Individual Memberships

MEMBERSHIP OVERVIEW

WestVic Academy of Sport offers Individual athletes access to a range of services and resources to compliment the training and coaching that they are completing within their chosen sports. The aim of our Individual Athlete program is to provide holistic support to athletes across a taste into strength and conditioning, physical preparation, access to education sessions, well-being resources and more.

WestVic understands that competing as an individual athlete is tough at times, navigating pathways, contacts, coaching, schedules, sponsors and all while balancing school and life. WestVic sits under the Victorian Institute of Sport and works with a number of State & National sporting organisations. Our Executive Officer is always happy to offer to meet with each of our Individual Athletes to see where we may be able to assist further. Be it getting a contact at a State Sporting Body, putting together a sponsor proposal or assisting with an injury, we hope to tailor our service as best we can.

Selection Criteria
Selection into the WVAS Individual Athlete Program will be based on your recent performances and results in your chosen sport. We understand that each sport has a different levels of competition and results pools, so each application will be reviewed on a case by case basis, therefore there is not a one size fits all criteria for this program.

2023 Program Outline

2023 Program Application Form

Gymnast Hudson Irwin; 2015 U/17 National and State Champion – now on the Australian Team for the “Austrian Future Cup” (Credit: WinkiPop)

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)

Individual Member Hammer Throw Emma Werner

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.