Future Champions

Nominations for the 2026/27 program are open

Nominate Now

The SWSAS Future Champions program is delivered in partnership with the Regional Academies of Sport (RAS) network.

This program provides a high‑performance development pathway for talented young emerging athletes who are not eligible for other SWSAS Programs. The program focus is on strength and conditioning, personal branding, leadership, athlete education, and personal growth. 

The program exists to complement the athlete’s ongoing individual skill development and performance opportunities currently provided within their relevant sport, and with their individual home coach or club.

Athletes receive targeted performance support in preparation for high‑performance and SSO Pathways; with the intent for the athletes to return with increased knowledge and skills for their representative and club association seasons.

The SWSAS program includes practical education in areas such as Strength and Conditioning, Athlete Profiling, Nutrition, Sports Psychology and Injury Prevention, Recovery and Load Management; along with opportunities to represent SWSAS at events, inter‑academy sessions and camps (where available)

Program Partners

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Academy Athletes Selected receive:

  • High quality coaching and support within a high-performance squad environment integrated with athlete’s home training and coaching environment
  • Strength & Conditioning assessment and programming assistance
  • Sports science testing and assistance with athlete profiling
  • Access to education and athlete wellbeing support
  • Academy uniform (additional cost)
  • Access to Lumin (Academy athlete performance and management platform)
  • Community engagement and corporate partner exposure
  • Promotion through SWSAS media channels and Civic Receptions


Additional SWSAS Program benefits:

  • Access to Athlete Wellbeing provider network, including Physiotherapists, Sport Psychologists, Chaplain, Financial Wellbeing Education, and Media skills support.
  • Invitation to attend SWSAS Athlete Leadership Camp (December 2026; Additional Cost may apply)
  • Invitation to attend RAS (state)-wide Athlete and/or Sport Specific Camps (where available)
  • Opportunities to represent SWSAS at events (where available)
  • Subject to program funding, may seek limited financial support to meet costs related to Strength and Conditioning Programming, or Athlete Wellbeing Support.

Program Eligibility Criteria

Athletes must:

  • Reside in one of the following LGAs: Camden, Campbelltown, Liverpool and Wollondilly.
  • Be Turning 13 – 18 years of age in the year of the program. (ie for 2027 Born in 2009-2014)
  • Be a registered member of their State/ National Sporting Organisation and affiliated with a club/association within the South West Sydney region.
  • Be committed to progressing to higher representation within your sport.
  • Represented or show potential to represent NSW, Australia or Home Pacific Nation.
  • Currently, or show ability to, undertake a regular supervised Strength and Conditioning Program, relevant to their sport.
  • Be committed and available to completing the entire program.
The athlete levy contributes towards the overall cost of delivering the Academy programs. Within our high performance programs are items including: 
 
  • Coaching*
  • Access to training facilities*
  • Strength & Conditioning assessments and programming*
  • Sports science testing*
  • Access to Academy Games* (relevant sports/age groups only)
  • Insurance
* Please note, Items marked with an Asterix are components supported through NSW Government grant funding. The grant contribution from the NSW government is limited to costs and activities identified in the approved Project Plan. The remaining portion of the athlete levy contributes towards costs associated with delivering and administering the Academy that are not covered by the NSW Government grant funding.
 

An athlete scholarship levy will apply, covering the above listed program benefits and more.  Uniform costs are additional, with sport‑specific and SWSAS items purchased through the official supplier.  Additional event and camp costs may apply.

Program Delivery Period

October 2026 – July 2027

Andrea Antunovic
Mikaela Antunovic
Rori Caffery
Charlotte Crowden
Ivy Kerewaro
Sophia Lawson
Amelia Lawson
Ava Olic
Emily Perry

Reki Roberts
Deniel Vermeulen
Cesar Gonzales
Jeriemyah Gonzales
Jack Orchard
Lachlan Orchard
Ryder Phillips
Eli‑Jethro Stoppel 

Para-Program
Ava Edwards
Daniel Lill
Alex Mijailovic
Raphael Uzoma