UniSport Australia Awards
2022 Award Winners
Most Outstanding Performance by a Student-Athlete with a Disability
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Tim Hodge
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Western Sydney University
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Tim competed at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships, Madeira winning two gold and a bronze medal as well as setting a world record in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley SM9. Tim also competed in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham winning a gold and silver medal.
Despite juggling his successful career as a para-athlete and intense studies in Honours Engineering, Tim has not only put his hand up to represent Western Sydney University at every opportunity but has also managed the swim team and mentored many of the younger swimmers.
Most Outstanding Sporting Achievement by an Indigenous Student-Athlete
Rae Anderson
Bachelor of Arts, The University of Sydney
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Rae made her Winter Games debut at Beijing 2022, she became one of a select few to compete for Australia at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. Rae finished in an impressive tenth position in the Women’s Giant Slalom Standing event, and recorded a superb result in the Women’s Slalom Standing category to finish in seventh. Rae then went onto make her debut for the Paramatildas against Japan on the 13th of May.
Rae is a Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness Elite Athlete Program scholarship recipient and a beacon for excellence and inclusion in the broader student community.
Most Outstanding Sporting Performance by a Student-Athlete
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Jemima Montag
Doctor of Medicine, The University of Melbourne
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In 2022, Jemima won the 10,000m Race Walk national and Oceania Championship titles, the gold medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and placed 4th at the IAAF World Championships. She also achieved two personal bests and broke the 18-year-old 20km Walk Australian Record.
As an International Olympic Committee Young Leader since 2021, with her project ‘Play On’ is an e-resource that equips 15-18 year old girls with the knowledge and skills to stay engaged in sport. Jemima was also recognised by the Victorian Institute of Sport with the Award of Excellence and Performance Lifestyle Award, recognising her achievements in her sporting and academic careers in 2022.
Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Quennie Laurentia
Bachelor of Arts, The University of Melbourne
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Quennie was a key player in the University of Mebourne’s women’s badminton team throughout 2022, competing in the Big Blue Varsity Challenge against Monash and UniSport Nationals in Perth. She actively led the team to an outstanding year winning the Big Blue challenge and gold at the UniSport Nationals, providing coaching, advice and encouragement to all team members across competitions.
Quennie has also been awards a Full Blue and Intervarsity Female Athlete of the Year by the university for her performance at the 2022 UniSport Nationals.
Male Student-Athlete of the Year
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Alastair Christie-Johnson
Bachelor of Applied Science (Property and Valuation) (Honours)​
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Alastair is a member of the RMIT Redbacks UniSport Nationals team and RMIT Elite Athlete Program, winning 4 individual medals at the 2022 UniSport Nationals in Peth. He took out gold in the Criterium, Individual Time Trial and Pairs Time Trial and silver in the Men’s Road Race where he crossed the line with his teammates who finished in 1st and 3rd respectively. Alastair was awarded the UniSport Nationals Overall Cycling champion, as well as the Redbacks Athlete of the Year award.
Most Outstanding University Sport Project/ Program
RMIT Sports Academy
RMIT University
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The RMIT Sports Academy offers a highly professional environment for a transformational student experience while preparing participants for life and work. In 2022, the Academy supported 76 student interns in Work Integrated Learning placements in high performance, the RMIT Health Clinic and Sports Media across the supported sports including Basketball, Tennis and E-Sport.
Most Outstanding Contribution by a Student Volunteer
Alexander Smyth
Bachelor of Science (Applied Science)/Bachelor of Business (Management), RMIT University​
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As the RMIT Nationals Team Captain, Alexander led a team of over 150 students to the 2022 UniSport Nationals in Perth where he competed as an openly queer student-athlete and was an out role model for the entire Australian university sporting community. Alexander is also a UniSport Australia Inclusion Ambassador, is heavily involved in the planning and delivery of RMIT’s annual pride in sport event and a strong driver in delivering RMIT sport’s vision of inclusive sport. Alexander was also announced as a Finalist for the Pride in Sport 2023 Out Role Model of the Year award, an award he was nominated for by RMIT University.
Club Leadership Award
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The Melbourne University Women's Football Club (AFL)
The University of Melbourne
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The Melbourne University Women’s Football Club has demonstrated outstanding leadership in 2022 in the areas of inclusion, mental health and policy development across areas including alcohol, tobacco, drugs and safe transport.
The club delivered multiple significant events on campus throughout 2022 including highly successful Pride and First Nations rounds, where the university’s respective communities were actively invited to participate. For these rounds, the club’s teams wore specially designed jumpers for these rounds and held related events which celebrated the communities and educated the wider university community.
Official of the Year
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Andrew Truong
Alumni - Bachelor of Human Movement (Exercise and Sports Science), University of South Australia​
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As a coach, team manager of committee member Andrew devotes significant time to the development and success of the UniSA Swimming Club. Often the first to arrive and last to leave training, Andrew has played a significant role in developing a positive club culture, strong committee and organisation of social and charity events. His achievements and contribution to the club have won him the UniSA Sport Volunteer of the Year Award in 2021 and 2022.
Team of the Year
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Macquarie University 3x3 Basketball Team
Macquarie University
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The Macquarie University Men's 3x3 Team had a stand-out year in 2022, after clinching the 3x3 UniSport Nationals in Hobart in April the team were invited to attend the FISU University World Cup hosted in Istanbul, Turkey where they won a Silver medal while representing Australia. This team are great examples of supportive and engaged students who are present within the Macquarie University landscape, contributing to activations including Orientation Week Stalls, MyWay initiatives and other events.
2021 UniSport Australia Award Winners
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Most Outstanding Performance by a Student-Athlete with a Disability
Jaryd Clifford (Para-Athletics) - The University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Arts
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Most Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Student-Athlete
Caitlyn Costello - Bond University
Diploma of Business
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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance by a Student-Athlete
Jessica Fox (Canoe Slalom) - Griffith University
Masters of Business Administration
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Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Katja Dedekind (Para-Swimming) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Bachelor of Arts
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Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Joel Rimes (Basketball) - The University of Melbourne
Doctor of Philosophy (Immunology)
Most Outstanding University Sport Project/Program
ECU Sport and Fitness - Edith Cowan University
Sport for Thought Program - University of the Sunshine Coast
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Most Outstanding Contribution by a Student Volunteer
Belinda Rutherford - The University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Arts
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Club Leadership Award
Melbourne University Lightning Netball Club - The University of Melbourne
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Official of the Year
Tyler Miller - The University of Western Australia
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
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Team of the Year
The University of Sydney Water Polo Teams - The University of Sydney
2020 UniSport Australia Award Winners
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Most Outstanding Performance by a Student-Athlete with a Disability
Katja Dedekind (Para-Swimming) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Bachelor of Arts
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Most Outstanding Sporting Achievement by a Student-Athlete
Madeleine Gough (Swimming) - Bond University
Bachelor of Biomedical Science
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Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Caitlin Adams (Athletics) - University of South Australia
Master of Teaching (Secondary)
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Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Ben Tacey (Athletics) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Bachelor of Sport Studies
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Most Outstanding University Sport Project/Program
The Strong Women Network, The University of Melbourne
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Most Outstanding Contribution by a Student Volunteer
Douglas Howard, University of South Australia
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Medical Physics
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Club Leadership Award
Melbourne University Soccer Club
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Official of the Year
Jay McCracken (Basketball) - University of the Sunshine Coast
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Team of the Year
UniSA Men’s Cycling Team - University of South Australia
2019 Unisport Australia Award Winner
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Most Outstanding Performance by an Athlete with a Disability
Jaryd Clifford (Para-Athletics)
Bachelor of Arts – The University of Melbourne
Most Outstanding Performance by an Indigenous Student-Athlete
Jemma Mi Mi (Netball)
Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology – Queensland University of Technology
Most Outstanding Sporting Achievement by a Student-Athlete
Minna Atherton (Swimming)
Bachelor of Biomedical Science – Bond University
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Female Athlete of the Year
Catriona Bisset (Athletics)
Master of Architecture and Diploma in Languages – The University of Melbourne
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Male Athlete of the Year
Matt Denny (Athletics)
Bachelor of Business – Griffith University
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Most Outstanding Contribution by a Student Volunteer
Tyson Lingham
Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Science - RMIT University
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Community Leadership
Casey Sims
Doctor of Philosophy – Queensland University of Technology
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Official of the Year
Peter Rowe
University of South Australia
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Tyler Miller
Bachelor of Arts (Major in Psychology) – The University of Western Australia
Team of the Year
University of Wollongong – Men’s Football Team
Most Outstanding Social Media Campaign
RMIT University
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Most Outstanding Photo from a 2019 UniSport Nationals Event
Nick Sterkenburg
Macquarie University
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Previous Award Winners
2018 UniSport Australia Award Winners
Most Outstanding Sporting Achievement:
Madison de Rozario (Para-Athletics) - Griffith University
Bachelor of Business
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Most Outstanding Performance by a Student-Athlete with a Disability:
Lakeisha Patterson (Para-Swimming) - The University of Queensland
Bachelor of Architectural Design
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Most Outstanding Performance by an Indigenous Student-Athlete:
Asha Steer (Orienteering) - The University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Environments
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Female Athlete of the Year:
Laura Waldie (Rugby 7s) - Griffith University
Bachelor of Dentistry
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Male Athlete of the Year:
Simon McTavish (Canoe Sprint) - The University of Sydney Bachelor of Project Management
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Team of the Year:
Federation University Men's AFL Team
The University of Sydney Women’s Football Team
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Coach of the Year:
Nathan Doyle (Para-Swimming) - University of the Sunshine Coast
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Community Leadership Award:
Deakin Dragons & Deakin University Alcohol Culture Change Project