TAC partners with the Barwon Sports Academy

30 Jan 2008

Media Release - 30 January 2008

The TAC will support emerging athletes from the Barwon Region through a 3 year deal with the Barwon Sports Academy.

Under the three year deal, the TAC will support the academy as it identifies and nurtures young athletes from the Barwon region, providing them with opportunities that will assist them to develop their talents.

The TAC’s Chief Community Officer, Phil Reed said the deal would enable the TAC to support a range of sports and communities from across the Barwon region.

Emerging athletes are great role models for young road users and we’ll be looking to them to apply the same dedication they have for their sports to road safety, Mr Reed said.

“Sadly, young people are overrepresented in the Victorian road toll.  Last year, 81 people aged 16 to 25 were killed, making up around a quarter of all deaths.”

“As elite sports people, the academy’s athletes occupy positions of privilege and responsibility, and the TAC hopes the athletes will encourage their peers to re-think their behaviour on the roads, in an effort to save them from death or serious injury.”

More than 50 athletes will be inducted into the academy at a ceremony tonight, with the first round of sports including badminton, basketball, athletics and swimming, as well as some individual scholarship holders.

Chief Executive Officer of the Barwon Sports Academy, Aaron Greaves, said the Barwon Sports Academy was part of a regional Victorian network, established to provide vital support services to aspiring athletes.

“All academy program athletes have access to a range of services, often reserved for professional sports people,” Mr Greaves said.

“At the academy we will conduct performance-related training and testing, diet and nutrition education, personal development courses, including public speaking and media presentation and discounts on health treatments.”

Mr Reed said the Barwon Sports Academy would provide the TAC with a platform to get involved with what will be its local community.

 “There are already 90 TAC staff working from Geelong with the business moving to new headquarters in Geelong next year.”

“We’re looking forward to taking part in the community and watching the region’s young sports stars improve their athletic skills and develop into community role models.”