Athlete Eligibility

Athlete Selection Criteria

The purpose of the academy is to support junior athletes in the Great Southern who are recognised as elite by their State or National Sporting Association. Eligibility is based around the four following criteria:

  • Age 13-19 years of age

  • Must be and Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident

  • Resides in the Great Southern region of Western Australia

  • Is recognised and endorsed by their sports State Sporting Association (SSA) or equivalent*

  • Athletes need to be competing or trialing at a state level eg. State Junior team, State Open team, representing WA or Australia.

  • Demonstrates dedication to their sport and training

State Sporting Associations

Example of SSA's are Basketball WA, Swimming WA, Gymnastics WA, Cricket WA etc. If your sport does not have a clear SSA please do not hesitate to contact our Executive Officer. GSAS does not participate in talent identification, the State Sporting Association will endorse the athlete if they qualify as high performing. 

The applicant will also be required to provide contact details of the person from the SSA who endorses their application.  Some SSAs may choose to develop their athletes through alternative strategies that do not involve GSAS.

If you are unsure of your eligibility, apply anyway! 

GSAS reserves the right to use discretion with all selections and may choose to award scholarships to athletes who do not meet the entire criteria over those that do. This might occur due to remote-area athlete inclusion, varying levels of in-kind and financial investment from some Sports, after a display of phenomenal talent, or any other reasons as determined by the GSAS Board.

A scholarship with GSAS is not a right and therefore no appeals will be heard. GSAS will always ensure that athlete selection is based on the GSAS vision, mission and values.

The below criteria will be used to select athletes for scholarships.

  • All athletes supported through GSAS must meet every point in the criteria below:

    Reside in one of the following Great Southern LGAs: Albany, Kojonup, Katanning, Jerramungup, Broomehill-Tambellup, Gnowangerup, Woodanilling, Cranbrook, Denmark, Plantagenet, Kent. Athletes who go to a boarding school outside of the listed LGAs are not eligible for scholarship;

    Be 13 years or older at some point during the scholarship period.

    Demonstrate the potential to reach the ‘elite’ level in open (not age group) competition. ‘Elite’ refers to competing in National professional league and/or representing Australia in amateur sport;

    Demonstrate an ongoing commitment towards physical and mental preparation and to achieving best possible performance;

    Be an Athlete in a:

    • Junior State or National talent squad; or

    • Junior State or National representative team; or

    • Open State or National representative team.

    And selection for any of the above must have been competitive, with an official selection process endorsed or sanctioned by the SSA / NSO.

    SSA expects the athlete to represent Western Australia at NSO endorsed national championship event within the next 12 months;

    Demonstrates the capacity and drive to represent Australia at the senior elite level, or to reach the highest professional level of the sport in Australia within 10 years; and

    Demonstrates the potential to become a WAIS scholarship holder within 5 years (for sports that are included with WAIS).

    Be endorsed and recommended by the relevant RSA and SSA;

    Demonstrates ongoing dedication and appropriate attendance in career and/or education development.

  • National/ State representation teams, talent squads and/or training squads not competitively selected and endorsed by the NSO/ SSA;

    National/ state touring teams;

    Is a professional or elite athlete that receives what the GSAS selection panel considers surplus existing support (financial and/or services). E.g. athletes playing for a professional team, on scholarship with AIS or WAIS may not be eligible for scholarship;

    Specific National/ State representation teams, regional talent squads, training squads and/ or touring teams e.g. University Games, National/ State Country and/ or National/ State School Girls/Boys.

    Athletes 20 years of age or older, or turning 20 years of age in the scholarship period are unlikely to be accepted.

    In special circumstances, the GSAS may, in partnership with WAIS, AIS or a professional team, choose to provide a modified scholarship or services to a professional elite athlete.