Scholarship & Mentoring Program
Celebrating the Past, Inspiring the Future
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Vision is to preserve and celebrate the history of Australian Sport and to inspire all Australians to achieve their potential both in sport and life.
In 2006, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Board introduced the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program. The program aims to assist young elite Australians to reach the highest level of their chosen sport by providing financial support and more importantly, unrivalled access to mentoring from a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Member, who may not have necessarily competed in the same sport.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame views mentoring as an imperative factor in the development of young athletes who dream of reaching the top of the mountain. The mentoring aspect is structured in some respects, yet encourages an organic relationship at the same time, with the aim of forming a connection between the Mentor and Scholarship Holder that lasts a lifetime. The Mentor role is not to coach or teach the Scholarship Holder about their sport, rather, it is about providing support in other areas such as media training, rehab ideas, offering advice on adjusting to relocating overseas, juggling life and sport, and implementing a healthy balance, while still being able to focus on organisational skills, creating and making the most of business opportunities, plus anything and everything in between.
In 2020, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame expanded the Program from five Scholarship per year to a three-tiered, 32-Scholarship Program that’s open to all elite junior Australian athletes between the ages of 15–21.
Tier 1 Scholarships are awarded to up to six successful applicants who will receive encouragement and funding for approximately 12-14 months, assisting each Scholarship Holder in reaching the highest level of their chosen sport. Most importantly, each successful recipient will receive unrivalled access to personal one-on-one mentoring from a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Member; surely no greater way to inspire young elite Australian sportspeople to fulfil their potential.
Tier 2 Scholarships are awarded to up to ten successful applicants and Tier 3 Scholarships are awarded to up to 16 successful applicants. Both of these Tiers provide encouragement and funding for approximately 12-14 months, assisting each Scholarship Holder in reaching the highest level of their chosen sport.
Since the program commenced, 66 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Members have provided their time and expertise to be one-on-one Mentors. Across all three Tiers, 204 athletes from 53 different sports have been awarded a Scholarship through the Program with many having gone on to represent Australia successfully at Olympic/Paralympic and World Championship level.
The Scholarship and Mentoring Program is Proudly Supported by
Watch: 2021 T1 SAHOF Scholarship Holder chats about his experience in the Program and the impact his Mentor, George Gregan AM had on him and his career.
Watch: 2021 T2 SAHOF Scholarship Holder Zoe Cuthbert describes her experience within the Scholarship Program.