RMIT Elite Athlete and Performer Program

To qualify as an Elite Athlete, you must be at least one of the following:

• National Squad member from a Sport Australia recognised and funded sport.
• AIS scholarship holder.
• VIS scholarship holder.
• Member of any of the following:
  • AFL Players Association.
  • Australian Cricketers’ Association.
  • Rugby Union Players Association.
  • Rugby League Professionals’ Association.
  • Professional Footballers Australia.
  • Australian Netball Players' Association (ANPA). 

Emerging Athlete eligibility

To qualify as an Emerging Athlete, you must be at least one of the following:

• State Squad member from a Sport Australia recognised and funded sport.
• Listed senior player in the top division of the following Victorian state based competitions (or interstate equivalent): 
  • Victorian Football League (VFL and VFL Women's).
  • NPL VIC (top division and seniors).
  • NRL Victoria (first Grade).
  • Rugby Dewar Shield (seniors).
  • Victorian Premier Cricket (first division and seniors).
  • NBL1 South.
  • Premier League Hockey (senior team).
  • Victorian Netball League (VNL). 
• For time-based sports recognised and funded by Sport Australia, such as swimming, athletics, and rowing, met the open age category entry standards and competed in the most recent Australian Nationals.

To qualify as an elite performer, applicants must demonstrate at least one of the following:

• Membership or significant professional engagement with a recognised company, organisation, or peak body in their field; including but not limited to:
  • Actors Equity Australia
  • Australian Dance Council (Ausdance)
    
  • Opera Australia / State Opera / Victorian Opera
  • Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA)
  • Other recognised elite-level affiliations or projects (e.g. international festivals, major independent productions, or residencies) may also be considered at the discretion of the Elite Performer Program Coordinator.
• Participation in nationally or internationally significant performances, productions, exhibitions, competitions, or events;
• Securing a major contract, professional residency or fellowship, or similar recognition of elite status

Performing Arts disciplines that are considered under REAP include: Dance, Theatre and Musical Theatre, Screen Performance and Music.

To qualify as an esports Elite or Emerging athlete you must fulfill the following requirements:

1. You must be competing in a current AEL affiliated game, or a well-established, international game of an appropriate genre.

Factors for whether the game is considered a well-established, international game of an appropriate genre:

• Whether the game is currently estimated to be in the top 10 for international earnings and player count.
• Total number of game competitions (tournaments or leagues), and competition prize money. 
• The presence of an established international code of conduct. 
• The game genre and whether it aligns with RMIT values and student conduct requirements.

2. You must be contracted with a professional organisation to play the specific game; or in the absence of a contract must be competing at a national level demonstrated by your results from the past 12 months, current ranking, and player earnings.

Factors for whether an organisation is considered professional: 

• Player travel commitments, training requirements, and salaries. 
• Commitments to particular competitions or leagues and its ranking.
• Support staff and other services offered to players.
• Current organisation sponsorship.
• ABN validation (or similar).

The level of competition will determine whether the esports athlete is classified as elite or emerging. E.g. Students competing at an international level may be categorised as elite, while students competing at a national level may be categorised as emerging.