these specialist services to help them succeed. Such services include: sport science such as physical screening, fitness testing and technique analysis; strength and conditioning programming; nutrition consultations, psychology workshops and other personal development opportunities.
 
The structure of the WVAS’ Individual Membership Program has been designed to be flexible around when the athlete can access the services listed earlier, and in fact which services and to what volume they are necessary in order to only complement and add to existing support for the athlete. The priority is to have only the services necessary for the athlete, and have the timing of service delivery done to be of most benefit to the athlete’s development, performance and progress along their pathway.The Academy’s Management Team will work with the Athlete and existing Coaches/Support Personnel ongoing to negotiate services necessary to achieve goals and organise their delivery.
 
The cost of membership is variable, and is dependent on the services and volume required by each athlete.

SPORT PROGRAMS OVERVIEW

The WestVic Academy of Sport (WVAS) delivers support to Western Victoria's elite and developing elite athletes through dedicated sport programs in which WVAS supports the training environment with support from the sport's State Sporting Organisation (SSO).
  
Athletes from sports outside the current sport programs are eligible for support through WVAS, by becoming an Individual Scholarship Holder (ISH).

SPORT PROGRAMS

On the basis of a sport's rating against specific criteria, WVAS will operate and manage a Sport Program as agreed in a formal partnership with the sport's State Sporting Organisation (SSO).
 
The program constitutes a core element of the SSO and NSO elite athlete pathway. WVAS may employ a Program coach, or coaches, to lead and direct the Program.
 
WVAS Program coaches work closely with state coaches to ensure that the emphasis and direction of the WVAS program is consistent with the state and/or national direction.
 
The selection of an athlete in a WVAS program is based on specified criteria that are focussed on supporting elite and potential elite athletes.
 
The number of athletes at the WVAS at any one time will typically range between 130 - 150 athletes.

WVAS SPORTS
PROGRAM INFORMATION

Objectives

• Maximise WVAS representation on State teams;
• Maximise Victoria’s contribution to Australian world-class performances.

 
Benefits
WVAS offers a range of services to athletes as prioritised on the basis of the needs of the athlete as identified by the sport and/or coach/es. Services may include: coaching, strength & conditioning, sports psychology, biomechanics, physiology, nutrition and career and education guidance through the delivery of a number of personal excellence presentations.
  
In addition to these services WVAS may also offer direct financial support to offset competition travel expenses, coaching fees, venue access fees and medical costs. All services offered by WVAS are at the discretion of the Executive Officer.
  
Queries on Selection
Any queries on selection should be made directly to the Executive Officer.
  
De-selection Process
An athlete may request to end their scholarship at any time by informing the Executive Officer in writing.  WVAS can initiate termination of an athlete's scholarship after a formal review based on the athlete's current performances and level of commitment.

ATHLETE TESTIMONIAL

Emma Werner
(Hammer Throw – Individual Members Program)

Emma Werner is a three-year FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport "Individual Memberships Program” Member. Emma has represented Australia in the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Oceania Games, in the “Women’s Hammer throw”.
Being part of the Academy, Emma has access to Strength and Conditioning support through a Musculoskeletal Screening and then ongoing program prescription, Nutrition guidance, Sport Psychology consultation, and technique analysis.
With Emma’s coaching, she travels regularly to Melbourne and Hobart. There are no Hammer throw coaches locally making the Academy the only local part of her support Emma saying “they are amazing with all that they do for me”.

VIDEOS

Watch an interview with Andrew Perks (High Performance Director & Sports Director at Bacchus Marsh Grammar) & Julia Bourke (Shot Put & Hammer Throw) of the Westvic Academy of Sport Bacchus Marsh Grammar Program.

Watch an interview with Gymnast Hudson Irwin and Karen Smythe from The Vibrant Edge

Watch an interview with Emma Werner (Hammer Throw)
& Samuel Rizzo (Wheelchair Racing)

Watch an interview with Shaun Findlay (Alpine Ski Racer)
& Chris Radford (Strength & Conditioning Co-ordinator)