Illawarra Academy of Sport

🚨 REMINDER! 🚨

Nominations are still open for the Community First Bank IAS Athlete of the Month Award until August 31 🏆

Each month during the scholarship year, one athlete will be awarded $100, courtesy of our long-term major partner, Community First Bank. A new winner will be announced every month through this joint initiative.

Nominations can come from athletes, parents, coaches and community members. Nominees are considered based on athletic performance and continued commitment to the IAS values of citizenship, empowerment, integrity, excellence and commitment.

⭐ Nominations will close on August 31 and can be emailed to [email protected] or nominate now at the link in our bio ⭐

🏑 EXCITING HOCKEY NEWS! 🏑

The IAS is proud to be part of a stronger, more connected hockey pathway across NSW.

We are excited to continue working with Hockey NSW to support athlete development and create greater opportunities for local talented hockey athletes.

👀 Hockey nominations will open soon. Keep an eye on our website and social media platforms for more info

Stronger pathways. More opportunities. A connected future for hockey in NSW. 🏑

Hockey NSW and our Regional Academy partners have renewed their commitment to strengthening athlete development across the state, creating greater connections between local training environments and the NSW performance pathway.

To learn more, head to the Hockey NSW website.

Netball Umpire nominations are officially OPEN NOW‼

✨ Are you ready to take the next step in your netball umpiring career? ✨

The IAS Netball Umpire Program is proudly supported by Collegians and is designed to support the developmental needs of the region’s young, talented netball umpires by providing industry-leading high-performance sport development programs.

Read more here and apply now for a 2026/27 Illawarra Academy of Sport Netball Umpire scholarship
👇
https://ias.org.au/netball-umpires/

City of Wollongong
Kiama Municipal Council
Shellharbour City Council
Wingecarribee Shire Council
Shoalhaven City Council
Netball NSW
Illawarra District Netball Association
Kiama Netball Association
Shoalhaven Netball Association
Southern Highlands Netball Association

Nominations for the 2026/27 IAS Netball Program are OPEN NOW!! 🏐

The IAS Netball Program is proudly supported by Collegians and provides unparalleled opportunities for training, coaching, and competition for young, aspiring athletes!

📅 Nominations close on Friday 16 October 2026, with the first trial being held on Friday 23 October at Kiama Leisure Centre and the second (for invited athletes only) being held on Sunday 25 October at Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre.

🔗 Read more here and apply now for a 2026/27 Illawarra Academy of Sport Netball Scholarship
👇
https://ias.org.au/netball/

City of Wollongong
Kiama Municipal Council
Shellharbour City Council
Shoalhaven City Council
Wingecarribee Shire Council
Netball NSW
Illawarra District Netball Association
Kiama Netball Association
Shoalhaven Netball Association
Southern Highlands Netball Association
Shellharbour Netball Club

✨ Congratulations to the 2026 DRB Group Tobin Family Athlete of the Year nominees ✨

👏 Orville Sarkar (Shoalhaven City Council)
👏 Kadance Naylor (Shoalhaven City Council)
👏 Lily Sproule (Shoalhaven City Council)

The most prestigious honour at the IAS, this award recognises athletes who embody excellence both on and off the sporting arena.

Nominees are assessed on their sporting achievements, commitment to training and development, attitude and sportsmanship, dedication to learning, and the ways they give back to their community.

Thanks to the generous support of our partner the DRB Group, the winner will receive $10,000 prize money to support them on their sporting journey.

The award is named in honour of one of the academy’s founding members, Ted Tobin OAM, and recognises the contribution made by the Tobin family over many years to sport in the Illawarra and specifically the IAS.

Eligibility extends to winners of each sport-specific Athlete of the Year Award, as well as athletes from the Future Stars and Football programs.

The 2026 Athlete Awards Night will be held on Friday 28 August at The Fraternity Club, 6pm arrival for a 6:30pm start 🎉

RSVP now! 👇
https://shorturl.at/FNq07

Congratulations to the 2026 BaiMed Commitment to Excellence Award nominees 💪

👏 Lily Wildner (City of Wollongong)
👏 Emily King (Wingecarribee Shire Council)

This award recognises graduating IAS athletes who have shown unwavering dedication to training, development and growth, while representing the IAS and their sport with dignity and pride through their conduct.

The winning athlete will receive a 12-month membership with our long-term partner BaiMed Physiotherapy and services valued at over $3,700❗

The 2026 Athlete Awards Night will be held on Friday 28 August at The Fraternity Club, 6pm arrival for a 6:30pm start 🎉

RSVP now! 👇
https://shorturl.at/FNq07

⭐ Congratulations to the 2026 DRB Group Athlete Leadership Award nominees ⭐

👏 Lily Sproule (Shoalhaven City Council)
👏 Harper Bragg (Kiama Municipal Council)
👏 Samantha Reed (City of Wollongong)

This award recognises IAS athletes who lead with heart - committing to personal growth, inspiring excellence in others, and making a real impact in their communities.

The winner of the award will receive $1,500 prize money, generously donated by our partner the DRB Group.

🔗 Read more about our nominees at the link in our bio.

The 2026 Athlete Awards Night will be held on Friday 28 August at The Fraternity Club, 6pm arrival for a 6:30pm start 🎉

RSVP now! 👇
https://shorturl.at/FNq07

Congratulations to the 2026 Illawarra Academy of Sport cycling athletes nominated for Athlete of the Year awards 👏

The Ben Mikic Memorial Award - Cycling Athlete of the Year
🚴 Oliver Morris (City of Wollongong)
🚴 Joshua Cockrem (City of Wollongong)

BMX Athlete of the Year
🚴 Lachlan Jones (City of Wollongong)
🚴 Lucas Caldwell (City of Wollongong)
🚴 Harvey Delforce (Shellharbour City Council)
🚴 Wyatt Delforce (Shellharbour City Council)

Mountain Bike Athlete of the Year
🚵‍♀️ Indiana Lambert (Shellharbour City Council)
🚵 Aston Lewis (Kiama Municipal Council)

The IAS cycling program is proudly supported by AusCycling and our long-term major partner SOTO Consulting Engineers.

🔗 Read more about our nominees at the link in our bio.

The 2026 Athlete Awards Night will be held on Friday 28 August at The Fraternity Club, 6pm arrival for a 6:30pm start 🎉

RSVP now! 👇
https://shorturl.at/FNq07

🎓 IAS Alumni Member Expressions of Interest NOW OPEN!

Were you part of the Illawarra Academy of Sport journey? Now you can help shape its future.

The IAS is inviting Expressions of Interest for an Alumni Member to help guide the future of the Academy, advocate for athletes, represent the IAS at events and contribute skills and experience to IAS initiatives.

Eligibility:
✔️ 18+ years
✔️ IAS graduate
✔️ Reside within one of the local government areas of the IAS - Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven or Wingecarribee

📅 EOIs close 5pm, Wednesday 23 September 2026

🔗 Read more here about how to join and help develop young, talented Illawarra athletes into high-performing citizens, enabling them to achieve extraordinary things.
👇
https://ias.org.au/illawarra-academy-of-sport-alumni-member-expression-of-interest/

⭐ Applications for Illawarra Academy of Sport membership are now open ⭐

Residents of the Kiama Municipal Council and the Shoalhaven City Council local government areas are encouraged to apply for election as an IAS Community Member.

🔗 Read more here about how to join and help develop young, talented Illawarra athletes into high-performing citizens, enabling them to achieve extraordinary things.
👇
https://ias.org.au/illawarra-academy-of-sport-community-member-expression-of-interest-2026/