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Australian Defence Force (ADF) – Adecco Program

The Delivery of Pre-entry Fitness Assessments and Strength & Conditioning Programs for ADF Pre-entry Candidates:

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:

  • Curtin University, WA
  • Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria
  • University of Newcastle, NSW
  • Bond University, Queensland and
  • University of Adelaide, SA.

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:

  • Candidates see an improvement on PFA scores
  • Candidate experience is positive 
  • Commonwealth confidence in quality of PFA assessments.

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:

StateUniversities/Delivery Partners
VictoriaDeakin University, Burwood
Deakin University, Waurn Ponds
Victoria University, St Albans
La Trobe University, Bundoora
La Trobe University, Bendigo
Federation University, Ballarat
New South WalesUniversity of Newcastle
University of Sydney
Macquarie University
University of New England, Armidale
Australian Catholic University, Blacktown
Australian Capital TerritoryAustralian National University, Canberra
QueenslandBond 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 AustraliaUniversity of Adelaide
TasmaniaUniversity of Tasmania, Hobart
University of Tasmania, Launceston
Western AustraliaCurtin University
Edith Cowan University
Murdoch University
Northern TerritoryRM 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.

Program Staff:

RoleStaff
UniSport CEOMark Sinderberry
UniSport GM  – Strategic partnershipsJane Woodlands-Thompson
Unisport Physical Performance ConsultantGlenn Stewart
UniSport Regional CoordinatorsSouthern 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 CoordinatorCrystal Coelho Joy
University Program LeadsOne per university (CEO/GM/Program Lead)
University S&C Lead CoachOne per university
University Support S&C CoachesPool of 3-6 coaches per university

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