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In November 2023, UniSport was invited to submit a proposal to Adecco, Australia’s largest recruitment company, to trial the delivery of pre-entry fitness assessments (PFAs) and bespoke Strength and Conditioning programs to pre-enlistment candidates for the Australian Defence Force through its national university network. In February 2024, UniSport commenced a trial across five of its member universities delivering PFAs and Conditioning programs for 10 candidates at each site. The five foundation universities were:
Two weeks into the six-week trial, UniSport were asked to extend the trial for a further period with a view to formalising a long-term contract and rolling out the program nationwide. The three key success measures as identified in the original UniSport – ADF/Adecco Agreement are:
A State-by-State approach was adopted to roll the program out nationally, and universities were selected via a process of Expressions of Interest, syncing with Australian Defence Force mapping data of candidate postcodes and university facility testing suitability. As of 9 December 2024, there were 21 universities, 28 university sites and 85 coaches delivering the ADF Testing and Training program across Australia:
State | Universities/Delivery Partners |
---|---|
Victoria | Deakin University, Burwood Deakin University, Waurn Ponds Victoria University, St Albans La Trobe University, Bundoora La Trobe University, Bendigo Federation University, Ballarat |
New South Wales | University of Newcastle University of Sydney Macquarie University University of New England, Armidale Australian Catholic University, Blacktown |
Australian Capital Territory | Australian National University, Canberra |
Queensland | Bond University University of Queensland, St Lucia University of Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs University of Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay University of Central Queensland, Cairns University of Central Queensland, Mackay University of Central Queensland, Rockhampton University of Central Queensland, Bundaberg James Cook University, Townsville University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba |
South Australia | University of Adelaide |
Tasmania | University of Tasmania, Hobart University of Tasmania, Launceston |
Western Australia | Curtin University Edith Cowan University Murdoch University |
Northern Territory | RM Performance (UniSport Partner) |
In conjunction with the university delivery sites, UniSport has partnered with six fitness industry partners to support total national coverage. By the end of 2024, UniSport members had delivered over 400 PFAs and 600 conditioning sessions. UniSport has received consistent positive feedback from Adecco and the ADF about the quality of delivery of the program from our university network coaches, as well as the standard of facilities that the candidates are able to test and train in. University delivery sites have valued the economic impact on their budgets in delivering the program. As the ADF aims to increase the number of recruits over the next decade, universities can look forward to potential additional sites and increasing the ‘Women in Defence’ women only PFA and S&C arms of the program currently being piloted.
Role | Staff |
---|---|
UniSport CEO | Mark Sinderberry |
UniSport GM – Strategic partnerships | Jane Woodlands-Thompson |
Unisport Physical Performance Consultant | Glenn Stewart |
UniSport Regional Coordinators | Southern Region – Brett Stabb (Deakin University Burwood) Eastern Region – Joe Chadwick (University of Newcastle) Northern Region – Jeremy Robinson (Bond University) Western Region – Isabella Stratford (University of Adelaide) National Support – Stephanie McDonald (Macquarie University) |
UniSport Administration Coordinator | Crystal Coelho Joy |
University Program Leads | One per university (CEO/GM/Program Lead) |
University S&C Lead Coach | One per university |
University Support S&C Coaches | Pool of 3-6 coaches per university |
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