The program will kick-off with a sports focus titled Futures Academy: High Performance Athlete Program. It is an innovative initiative dedicated to supporting the high potential and gifted education (HPGE) students of the local learning community.
The Academy aims to inspire and cultivate excellence by harnessing the collective expertise and resources of the five primary schools—Empire Bay Public School, Ettalong Public School, Umina Beach Public School, Woy Woy Public School, and Woy Woy South Public School—together with the Brisbane Water Secondary College.
These schools have a combined enrolment figure of more than 4,000 students, providing a rich talent pool.
Marisha Blanco is the Brisbane Water Secondary College Principal and believes more can be done to nurture the talents of young and local sportspeople.
“The Peninsula and Empire Bay boast a proud and longstanding tradition of sporting excellence. This program is dedicated to supporting young athletes, empowering them to carry on that legacy and reach new heights. With a wealth of local talent, we are excited to nurture their potential through our collaborative learning community, leveraging the expertise of experienced coaches and sporting facilities across our network,” Marisha said.
From 2-13 June, coaches from Brisbane Water Secondary College will visit their primary counterparts to scout and recruit five high potential students from Year 3 in each BWLC primary school.
The skills assessed at the scout trials will span the physical literacy continuum and include games that demonstrate speed and endurance, agility, object control, teamwork and decision making.
Once selected, the top 25 will be extended through a holistic physical and sports psychology coaching program that will continue all the way through their primary and secondary school careers. The students will engage in one additional two-hour training session every week of the school term.
To increase accessibility to the Academy, students will meet at the training grounds during school hours and be returned to their primary school.
The session will include sports psychology methods including goal-setting, centered breathing, journaling and reflection, as well as physical extension activities that will support them in all sports areas.
Strategies as to how the coaches will meet the needs of 25 up-and-coming sportspeople have been considered by the BWLC.
Marisha said: “It is important that young athletes do not specialise in a sport at a young age, so the Academy will focus on transferable skills in the early years.
“The idea is that the group of athletes will continue in this Academy each year of their primary and secondary schooling, with skills adapted to specialist sports interests as the athletes develop,” she added.
Two Head Coaches have been appointed to execute the Futures Academy High Performance Athlete Program. Kim Grant is the Program Director and a World Cup Touch Football champion, touch football and soccer coach and Physical Education teacher at Brisbane Water Secondary College.
Sam Quick is the Program Lead and a national and state hockey, swimming and soccer representative and Physical Education teacher at Brisbane Water Secondary College.
The two coaches will work under the expert leadership of Matt Barr, principal of Woy Woy South Public School. Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the realm of elite sport coaching and competition
The Academy is financially supported by the Ettalong Branch of Bendigo Bank. The Futures Academy Aspire Academic Program will launch in 2026.
