UniSA helps Australia find next generation of sports stars
As
part of a unique initiative by the National Talent Identification
and Development (NTID) program, UniSA’s School of Health Sciences is
working with the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) to support their
efforts in establishing a network of Testing Centres to help
fast-track talented athletes from around Australia into selected
Olympic Games and World Championship sports.
The ASC’s NTID program aims to find and develop new athletes and to transfer existing athletes between sports to possibly represent Australia at the 2012 London Olympics and beyond.
UniSA will hold its first talent assessment session on October 25 at the Magill Sports Stadium.
Manager of UniSA’s HLS Health & Fitness Centre, Andrew Hassam said the talent assessment program aimed to give more Australians a sporting chance at the elite level.
"While the program is searching for the next generation of Aussie sports stars, this is also a chance for people to explore their potential. It’s not just focused on Olympic success," he said.
It is also a valuable experiential learning opportunity for UniSA’s human movement students, such as Tracey Grosser and Aaron Kempe, who will be conducting the testing.
"It’s good to actually put into practice what we learn, to be hands on and to apply that knowledge," Grosser said.
Kempe agreed.
"I hope to be working with professional and elite athletes and to have an impact on future Olympic success, so this is great chance for some experience towards that," he said.
Australian Sports Commission, Director of National Sport Programs, Greg Nance said that through partnerships such as these the talent identification program aimed to increase the number of results received and improve talent detection opportunities.
"For Australia to retain its current high ranking in world sport and become competitive at an international level across a wider range of sports, it is important that we use these already established and effective networks to seek out and fast-track talent in Australia," Nance said.
For further information on the NTID program and Testing Centres visit www.ausport.gov.au/participating/got_talent