Expanded and improved Elite Athlete Program launched

RMIT has revamped its program designed to support the next generation of elite or emerging athletes as they balance sport and study.

The RMIT Elite and Emerging Athlete Program (REAP) offers over 200 students each year flexibility and assessment support to help them achieve their sporting and academic aspirations.

The program’s expansion includes extra staff and increased funding and resources for students, including international travel grants, ATAR adjustments, gym memberships, course planning and cross-institutional study arrangements.

Vice-Chancellor and President Martin Bean CBE (Centre) with current and past REAP members.

Vice-Chancellor and President Martin Bean CBE (middle) with current and past REAP members.

Vice-Chancellor and President Martin Bean CBE, Elite Athlete Pathways Coordinator Miachelle Deverell, and Essendon Football Club Head of Player Development Matthew Little, along with several current and past members of the program, kicked off the re-launch at a networking lunch earlier this month.

The re-launch is part of the University’s continued commitment to excellence within RMIT sport and the wider sporting community.

As an ex-elite athlete herself, Deverell said she was excited to be a part of the program and saw a lot of value in it for students.

“REAP provides a great opportunity to be able to deliver services to support students in dual careers,” she said.

“There’s a whole network of support making such a positive difference in the lives of athletes and our program is one of them.”

RMIT Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) alumnus and REAP graduate Laura Hingston led the proceedings and spoke of the opportunities through the program that allowed her to balance study and education with her elite platform diving schedule.

Hingston is a Victorian Institute of Sport Scholarship holder who has represented Australia and has her eyes on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Funding is another key benefit available to students as part of the program, with the Elite Athlete Scholarship increased to $10,000, up from $500 in previous years.

Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Radiations) student and cyclist Nicholas White was a recent recipient of the Scholarship.

White said the Scholarship opened up a potential pathway for him to realise his long-held dream of signing with a professional team and travelling the world on his bike.

“Mixing cycling and studying has always been a challenge for me with the amount of travel I have to do, especially in recent years as I have started to go overseas a lot more. After winning the Australian u23 National Championships this travelling will only increase,” he said.

White is also a proud Redback, having represented RMIT as a key member of the University’s back-to-back UniSport Australia Nationals title winning cycling teams of 2017 and 2018.

Story: Ryan Mobilia and Jasmijn van Houten

Society and Environment

31 May 2019

Society and Environment

31 May 2019

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Expanded and improved Elite Athlete Program launched