National Conference & AGM
The UniSport National Conference unites university sport administrators and managers for networking opportunities and conversations surrounding issues that drive the university sport sector. The conference attracts over 120 university sport leaders, keynote speakers, university sport administrators and managers as well as representatives from international university sport federations, national sporting organisations and key university stakeholders.
Alongside the conference the Annual UniSport Gala Dinner is held to celebrate the achievement of university student-athletes and sporting programs through the presentation of the Sports Awards.
The details for the 2024 National Conference and AGM will be available soon, please check back for further information.
2023 National Conference & AGM
About the conference
The 2023 UniSport National Conference was held in Brisbane at the Hotel Grand Chancellor between Wednesday 17 May and Friday 19 May.
UniSport Australia respectfully acknowledges the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples; the traditional owners of the land on which the 2023 UniSport National Conference will take place.
Annual General Meeting
The 2023 UniSport Australia Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Wednesday 17 May at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Brisbane.
60 day notice to members (due 18 March 2023)
21 day notice to members (due 26 April 2023)
Schedule & Presentations
The 2023 UniSport National Conference schedule including keynote speakers, personal and professional development and sessions on topics impacting the Australian university sector.
You can access the conference schedule and presentations from this year's event are available below.
Speakers
UniSport was proud to have a variety of sessions presented and facilitated by industry experts at the 2023 UniSport National Conference including those below.
Elly Desmarchelier is a speaker, writer, event facilitator and disability rights advocate.
As a proud disabled woman, Elly was the national spokesperson for the Defend Our NDIS campaign during the 2022 Federal election. Her fierce advocacy has gained her access to rooms where decisions are made that impact the lives of Australians with disability, such as speaking at the Prime Minister’s 2022 Jobs and Skills Summit.
From appearing on national TV on shows such as The Project, ABC’s The Drum, Q&A and 7:30, to speaking at the Sydney Opera House for the 2023 All About Women Festival, Elly shares her insights and experiences on being a disabled woman in modern society. Her writing has been featured in national publications such as Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and the ABC.
Elly is featured in the National Archives of Australia exhibition: Disrupt, persist, invent: Australians in an ever-changing world for her advocacy work during the Defend Our NDIS campaign. She was also a finalist in the Marie Claire’s 2022 Women of the Year Awards.
Fuelling her advocacy, Elly is determined to create change for the 1 in 5 Australians with disability and believes that’s only possible if people with disability have a seat at the table.
In her down time, you will find Elly at home in Brisbane with her partner, Chantelle with their two lazy but loveable dogs.
Gala Dinner & Sports Awards
This year the UniSport Gala Dinner was hosted at Brisbane City Hall on Wednesday 17 May where the below awards were presented.
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Most outstanding performance by a student-athlete
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Most outstanding performance by a student-athlete with a disability
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Most outstanding performance by an Indigenous student-athlete
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Male student-athlete of the year
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Female student-athlete of the year
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Team of the year
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Official of the year
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Club leadership award
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Most outstanding university sport project/program
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Most outstanding contribution by a student volunteer
You can keep up to date with nomination criteria, important dates and winners at our awards webpage.
Conference Presentations
Personal & Professional Development
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Clubs Officers: Volunteer Recruitment & Retention - Connelly Project Resources
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Students: Employability & networking - SportsGrad
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Chief Executives: Show Me The Money - The Grants Guy
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They say culture eats strategy for breakfast - how to ensure culture and strategy can align and thrive together? - Leading Teams
Future Planning & Strategy
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The Future of Australian Sport - Dr Lucy Cameron PhD, CSIRO
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Future planning in the sports sector - Louisa Begley, Australia Sports Commission
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How the sector can promote sport as the social connector on campus for health and wellbeing of students - Dr Megan Lee PhD, Bond University
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NUsport Strategic Planning - Deborah Wright, University of Newcastle
Leveraging Future Sporting Events
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Griffith Sports Engagement, Leveraging major events - Naomi McCarthy, Griffith University
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Victoria Commonwealth Games 2026 - Andrew Crowley, Deakin University
Engaging Students
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How sport is a powerful bonding element for disability inclusion beyond the campus community - Andrew Walton, Disability Sport & Recreation
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Para Sports meets University Sport - A/Prof Sean Tweedy, The University of Queensland
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Engaging Students - Chris Earl, Curtin University
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Engaging online / distance students in sport and extra curriculars in a post COVID-19 world - Christopher Watson, University of Southern Queensland
International Competition Opportunities
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International Competition Opportunities - Siobhan James, UniSport Australia
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FISU 3x3 Basketball University World Cup - Brett Morley, Macquarie University
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FISU Football University World Cup - Lucienne Monk, Sydney University Sport & Fitness
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UBL Taiwan International Tour - Nick Lambert, La Trobe University