Who Are We?

For almost 40 years, primarily in NSW, the Regional Academies of Sport Ltd (RAS) have delivered successful high-performance athlete pathway programs. Annually, the RAS programs are delivering the NSW state government an economic return of just over $30Million at a return on investment rate of 6:1. Recently, there has been the inclusion of some Regional Academies across other states, but some gaps remain. We believe it is time to back the existing Academy system with funding and also expand to cover the whole of the country.

Specialising in regional talent identification and athlete development programs, the success of the RAS organisation is clear to see. The last three Olympic and Paralympic Games (Paris, Tokyo, Rio) have seen 98 RAS Alumni athletes represent Australia across 13 sports. 28 of these athletes finished on the podium delivering 45 medals, including 14 Gold.

Regional Academies of Sport Ltd is the parent company of the eight regional academies of sport throughout regional Australia. . These eight regions are highly successful in their own right, but have become increasingly more successful with a centralised model of operation through RAS.

Embracing the F.T.E.M. Model for High Performance Pathways

Australian sports have embraced the F.T.E.M. model to define high-performance pathways. The model emphasizes the stages of Foundation, Talent, Elite, and Mastery, serving as a guiding framework for athlete development.

Within this model, the RAS Collective plays a crucial role, particularly in the Talent (T) section of the pathway. Here, the academies are entrusted with the task of facilitating athletes’ progression from T1 to T4, nurturing their talents and preparing them for elite competition.