OUR VISION
EMPOWERING EMERGING ATHLETES.
OUR MISSION
ENABLE REGIONAL ATHLETES TO PROGRESS THROUGH THEIR HIGH-PERFORMANCE PATHWAY BY PROVIDING BEST PRACTICE HOLISTIC SPORT PROGRAMS.
OUR VALUES
PURSUE EXCELLENCE, UPHOLD INTEGRITY, EARN RESPECT.
OUR STORY
2025 marked a defining year for the Regional Academies of Sport (RAS) network - one of growth, connection and performance. It was a year when the pathway from regional communities to the world stage became clearer, stronger and more unified than ever before.
RAS exists to identify, develop and empower emerging young athletes from regional communities, ensuring that where an athlete lives does not limit how far they can go.
Operating as a centralised system, RAS delivers locally based high‑performance support and holistic development programs that bridge the gap between grassroots sport and progression to state and national pathways.
By providing early, structured support, aligned with recognised state and national pathways, RAS plays a critical role in Australia’s high‑performance sport ecosystem.
In 2025, RAS officially expanded to nine academies, creating streamlined efficiencies across the network, and redirecting vital funds into core programs.
Together, these academies form a collaborative network that supports thousands of young athletes, primarily aged 12 to 18, each year through:
High‑performance training environments
Education and dual‑career planning
Wellbeing and mental health support
Connections to state and national sporting pathways
The foundations laid in 2025 have set the direction for the future, deeper collaboration, stronger pathways, and continued belief that regional athletes belong on the world stage.
Through shared expertise, aligned systems, and commitment to athlete wellbeing, RAS will continue to ensure that every young person, wherever they live, has the opportunity to achieve their potential in sport and life.
WHERE WE WORK
RAS operates across regional communities, providing access to high-quality athlete development opportunities for young people in regional and rural areas.
Our growing network currently includes 9 academies –8 across NSW and now also 1 in South Australia with expansion outside of NSW in 2025 with RAS taking over the operations of Limestone Coast Academy of Sport (LCAS).
Each academy is deeply connected to its local community, working in partnership with schools, clubs, local councils and sporting organisations to deliver programs that are accessible, relevant and impactful.
The strength of the NSW network continues to underpin the broader RAS model, providing a foundation for consistent, high quality outcomes across all regions.
New South Wales Central Coast Academy of Sport
Academy of Sport
Coast Academy of Sport
Inland Academy of Sport
South Australia
Limestone Coast Academy of Sport
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRPERSON
At Regional Academies of Sport, our core purpose is simple, yet deeply meaningful - we empower emerging athletes. We take pride in identifying regional talent, nurturing their development through holistic programs, and creating genuine opportunities for them to grow and progress in their chosen sport. This commitment sits at the heart of everything we do.
In 2025, we were excited to continue building momentum through the expansion of the RAS network, welcoming Western Sydney Academy of Sport (WSAS), South West Sydney Academy of Sport (SWSAS), Western Region Academy of Sport (WRAS), Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS), and for the first time, extending beyond NSW with Limestone Coast Academy of Sport (LCAS) in South Australia.
This growth not only broadens our reach, but also opens more doors for regional athletes, strengthening access to high performance pathways and reinforcing the value of our shared, centralised approach.
As our RAS network continues to grow, so too does the strength of our collective. Greater collaboration, shared knowledge, and innovation are creating more connected and consistent experiences for athletes across all regions, ensuring they are supported to thrive both on and off the field.
We are incredibly proud of our people and the strong relationships we hold within our regional communities. Our staff, coaches, volunteers, and partners bring our values to life every day, pursuing excellence, upholding integrity, and earning respect through their dedication to our athletes.
We also extend our sincere thanks to our valued partners. Your continued support and belief in what we do enables us to create more opportunities and deliver lasting impact for the families and communities of our academies.
With a growing footprint and a clear strategic direction, RAS is well positioned to lead the future of regional athlete development. The impact we are creating is real, measurable, and growing as we continue to look ahead to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.
DARRYL CLOUT
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
BRETT O’FARRELL
As we reflect on the past year, I am proud to recognise the continued dedication and impact of our team at Regional Academies of Sport. Our purpose remains clear, conducting relent identification for athletes across regional communities, fostering excellence through strong coaching and educational programs, and creating meaningful pathways.
Throughout 2025, we further expanded our reach, supporting thousands of aspiring regional athletes through RAS development programs, while continuing to deliver strong performances at regional, state and national levels.
The success of RAS is clear, across the last 3 Olympic and Paralympic Games (Paris, Tokyo and Rio), 99 RAS alumni have represented Australia in 13 sports, with 28 athletes achieving 45 medals, including 14 gold.
Research tells us that it takes an average of 8-10 years for an athlete to reach the podium. With the typical Olympian aged 23–27, the majority of Australia’s potential Brisbane 2032 team are currently 14–18 years old.
Importantly, around 90% of RAS athletes fall within this critical age group, reinforcing the important role we play in the national high performance pathway. It really is an exciting time to be a regional athlete.
Our strong financial position, and the support of our partners, has enabled continued investment in our core business of talent development, enhancing coaching, programs and performance support across the network.
I thank our athletes, coaches, staff, volunteers, Board and stakeholders for their ongoing commitment.
Together, we are shaping not only future sporting success, but stronger regional communities through sport.
5,000 + Young People and Families involved in Talent ID and Selection Trials
2,256 $ 32.5M 12:1 Athletes and Families involved in RAS Scholarship Programs Total Economic Return Return on Investment (ROI) on Government Investment
134 Talent Programs Across Multiple Sports
484 Coaches and Volunteers Contributing 58,000+ Volunteer Hours
2025 YEAR IN REVIEW OUR ATHLETE SUCCESS STORIES
In 2025, athletes supported by the Regional Academies of Sport achieved exceptional success across Olympic, Paralympic and professional pathways. From world championships and national titles to professional drafts and international representation, these results demonstrate the strength of regional high-performance environments and clear athlete pathways.
• Ava Prince and Levi Park (Golf) - Greg Chalmers Junior Masters Champions
• Kaiden McNamara (AFL) - Sydney Swans VFL
Alumni:
• Nicola Olyslagers (Athletics) - Diamond League Champion Australian Record Holder and World Athlete of the Year
• Declan Budd (Swimming) - World Aquatics Championships Qualifier
• Liliya Tatarinoff (Cycling) - UCI Track World Championships Bronze
• Martin Wroblewski (Martial Arts) – 2 Gold and 1 Silver at ISKA Nationals (Ranked #1 in Division)
Alumni:
• Lauren Parker OAM (Para Sport) – Sport NSW Athlete of the Year (Disability)
• Tyler Wright (Surfing) – WSL Pipeline Pro Winner
• Torrie Lewis (Athletics) – Australian 100m Record Holder
• Matilda Percival and Eve Power – Netball NSW U17 State Team
• Hope White (Netball) - Signed with GIANTS Netball and Represented Australia at Netball Youth World Cup (U21 National Squad)
• Alex Neyland and Molly Smith (AFLW) – Drafted to Sydney Swans
• Ella Scaysbrook (Golf) – Female Amateur Player of the Year
• Corey Lamb and Jye Pickin (Golf) – Competing on Australian Tour; NSW Golf Open
• Hayley Dell (Cycling) – 5 Medals at Junior National Track Championships
• Caitlin Rose (???) – Bronze at Oceania Track Champs
• Jemma Pollard (Athletics) – 3rd in Relay at World Championships and Indoor Championships Selection
• Hunter Baldwin (Hockey) – U21 National Team
• Callum Beashel and Mayke Telfer (Softball) – Represented Australia at U18 Trans-Tasman Series; Grace Wrixon in Aussie Spirit Squads
• Alex Wells, Lachlan Wells and Rixon Wingrove (Baseball) – Represented Australia
–
• Ocea Curtis (Surfing) – RAS UAA Indigenous Athlete of the Year
• Skeet McMahon and Max Neal (Golf) – North vs South Jack Newton
Northern Inland Academy of Sport ( NIAS
)
• Olivia Earl (Para Athletics) – Australian Representative, Virtus World Championships
• Ben Shaw and Jock Barwick (Cycling) – AusCycling U17 Development Squads (Road, Track, MTB)
• Elouise Trotter and Piper Blinman (Softball) – NSW State Team Selections
• Logan Hayward, Luke Whitty, Laura Hall, Lucy Deiderick, Ashlee Morgan, Ella Tanna, Olivia Fitzpatrick, Archie Clark, Luke Schmude, Blake Scicluna, Jack Marshall, Angus Barwick, Makenna Barnett Suey, Evie Laverty and Elizabeth Ray (Hockey) – Selected in NSW Hockey U16 & U18 State Teams
Alumni:
Sophie Parsons (Cricket), Mia Gentle (Netball) – NSW Country U19
Central Coast Academy of Sport ( CCAS )
Hunter Academy of Sport ( HAS )
• Lexie Brown (Para Athletics)
Selected for World Para Athletics Championships and NCAS Athlete of the Year
Junior Tournament
North Coast Academy of Sport ( NCAS )
Western Sydney Academy of Sport ( WSAS )
• Sienna Toohey (Swimming) – Australian Dolphins Debut; World Championships Silver Medal; Sport NSW Young Athlete of the Year and RAS Athlete of the Year
• Mia Hogan (Para Swimming) – Selected for Australian Flippers Squad; Multiple Medals at World Para Series
• Jackson Gray (Wheelchair Basketball) – Sport NSW Young Athlete of the Year with a Disability and World Championships Australian U23 Representative
• Liana France (Para Alpine Skiing) – Five National Gold Medals; Snow Australia HP Contract; Paralympic Long-List
• Jacob McLaughlan (Cycling) – AusCycling Road and Track Development Academies
• Braxton Ivanhoff (Golf) – Top 5 at NSW Junior Golf Championships Alumni:
• Corey Toole (Rugby Union) – Wallabies
• Piper Duck (Rugby Union) – Wallaroos
• Drew Brndusic (Rugby Union) – ACT Brumbies
South West Sydney Academy of Sport (SWSAS)
• Eve Boner (Softball) – International Cup U18 Selection
• Storm Jeffs, Daisy White, Tenika Williams, Ameliya Fairburn, Mikaela Lette, Rose Santana, Isabella Hanrahan, Harry White and Jack Doherty (Softball) – Selected in Pacific Cup Softball Squads across U14–U16
• Isaac Braganza, Wade Brooks, Laura Carruthers, Brianna Webster, Evie Kent and Nate Fields (Hockey) – Selected in Hockey NSW U16 and U18 State Teams
• Matthew Engesser (Para Triathlon) – Top 6 at World Triathlon Para Series
• Sylvia Dagg (MTB) – Double Gold at National MTB Championships
• Cheyanne Vaitusi and Akur Malueth (Netball) – NSW U17 Team Selection
Alumni:
• Jonathan Fabar (Football)
• Coby Carruthers (Golf HP Squad)
• Anna Dubier (Cycling) – UCI Junior Track World Champion
• Gordon Allan (Para Cycling) – National Track Champion
Limestone Coast Academy of Sport
( LCAS )
• Amali Judd and Molly Opperman (Cycling) – State and National Championship Medallists
• Lacey Thompson (Motocross) – SA State Champion (Girls 85BW – Consecutive Titles)
• Albert Peters (Basketball) – U16 National Championships
Alumni:
• Leila Croker (Athletics) - U23 State Record Holder
Southern Sports Academy ( SSA )
OUR PEOPLE
STRENGTH OF RAS LIES IN OUR PEOPLE.
Across the RAS network, we are supported by a dedicated team of staff, coaches, performance specialists, administrators and volunteers, who are committed to developing athletes both on and off the field.
This includes Regional Managers, program staff, coaches, strength and conditioning specialists, and performance support practitioners, all working together to deliver a holistic athlete development experience.
Beyond performance, our people play a critical role in shaping the personal growth of athletes, supporting education, wellbeing, leadership and life skills.
Their passion, experience and commitment ensures athletes are supported not only as competitors, but as individuals, leaders and contributors to their communities. Meet our people at regionalacademies.org.au/our-team
As we continue to evolve, the focus remains on strengthening the consistency, quality and reach of programs across the network.
LOOKING AHEAD INNOVATION IN PERFORMANCE
Key priorities moving forward include further enhancing athlete development pathways, increasing alignment with state and national sporting organisations, and continuing to build on the strength of the existing network while exploring opportunities for measured growth. We are also focused on improving systems, resources and support for Regional Managers and program staff to ensure sustainable delivery.
As the RAS network further develops, we will continue to build meaningful partnerships that support long term impact, while maintaining our core focus on empowering emerging athletes through a holistic development model.
Throughout 2025, RAS continued to strengthen our approach to performance support through targeted investment in technology, partnerships, and system alignment.
A key priority across the year was improving how athlete development services are coordinated, delivered and supported across the network.
One of the most significant advancements was the development of a partnership with Lumin Sports, transitioning RAS to a new Athlete Management System (AMS). This provided a modern platform to support athlete engagement, program coordination and communication across the network. The system enables academies to manage training schedules, athlete attendance and performance support services within a single integrated environment. The implementation has improved operational efficiency, supported governance oversight, and created stronger foundations for future data insights into athlete development and program delivery.
In 2025, we also expanded our partnership with Nutrient Nation, supporting the rollout of a centralised education model beginning with nutrition. This initiative marked an important step toward providing consistent, high quality performance education to athletes, coaches and support staff across all regions. The program combines live education sessions, digital learning resources
and practical competition preparation tools to support athletes in developing sustainable habits and improving competition readiness. Early engagement indicators suggest the model has strengthened access to expert guidance while reducing duplication of effort.
In parallel, work progressed to strengthen the alignment of RAS performance services with national sport frameworks and highperformance pathway principles. This included ongoing work to map and align performance support services such as strength and conditioning, athlete testing, sports science, and education delivery across the network. The aim is to create greater consistency in athlete development opportunities, while ensuring programs remain responsive to the unique challenges faced by regional athletes.
Collectively, these initiatives are important steps toward building a more connected and scalable performance support system.
By strengthening digital infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and system alignment, RAS enhances its ability to support talented athletes on their pathway from regional participation through to national and international high performance environments.
2025 EVENT REPORT
Your Local Club Regional Academy Awards
RAS celebrated the outstanding achievements of athletes, coaches and alumni from across regional NSW throughout 2025 at the Your Local Club Regional Academy Awards on Tuesday 24 February 2026 at Wenty Leagues Club, Wentworthville.
The annual event recognised excellence, leadership and commitment across the RAS pathway, highlighting athletes progressing toward national and international representation as Australia builds toward the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Proudly supported by Your Local Club, the event brought together athletes, families, coaches, alumni and key sporting stakeholders to celebrate
performance excellence and the strength of regional sporting pathways.
As acknowledged the valued contribution of keynote speaker Noemie Fox, Olympic gold medalist and WSAS alumni, alongside award presenters and partners Darryl Clout (Chair, RAS), The Hon. Mark Hodges MP (Member for Castle Hill), Sallianne Faulkner (Netball NSW and Clubs NSW), Carlee Miller (Santos) and Pierre Commis (Office of Sport).
RAS Athlete Leadership Camp
RAS held its annual Athlete Leadership Day on Tuesday 24 February, bringing together top athletes from across the network for a series of activities focused on leadership, teamwork and communication. Delivered in partnership with Human Performance Programs, the day supported athletes’ holistic development beyond sporting performance through practical indoor and outdoor sessions.
The event plays a key role in uniting athletes from different regions, giving them the opportunity to connect, share experiences and build lasting relationships with peers on similar high performance pathways.
UAA Indigenous Talent Identification (ITID) Days
RAS hosted multiple Underwriting Agencies Australia (UAA) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Talent Identification Days throughout the regions across 2025. The events saw over 900 local students showcase their skills across multiple sporting disciplines, as well as Function Movement Screenings and Testing.
These talent identification days are tailored for students of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who aspire to elevate their sporting
opportunities through identifying specific skills, personal qualities and physical attributes that may lead that person to become a high performing athlete. It is much more than just assessing a person’s physical capabilities, it includes the emotional side of performance, aspects such as desire, determination and resilience. The standout performers from these events are invited to training programs with their local Academy, and subsequently be integrated into existing sports programs operated by RAS throughout the year.
2025 Your Local Club Regional Academy Games
The 2025 Your Local Club Regional Academy Games was a significant event that brought together over 1,500 athletes and coaching support staff from 11 Regional Academies throughout NSW to compete in Tamworth. Hosted by the Northern Inland Academy of Sport, this event was held across various venues from April 11th to April 13th.
It is estimated that 5,522 bed stays were generated by the event with a total economic tourism value of $3,412,568 across four local government areas.
RAS athletes demonstrated outstanding talent and skill throughout the competition, showcasing the Academies dedication to fostering athletic excellence. Click here for the full event report.
Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame
Hosted by Hunter Academy of Sport (HAS)
The Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame proudly welcomed five athletes into its prestigious ranks during the 33rd annual induction ceremony, held at the Broadmeadow Room, McDonald Jones Stadium on Wednesday, 20th August.
The Hall of Fame celebrates over 350 elite athletes who have represented Australia or competed internationally, all of whom have strong ties to the Hunter region – either by birth or through their sporting careers at junior or senior levels.
This year’s inductees were:
Scott Westcott – Athletics
Christie Dawes – Wheelchair Racing
Josh Valentine – Rugby Union
Owen Beldham – Golf
Maddison Elliott – Para-Swimming
Regional Talent Athlete Program (RTAP) Camp
Hosted by North Coast Academy of Sport (NCAS)
The 2025 Regional Talent Athlete Program (RTAP) Camp, was held in Coffs Harbour from 15–18 July 2025. Designed to bridge the gap between regional opportunity and elite sport aspiration, the camp provided a structured, immersive development experience for 44 regional athletes aged 12–18 years, across multiple sporting codes.
on equipping athletes with the tools, experiences, and mindset required to progress along the performance pathway. The camp delivered a balance of athlete profiling, hands-on strength and conditioning training, recovery education, performance mindset development, and interactive sessions with Olympians and high performance professionals.
RAS Coaches Conference
The 2025 RAS Performance Support Conference and Coaches Conference, held over Friday, 30th May to Sunday 1st June at Mingara Recreation Centre and Crowne Plaza Terrigal, brought together strength and conditioning and performance support staff, high performance coaches, and sports professionals.
The two-day “Paddock to Podium” Coaching Conference brought together regional, national, and international sports professionals with a shared vision to bridge the gap between grassroots sport and the highest levels of international performance. Its core objectives were to:
Hosted by Central Coast Academy of Sport
(CCAS)
Empower Regional Coaches: Provide direct access to leading national and international high performance experts, equipping regional coaches with the latest tools, insights, and strategies to support elite athletes within regional Australia.
Strengthen Collaboration: Enhance alignment and cooperation between regional sports academies, the NSW Office of Sport, NSWIS, and other key stakeholders to build robust and seamless athlete pathways from the local paddock to international podiums.
Champion the “Paddock to Podium” Vision: Highlight the long-term benefits of nurturing elite athletes within their regional environments close to family, community, and their roots while providing access to the high performance support required for national and Olympic level success.
Built around the theme “From Paddock to Podium –The Journey of a Regional Athlete,” the camp focused
North vs South Cup - Golf
The annual North v South Cup is a high quality, team based golf competition that brings together selected regional academy athletes identified for their talent, attitude and future potential. It provides a valuable high performance environment where athletes gain advanced competitive experience, connect with like-minded peers, and showcase their abilities as part of a key talent identification pathway toward state and higher level development programs.
Delivered in partnership with Jack Newton Junior Golf, the weekend features academy teams competing against one another in a Presidents Cup style tournament.
2025 HONOUR ROLL
Central Coast Academy of Sport ( CCAS )
• Athlete of the Year: Lewis Gifford-Cock (Hockey)
• Para Athlete of the Year: Declan Budd (Swimming)
• UAA Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander Athlete of the Year: Jack Wighton (Future Stars/Cycling)
• Chair’s Award: Ava Prince (Golf)
• Greater Bank Coach of the Year: James Thornton (Strength & Conditioning)
• Ray Sandell Dedication to Sporting Excellence: Addison Kowaliw (Netball)
Hunter Academy of Sport ( HAS )
• Athlete of the Year: Harper Nelmes (Mountain Bike GE)
• Para Athlete of the Year: Molly Smith (Goal Ball)
• UAA Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander Athlete Award: Addyson Kirby (Basketball)
• Athlete Leadership Award: Zara Campbell (Triathlon)
• Greater Bank Coach Leadership Award: Darren Bird (Strength and Conditioning and Aussie Rules Football)
• Paul Trisley Administrator of the Year: Kirstie Fuller (Netball)
• Greater Bank Volunteer Manager of the Year: Chris Halpin (Softball)
North Coast Academy of Sport ( NCAS )
• Darrel Chapman Memorial – NCAS Athlete of the Year: Lexie Brown (Athletics)
• Coach of the Year (Harold Kratz Memorial Award): Zenon Kowalczyk (Athletics)
• Leadership Award: Tully Flynn (Netball)
• Chair’s Encouragement Award: Rio Luther-Barr (Surfing)
• Volunteer of the Year: Tracey Rutten (Hockey)
• Indigenous Athlete of the Year: Malachi Canning (Athletics)
• Athlete of the Year with a Disability: Lexie Brown (Athletics)
• Niki Taylor Memorial Award: Bronte Eady (Netball)
Northern Inland Academy of Sport ( NIAS )
• Female Athlete of the Year: Isabella Henderson (Future Stars/Rowing)
• Male Athlete of the Year: Archie Clarke (Hockey)
• UAA Indigenous Athlete of the Year: Makenna Barnett- Suey (Hockey)
• Col Burt Memorial Award - Coach of the Year: Kane Butler (Basketball)
• Chair’s Award: Teddy Hampton (Future Stars/Athletics)
• Communicator Award: Orlando York (Tennis)
• Sarah Heagney Memorial Award: Amy Evans (Netball)
• Scotty Campbell Memorial Award – Volunteer of the Year: Kylie Ralston (Basketball)
Southern Sports Academy ( SSA )
• Southern Sports Academy Athlete of the Year: Sienna Toohey (Swimming)
• Volunteer of the Year: Kylie Anderson (Rugby)
• Para Athlete of the Year: Mia Hogan (Para Swimming)
• Indigenous Athlete of the Year: Braxton Ivanoff (Golf)
• Coaching Leadership & Excellence: James Purcell (Golf)
• Jenny King Chairperson’s Leadership and Excellence Award: Luke Anderson (Rugby)
South West Sydney Academy of Sport (SWSAS)
• Athlete of the Year: Isla Basa (BMX)
• Chairperson’s Award: Zoe Bruce (Triathlon)
• Indigenous Person of the Year: AJ Coles (Baseball & Indigenous Athlete Program)
• Athlete with a Disability of the Year: Daniel Lill (Swimming)
• Support Staff Member of the Year: Joanne McClure (Softball)
• Young Coach of the Year: Emily Paulic (Basketball)
• Coach of the Year: Marsheal Walker (Softball)
• QUBE Coach Recognition Award: Jan Cleary (Netball)
• Western Sydney University Award for Academic Excellence: Emily Paulic (3x3 Basketball)
Western Region Academy of Sport ( WRAS )
• Athlete of the Year : Ebony Robinson (Cycling)
• Athlete of the Year (Runner Up): Henry Kross (Future Stars – Squash)
• Chairman’s Award for Excellence: Mia Richardson (Basketball)
• Coach of the Year: Michael Robinson (Cycling)
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Award: Jazzy Gordon (Basketball)
Western Sydney Academy of Sport ( WSAS )
• Academy Athlete of the Year: Matilda Webb (Future Champions)
• Western Sydney University Excellence in Education Award: Jessica Fog (Golf)
• Coach Leadership Award: Jack Rauhihi (Softball)
• Athlete Leadership Award: Jarrod Holmes (Hockey)
Limestone Coast Academy of Sport ( LCAS )
• Athlete of the Year: Shayden Russell (Basketball)
• Athlete Leadership & Excellence Award: Amali Judd (Cycling)
• Coaching Leadership & Excellence Award: Robert Mann (Cycling)
PATHWAY OPPORTUNITIES
RAS reaffirmed its commitment to contemporary and relevant pathways through ongoing partnerships with State Sporting Organisations (SSOs) and National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), supporting multiple sports via program delivery and targeted assistance for individual athletes and coaches.
Partnered programs and development opportunities include:
HP Academy Camp and Regional Netball Challenge with Netball NSW
North vs South Academy Camp with Jack Newton Junior Golf and Golf NSW
Basketball Development Camp with Basketball NSW
Regional Academies Cycling Camp with AusCycling
Pathways Camp with NSW Triathlon
Southern Basketball Academies Camp with Basketball NSW and Illawarra Hawks
Inter-Academy Hockey Camp with Hockey NSW
Southern Academies Golf Camp with Jack Newton Junior Golf and Golf NSW
Another focus for RAS in 2025 included the Future Stars program which supports individual athletes and is targeted towards those who are participating in a chosen sport that sits outside the development programs offered by RAS or if the athlete is already participating and demonstrating potential at a higher level such as state, national or international.
RAS supported 116 individual athletes in Future Stars in 2025, 134 Sport Programs supported 2256 athletes across the Regional Academies of Sport network in 2025.
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
SIENNA TOOHEY - SOUTHERN SPORTS ACADEMY
SWIMMING UPSTREAM
At just 17, Southern Sports Academy’s Sienna Toohey has firmly established herself as one of Australia’s most exciting emerging swimmers, delivering a breakout 2025–2026 season highlighted by national titles, record-breaking performances and progression onto the world stage. Specialising in breaststroke, Toohey has consistently performed well beyond her years, positioning herself among the country’s elite and on the cusp of international podium contention.
Her standout performances at the 2026 Australian Age Championships saw Toohey dominate her signature 100m breaststroke, claiming gold in a personal best time of 1:06.43—more than two seconds clear of the field. This swim not only secured the national title but also set a new All Comers Age Record for 17 year olds, placing her within just 0.06 seconds of Leisel Jones’ long standing Australian age record.
Toohey’s form has extended across multiple events, most notably in the 50m breaststroke where she recorded a time of 30.39 to win gold, establishing a new Australian age record and becoming the fastest junior in national history for the event. Her performances across both sprint breaststroke distances underline her versatility and growing dominance within the stroke.
Her rapid rise has also translated to success at the senior level. In 2025, Toohey won the 100m breaststroke at the Australian Swimming Trials in 1:06.55, earning selection to the World Aquatics Championships and confirming her ability to compete against Australia’s best. She has since continued to climb the global rankings, sitting among the top swimmers worldwide in her event.
Across the season, Toohey has combined consistency with continual improvement, regularly lowering personal bests while collecting national titles and records.
Her trajectory suggests she is not only a dominant age group athlete but a genuine future contender on the international stage, with her performances placing her within striking distance of long-standing benchmarks in Australian swimming.
Image: Elsa Lindberg
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
LEXIE BROWN - NORTH COAST ACADEMY OF SPORT
CONNECTING CULTURE AND CAPABILITY
Beyond inclusion, RAS creates the connective support system where athletes and coaches across able-bodied and para pathways are empowered to thrive within their communities. When regional athletes are given the right access and support, extraordinary outcomes become possible.
Beyond inclusion, RAS creates the connective support system where athletes and coaches across able‑bodied and para pathways are empowered to thrive within their communities. When regional athletes are given the right access and support, extraordinary outcomes become possible.
Nowhere is this more evident than through the Indigenous Talent Identification Days (ITID), a key fixture on the Academy calendar and proudly supported by Underwriting Agencies Australia (UAA). Continuing to grow in both scale and impact, the program provides clear, structured pathways for aspiring athletes to progress through development programs and into higher levels of competition, including state and national representation. One of the most powerful examples of this pathway in action is Lexie Brown.
Discovered at the North Coast Academy of Sport’s UAA Indigenous Talent Identification Day in July 2024, Lexie’s journey has rapidly evolved from a local playing field in Nambucca to the global stage of the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. A proud Gumbaynggir and Kamilaroi woman, Lexie stood out immediately for both her raw athletic ability
and her quiet determination. When asked about her future ambitions, her response was clear and unwavering: “I want to go to the Paralympics.”
Recognising her exceptional potential, Lexie was selected into both the NCAS Future Stars program and the RAS Para‑Athlete Program throughout 2024 2025, delivered in partnership with PA.
In just 18 months, and at only 14 years of age, Lexie has competed in the open divisions of State and National Athletics Championships in both the 100m and 200m events. During this time, she has broken multiple State and National records, culminating in her selection to the Australian Para Athletics Team for the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. As the youngest member of the squad, her rapid rise underscores both her remarkable talent and the effectiveness of inclusive, well‑designed development pathways.
Lexie Brown’s story is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when opportunity meets potential, and when grassroots identification, cultural connection, and high‑performance support come together to uncover and nurture the next generation of champions.
The Regional Para Unit Partnership builds on the strong foundation of collaboration between RAS, NSWIS and Paralympics Australia (PA), aiming to remove barriers and elevate training environments for Para athletes in regional communities.
ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION
RAS and NSWIS further extended their ongoing partnership through the launch of the Regional Para Unit Partnership for 2025–2027. The initiative marked a significant milestone in the shared commitment to identifying and developing the next generation of Paralympic athletes across regional New South Wales.
A central focus is on identifying and connecting pre categorised Para athletes and collaborating closely with National Sporting Organisations and National Sporting Organisations for People with Disability (NSO/D) and State Sporting Organisations and State Sporting Organisations for People with Disability (SSO/D) partners to identify, connect and support those with the potential to achieve Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) categorisation within two years, with Regional Academies and local performance teams. This connection aims to prepare athletes to be NSWIS ready by the time they reach categorisation.
The partnership also sought to build staff capability within RAS by providing education and hands on experience in Paralympic sport classification, talent identification, equipment use and innovation.
Additionally, NSWIS and RAS collaborate to plan and deliver regional talent identification and development camps, fostering a stronger pipeline of future Paralympic athletes.
The partnership supports athletes via training agreements, with NSWIS and RAS each contributing funding and resources to ensure athletes receive high performance services, including strength and conditioning, performance health advice, and access to expert coaching.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement has been a longstanding and central focus of RAS. Through targeted initiatives such as the UAA Indigenous Talent Identification Days delivered across regional communities, RAS is proud to have achieved an increase in Indigenous athlete representation across all sports programs to 14% in 2025. This growth reflects the strength of purpose-built, culturally informed program design focused on meaningful outcomes and long-term sustainability.
By prioritising identification opportunities at every stage of the pathway and providing support from an athlete’s first point of engagement, RAS delivers a holistic, athlete‑centred environment. This approach connects key partners - such as the Office of Sport, high schools, land councils, local community organisations, and SSO/D and NSO/D partners
ensuring athletes and their communities remain central to decision-making.
The UAA ITID program provides Indigenous athletes with the opportunity to be identified and supported locally, through individualised programs designed to nurture potential, strengthen confidence, and deliver lasting impact.
PARA SPORT
INDIGENOUS
COACH SPOTLIGHT
JACQUA PORI MAKEA SIMPSON - SOUTH WEST SYDNEY ACADEMY OF SPORT
RAS ALUMNI
Our connection to our foundations guides our progress and shapes the future ahead.
Collectively, RAS boasts over 30,000 graduates across numerous sports and regions. For almost 40 years, athletes, coaches and officials have experienced and benefited from the opportunities, education and performance pathways facilitated by RAS.
Many are household names today – Jessica & Noemie Fox, Nicola Olyslagers, Ryley Batt OAM to name a few, continuing to inspire and influence the next generation; many more continue to make a positive difference in their community, family and workplace.
Whether their sporting journey has taken them to success on the international stage, into formidable careers or back into the heart of their regional community, RAS Alumni continue to inspire. Every graduate’s story helps strengthen the RAS legacy that continues to shape future generations of Australian sporting talent, ‘home grown’ from the regions.
With the Brisbane 2032 Olympics on the horizon, our operation in providing a pipeline of regional talent is more important than ever.
From her time as a coach within the South West Sydney Academy of Sport to now leading an international team onto the world stage, Jaqua Pori
Simpson’s journey is a powerful reflection of identity, culture and connection in sport.
Proud of her Pasifika heritage, Jaqua’s coaching philosophy is deeply grounded in community. Reconnecting with her Kiwi roots through netball, she found herself embraced not only by her players, but by their families, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the global Tongan diaspora. In true Pasifika spirit, family comes first and for Jaqua, that extends far beyond the court.
Now at the helm of the Tonga Tala Netball Team, she has united athletes across borders to build something far greater than a team. Under her leadership, Tonga has now qualified
for the Commonwealth Games in 2026, a historic milestone as the nation’s first team to reach this stage.
“At the heart of this success is a clear philosophy: People First.”
Jaqua has cultivated a culture built on shared values, mutual respect and deep connection, strengths she believes are the foundation of sustained performance.
Her story highlights the profound impact of culturally informed coaching in diverse communities. It’s not just about developing athletes, it’s about building belonging, pride and purpose. Through her leadership, Jaqua Simpson is not only shaping a team, but inspiring a nation.
“Becoming a NIAS Athlete played a key role in becoming a professional athlete. This was a really significant step that started the ball rolling into state, national and international events”
Julia
Boland - Golf
Northern Inland Academy of Sport
Makea
OUR ALUMNI
RECOGNISING ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN RAS
At this year’s RAS Annual Awards, RAS introduced the inaugural Alumni Awards, including the Distinguished Alumni and Community Alumni categories, celebrating the success of our graduates, recognising their contributions to community and building a RAS legacy of achievement. See the recipients below:
Distinguished Alumni Nominees
Community Alumni Nominees
Overall Alumni Award Recipient
Nicola Olyslagers CCAS Athletics
Lauren Parker HAS Para Triathlon, Cycling, Cross Country Skiing & Biathlon
Courtney Hancock NCAS Surf Lifesaving
Stacey Porter NIAS Softball
Brad Kahlefeldt SSA Triathlon
Matt Renshaw WRAS Cycling Gordon Allan WSAS Para Cycling
Jessica Morgan CCAS Netball
Samantha Poolman HAS Netball
Ryley Batt OAM NCAS Wheelchair Rugby
Charlotte Raleigh NIAS Netball
Alicia Lucas SSA Rugby 7s
Jaqua Pori-Makea Simpson SWSAS Netball
Kalinda Robinson WRAS Cycling
Jessican & Noemie Fox WSAS - Canoe Slalom & KX-1
Ryley Batt OAM NCAS Wheelchair Rugby
PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
Across our network, a combination of government support, corporate partnerships and community collaboration enables us to provide athletes with access to high quality programs, facilities, coaching and development opportunities that would otherwise be limited in regional areas.
Our partners contribute far beyond funding. They play an active role in supporting athlete development, delivering experiences, providing pathways and strengthening the connection between sport and community.
Partnerships play a critical role in enabling us to deliver meaningful impact across regional communities. Our Major Partners:
The RAS partnership model continues to evolve to support engagement across local, regional, state and national levels, creating meaningful opportunities for partners while delivering greater impact for athletes and communities.
We thank all partners and supporters for their ongoing commitment to empowering emerging athletes and creating greater opportunities for regional athletes to grow and achieve their potential.
