Oh, Captain my captain. . . school’s leaders tour NSWIS

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) staff were thrilled to host the Captains Group from Westfield Sports High School (WSHS) during their fact-finding tour of the Institute’s headquarters at Sydney Olympic Park.

The aim of the tour – and a series of talks by a panel of the Institute’s experts – was to provide the students with insights into the expectations, as well as the rigors and demands, that are placed on athletes who are selected to train in a high performance environment such as NSWIS.

Four NSWIS experts addressed the group, focusing on the crucial themes of (a) leadership, (b) alternative sports pathways, (c) nutrition, and (d) high performance. Each speaker provided the students with glimpses into how coaches view those subjects, and, as equally important, the way in which they relate within NSWIS and similar high performance environments.

WSHS is an Australian Olympic Pathway School and includes among its alumni a score of high profile athletes including former women’s world discus champion and Olympian, Dani Samuels (pictured above), Olympic long jumper Fabrice La Pierre, Australian cricketers Hannah Darlington and Usman Khawaja, as well as Socceroo great Harry Kewell, Matilda’s star, Ellie Carpenter, and talented teenager Lachie Galvin, who plays for Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League.

It is also one of eight schools within the Sports High School Association (SHSA) and, as such, is an important part of a key partnership which provides support for talented school-aged student athletes across the state.

The collaboration between NSWIS, which has been in operation since 1996, and SHSA has proven beneficial because it ensures youth athletic development is underpinned by best practices in performance pathways. The alliance also provides a firm commitment from both bodies to achieve shared goals.

Last Monday’s visit to NSWIS by the Captain’s Group, who were accompanied by their Student Support Officer Gabby Ripoll and the school’s rugby league coach (and teacher) Bou Ovington, reinforced the value, and the importance, of this partnership. And its importance was reflected by the detail and enthusiasm from the Institute’s staff as they explained to the group how NSWIS maximises athlete potential through a multidisciplinary approach.

Among the experts the students heard from were:

Rob Mullard, Sports Physiotherapist

Mullard shared insights from the Institute’s Performance Health department as he discussed best practices in athlete management. This includes health monitoring, injury prevention, and training load management. He also explained how departments such as Strength and Conditioning (S&C) collaborate with other departments within NSWIS to keep athletes at their peak. Mullard explained that alliance provides athletes with performance support which not only prevents injuries, but it also identifies recurring problems, as well as rehabilitating the athlete to get them back to competition as soon as possible. Mullard provided the group with an informative overview of his career journey into sports physiotherapy which started with an exercise science degree and how his progression has included working in a hospital and private practice.

Ebony Charles, Strength and Conditioning Coach

Charles brought the ‘science of preparation’ to life for the students by demonstrating how she works to prepare athletes for the physical demands of their sport. By collaborating with coaches, medical teams, and performance staff, Charles detailed how she ensures each athlete’s program is tailored to their sport-specific requirements. She showed how tools, such as force plates and strength testing, are used to assess and optimise an athlete’s performance. Students were shown the altitude chamber which simulates a variety of environments, including high altitude or heat and humidity, to allow athletes to prepare for challenging training and competition environments. She shared her personal career journey and encouraged the students to take risks, to step outside of their comfort zones, connect with others, and to make the most of their opportunities.

Anthony Quinn, Section Lead for Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement (AW&E)
Quinn (photographed above) outlined NSWIS’s commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes. While this includes integrating welfare, education, and sporting commitments, he also spoke about the importance of goal setting across all aspects of life. Quinn emphasised the importance of preparation and planning in building what he described as a ‘sustainable athletic and personal journey.’ The former Newcastle Knights, Melbourne Storm and NSW State of Origin rugby league player also shared lessons from his sporting career before detailing his progression from professional athlete to becoming NSWIS’s acting AW&E lead Quinn articulated how his experience as an elite athlete shaped his understanding of athlete wellbeing and engagement. He revealed how he’s also utilising his psychology studies to enhance his ability to support the NSWIS cohort of athletes to fulfil their potential on and off the field.

Mike Girven, Senior Coordinator, Education Programs
Girven provided an overview of NSWIS, detailing how the organisation supports athletes across all aspects of their high-performance journey. He highlighted the resources and expertise available to NSWIS Scholarship holders, emphasising the collaborative work across departments to help athletes achieve their goals. Girven also introduced students to the in-house learning modules which are designed to enhance development in areas such as S&C, nutrition, sport psychology, AW&E, and performance analysis. These resources, which will be available to SHSA students in 2025, form a comprehensive suite of support which provide young athletes balance in terms of their school and sporting commitments. Girven encouraged the students to make the most of their visit to NSWIS, urging them to not only gain insights into the inner workings of the Institute, but to also take the time to form an appreciation for the unique opportunities that are available to athletes within a high performance environment.

“Visits such as the one by Westfield Sports High School underscore the shared commitment of NSWIS and the SHSA to nurture the next generation of elite athletes,” said NSWIS Director, High Performance Andrew Logan.

“By collaborating with the schools, the Institute continues to expand opportunities for young athletes, equipping them with the tools and the knowledge that is required to thrive in sport – and beyond.”

It is hoped the tour, allied with the wise words from Rob Mullard, Ebony Charles, Anthony Quinn and Mike Girven, will inspire the students to not only keep training hard, but to also think about the many tools that are available for high performance athletes to be their best self.

NSWIS