The Central Coast Academy of Sport (CCAS) held its 2024 UAA Indigenous Talent Identification Day in Terrigal on June 22, a significant event aimed at discovering and nurturing Indigenous athletic talent across various schools in the Central Coast region.
Participants showcased their skills across various sports including Aussie Rules football, basketball, netball, golf, triathlon and baseball/softball as well as participating in functional movement screenings and testing.
Developed through a partnership between Central Coast Academy of Sport and Underwriting Agencies Australia (UAA), the talent identification day aims to unearth local Indigenous talent.
The program provides full scholarships to the academy’s sports programs for the standout performers, paving their way to a comprehensive six-week training program commencing in Term 3 this year.
Successful students will be invited to join existing sports programs run by Central Coast Academy of Sport throughout the year.
They are: Amayla Warner Matthews (Terrigal High); Ava Myers (Mackillop Catholic College); Bailey Boyd (unknown school); Bailey Coxon (Berkeley Vale); Chayse Stangel (Lake Munmorah); Duke Smith (Kincumber High); Eli Zadravic (Brisbane Water Umina); Hayden Raveneau (Gorokan High); Jackie Beaven (Wadalba); Jio Bissett (Gorokan High); Kirra Meale (Sports College); Kyra Dean (Brisbane Water Umina); Lani Gray (St Peter’s Tuggerah): Nate Appo (Lake Munmorah); Nate Brassigton (Terrigal High); Owen Lees (Terrigal High); Sami Lequeti (Gorokan High); Summer Kirby (Berkeley Vale); Sunny Tierney (Tuggerah Lakes Tumbi Umbi); Taylor Lockley (Northlakes); Teja Mallie-Maharta (Kincumber High); Willow Foley (Mackillop Catholic); and Zsa Zsa Millward (Sports College).
Those athletes showed outstanding potential and will now have the opportunity to receive specialised training and support to hone their skills further:
Central Coast Academy of Sport CEO Brett O’Farrell said the partnership with UAA had created something extraordinary in making the scholarships and the event itself a reality for the region and its athletes.
“The day was outstanding, made possible by the coaches who volunteered their time and expertise,” he said.
“Their commitment ensured the success of the event and the talent identification days underscore the critical role such programs play in our community.”
UAA Group CEO Stan Alexandropoulos said his company was committed to fostering pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes.
“UAA is dedicated to supporting the development of Indigenous talent, and sport provides a powerful avenue for achieving this goal,” he said.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Central Coast and Hunter sport academies, in addition to several other regional academies of sport across NSW to offer this opportunity.
“This event has thrived on the Central Coast for seven years, and its expansion throughout NSW is particularly exciting.”