Flinders University will be South Australia’s exclusive university partner with AFL SportsReady until 2017.
First established in 1994 to provide education and training to support elite footballers to prepare for a career after football, AFL SportsReady now delivers traineeships and education in a wide range of fields nationally.
A Registered Training Organisation, AFL SportsReady works in partnership with over 700 premier sporting clubs and other organisations around the country.
Under the agreement, announced today (Thursday, August 7) at Flinders University Victoria Square by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Andrew Parkin and AFL SportsReady CEO James Montgomery, Flinders will provide guaranteed entry or credit transfer into appropriate Flinders courses for particular AFL SportsReady students.
Professor Parkin said providing entry opportunities and giving academic credit for AFL SportsReady certificates and diplomas is another major step in Flinders University’s commitment to provide a range of pathways to university study for students from diverse backgrounds.
“AFL SportsReady is one of the country’s most innovative and dynamic private RTOs. Flinders is very pleased to be the organisation’s official collaborator in South Australia in enhancing tertiary education opportunities for young Australians,” Professor Parkin said.
AFL SportsReady Chief Executive Officer James Montgomery said the partnership really helps establish AFL SportsReady as a leading provider of career and education opportunities in South Australia.
“This is a terrific opportunity for us to work in partnership with the leading university in South Australia and to create a clear education pathway for our students from Certificate II through to university.”
“It is through partnerships like this that we can provide further options and career paths for more young South Australians, including a clear transition to Flinders University.”
The partnership also includes joint promotional opportunities between Flinders and AFL SportsReady to further encourage participation in higher education by elite sports players.
“We anticipate interest from AFL SportsReady students in areas such as health and nutrition, business courses and our sport, health and physical activity degree. There may also be interest in some of our Creative Arts programs such as drama, dance and creative writing,” Professor Parkin said.