Every year Australian student-athletes and universities record many outstanding performances and contributions in the university sport and the international sporting arena. We recognise these efforts and performances under a national university sport award scheme called the 'UniSport Australia Awards'.

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The awards have been conducted since 2001, recognising and rewarding student-athletes for outstanding sporting performances and contributions to university sport. In 2015 three further awards were introduced to represent the efforts of a broader cross-section of university student-athletes and coaches as well as the many leadership programs universities deliver. Today the Awards recognise sporting excellence across eight different categories.

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Previous award winners include Grant Hackett, Cate Campbell, Dane Bird-Smith, Dylan Alcott, and Raise the Bar Academy (The University of Melbourne)

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Nominations for the 2019 UniSport Australia Awards will open in late 2019. 

2018 Award Winners

Most Outstanding Sporting Achievement

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Madison de Rozario (Para-Athletics)
Griffith University - Bachelor of Business

In 2018 Madison was a dual gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games and was Australia’s first London Marathon women's wheelchair event winner. Madison also achieved a world record in the T54 1500m in 2018.

Most Outstanding Performance by an Athlete with a Disability

Lakeisha Patterson (Para-Swimming)
The University of Queensland - Bachelor of Architectural Design 

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Lakeisha won 2 x gold medals and a world record at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She also won a gold medal at the 2018 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships.

Most Outstanding Performance - Indigenous Student-Athlete

Asha Steer (Orienteering) 

The University of Melbourne - Bachelor of Environments

Asha represented Australia at the 2018 FISU World University Orienteering Championships and also won a silver medal at the 2018 UniSport Nationals Div 1.

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Female Athlete of the Year

Laura Waldie (Rugby 7s)

Griffith University - Bachelor of Dentistry

Laura was co-captain of the Australian team that won a silver medal at the 2018 FISU World University Rugby 7s Championship. She was also a member of the undefeated UniSport Nationals
Div 1 championship team and the Aon Uni Women's 7s Series winning team.

Male Athlete of the Year

Simon McTavish (Canoe Sprint)

The University of Sydney - Bachelor of Project Management

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Simon won 2 gold medals and 1 bronze medal at the 2018 FISU World University Canoe Sprint Championship.

Team of the Year 

Federation University Men's AFL Team (pictured)

2018 UniSport Nationals Div 1 champion and remain undefeated at national competition for the last 2 years.

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The University of Sydney Women’s Football Team

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2018 UniSport Nationals Div 1 champions and 2018 runner up and overall club champions in the National Premier League.

Coach of the year

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Nathan Doyle (Para-Swimming)

University of the Sunshine Coast

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Nathan works tirelessly as the High Performance Swim Coach — Paralympic at the University of the Sunshine Coast. In 2018 Nathan's athletes won 2 silver and 3 bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games plus another 22 medals at the 2018 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships.

Community Leadership Award

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Deakin Dragons & Deakin University Alcohol Culture Change Project 

A collaboration between the Deakin University Dragons, the Deakin University Alcohol Culture Change Project and VicHealth to actively engage in strategies to change the drinking culture of representative sporting teams. Read more about this exciting project here. 

2017 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Performance:

Jordan Mercer (paddleboard) - University of the Sunshine Coast

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Most Outstanding Performance AWD:

Hannah Macdougall (para-cycling) - La Trobe University

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Most Outstanding Performance - Indigenous Student-Athlete:

Courtney Hagen (cricket & basketball) - Australian Catholic University

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Sian Whittaker (swimming) - Deakin University

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Kyle Cranston (athletics) - Australian Catholic University

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Team of the Year:

Macquarie University men’s 3x3 basketball team

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Coach of the Year:
Chris Lucas (basketball) - Emerging Opals Head Coach

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Community Leadership Award:

Kicking Goals Together Project - Australian Catholic University and
Queensland University of Technology

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President's Citation Award (Special Award):

The University of Queensland Aon Women’s Rugby 7s team (pictured)

2016 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Performance:

Emilee Cherry (rugby union) - The University of Queensland

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Most Outstanding Performance AWD:
Ellie Cole (para-swimming) - Australian Catholic University

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Most Outstanding Performance - Indigenous Student-Athlete:
Ryan James (rugby league) - Griffith University

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Amy James (rowing) - Queensland University of Technology

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Cyrus Monk (cycling - pictured) - The University of Melbourne

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Team of the Year:

Monash University 3x3 basketball team

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Coach of the Year:
Michael Shaw (swimming) - The University of Western Australia

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Community Leadership Award:
The University of Western Australia Hockey Club

2015 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Bronte Campbell (swimming) – Queensland University of Technology

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance by an Athlete with a Disability:

Dylan Alcott (tennis) - The University of Melbourne

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Dane Bird-Smith (athletics) - The University of Queensland

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Holly Barratt (swimming - pictured) – The University of Western Australia

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Team of the Year:

Women’s rowing team – The University of Melbourne

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Coach of the Year:

Edward Denis (water polo) - Monash University

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Community Leadership:

Raise the Bar Academy – The University of Melbourne

2014 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Emma McKeon (swimming) – Griffith University 

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Sam Gilmour (sailing) - The University of Western Australia

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Fiona Albert (rowing) - The University of Queensland

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Team of the Year:

Sailing team – The University of Western Australia

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Coach of the Year:

Bruce Vyvvan (swimming) - UNSW Sydney

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Service to Sport Awards:

Bruce Ross – The University of Sydney

Amy Ryan - Queensland University of Technology

2013 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Mathew Belcher (sailing) – Bond University

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Chris Dyson (water polo) - University of Technology Sydney

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Katie-Rae Ebzery (basketball) – The University of Sydney

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Team of the Year:

Athletics team – The University of Sydney

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Coach of the Year:

Iain Scott (football) - The University of Melbourne

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Service to Sport Award:

Dean Gleeson – The University of Sydney

2012 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Matthew Cowdrey (Paralympic swimming) – The University of Adelaide

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Sam Gilmour (sailing) - The University of Western Australia

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Grace Loh (swimming) - The University of Melbourne

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Team of the Year:

Sailing team – The University of Western Australia

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Coach of the Year:

Dean Gleeson (athletics) - The University of Sydney

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Service to Sport Awards:

Joshua Van Kampen – The University of Western Australia

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2011 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Blake Cochrane (swimming) – University of the Sunshine Coast

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Lachlan Renshaw (athletics) - The University of Sydney

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Marieke Guehrer (swimming) – The University of Melbourne

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Team of the Year:

Women's Swim Team – The University of Melbourne

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Coach of the Year:

Alex Henshilwood (rowing) - The University of Melbourne

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Service to Sport Award:

Jean Ryan – Charles Sturt University

2010 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Lauren Mitchell (gymnastics) – The University of Notre Dame Australia

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Liam Adams (cross country) - Victoria University

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Katya Crema (snow sports) - The University of Melbourne

Sarah Kent (cycling) - The University of Western Australia

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Team of the Year:

The University of Sydney Athletics Club

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Coach of the Year:

Grant Landers (triathlon) - The University of Western Australia

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Service to Sport Awards:

David Price

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2009 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Dani Samuels (athletics) – The University of Western Sydney

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Tristan Thomas (athletics) - The University of Canberra

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Madeline Pape (athletics) – RMIT University

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Team of the Year:

Snows Sports Team – Macquarie University

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Coach of the Year:

Paul Oberman (water polo)

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Service to Sport Award:

Warren Rosser – The University of New South Wales

John Kanis - The University of Melbourne

2008 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Susan Pratley (netball) – The University of Sydney

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Liam Adams (cross country) - Victoria University

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Taniele Gofers (water polo) - The University of Sydney

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Team of the Year:

Women’s Rowing Team - The University of Melbourne

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Coach of the Year:

Ian Wright (rowing) - The University of Melbourne

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Service to Sport Awards:

Deidre Anderson - Macquarie University

Jeannette Meakins - The University of Western Australia

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2007 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Alice McNamara (rowing) – The University of Melbourne

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Sean Wroe (athletics) - Swinburne University of Technology

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Jess Foley  (basketball) – Flinders University

Georgia Woodyard (basketball) - University of Technology Sydney

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Team of the Year:

Men’s Volleyball Team – Queensland University of Technology

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Coach of the Year:

Carrie Graf (basketball)

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Service to Sport Award:

Chris Noel – The University of Sydney