This month it was announced that the Australian Olympic Committee has partnered with seven Sports High Schools in New South Wales.
In an Australian first, these State Sports High Schools will officially become ‘Australian Olympic Pathway Schools’, these schools include:
- Endeavour Sports High School
- Hunter Sports High School
- Illawarra Sports High School
- Matraville Sports High School
- Narrabeen Sports High School
- The Hills Sports High School
- Westfields Sports High School
This announcement helps boost the state’s efforts to create future generations of Olympians and allows students from state education schools to receive advanced exposure and resources.
With the assistance of Rugby Australia, two Australian 7s players (men and women) will be ambassadors for each of the seven Sports High Schools. This program will extend to layers to attend the school's training and assist in some 7s match days in Terms 1 and 4 and providing access so schools can use those players in their promotional material alongside the Olympic rings.
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the Australian Olympic Committee’s decision to elect these schools was fantastic news and further enhances the state’s work to produce future Olympians and Paralympians for generations to come.
“Our seven Sports High Schools in NSW are the only secondary schools in Australia to have this prestigious recognition," Ms Mitchell said.
“This reflects the great strength of our sports high school network and their excellent track record in fostering both sporting high performance and academic achievement. I can’t wait to see the next generation of medal-winning athletes coming from our public schools as we look to Brisbane 2032.”
In addition to this partnership NSW Rugby Union arranged for all Sports High Schools coaches, along with the Girl's 7s school coaches, to have a full day of professional development with the Australian 7s Men's and Women’s coaches and teams that will be conducted on 14 March at Rugby Australia.
The Principals from the Sports High Schools were also able to witness the pathways potential for their students as they watched Australia’s Men’s and Women’s teams at the Sydney 7s last month.
It has been a big month for NSW Rugby with the facilitation of Eddie Jones’s return to Australia at Matraville Sports High School. The Wallabies head coach is in his second term and hopes to connect community rugby with its state and national teams. Eddie spoke about his return to one of the seven selected sports high schools.
"Mark, Glen, Gary (Ella) and I were talking out there... we left here in 1977 and to come back here now is pretty special. It's a good feeling. It's quite emotional."
Eddie’s former high school, along with six others, now have the potential to create Olympic heroes.
