The Youth Sports Scholarship (YSS) runs annually and invites City of Melville residents aged between 12 and 19 years of age to apply during July and August.
The Scholarship provides a 1 year membership to LeisureFit Booragoon and LeisureFit Melville to complement the successful applicant’s current training regime as they strive to succeed in their chosen sport.
The Youth Sports Scholarship is aimed at athletes aged between 12 and 19 years of age before 1 September 2021 who have aspirations to compete at the highest level.
The Scholarship is designed to support sportspersons during the teenage years when research shows that the largest dropout rates occur. It is for this reason that the Youth Sports Scholarship provides free entry into City of Melville LeisureFit facilities for additional training purposes associated with their chosen sport. The aim is to lessen these teenage drop-out rates.
The lower age limit has been set at 12 years as it is around this age when Sport Australia research shows that junior athletes start to take sport more seriously and begin competing at the level of competition that is supported by the Youth Sports Scholarship.
The upper limit of 19 years has been set as at this age the sportspeople are adults, even if in their particular sport they may still be able to compete through the junior or youth pathways.
The Youth Sports Scholarship support and mirror the SportAus programme for Local Sporting Champions.
There will be no exemption for any application that is not within this age bracket.
There are no limits on applying for a Youth Sports Scholarship each year; as long as the criteria and eligibility is met.
Previous Recipients of the Youth Sports Scholarship Said:
"This scholarship will give me the opportunity to excel in strength and conditioning in the gym which is really important in the sport of triathlon for injury prevention and technique. Swimming more than five times a week puts pressure on my bank account as well, so being able to swim as I please and not have to worry about the cost, I am very grateful for." - Jonathan Sammut - Triathlon
"The scholarship has been a great help in assisting me with my sport. I train at LeisureFit Booragoon four-to-five times a week, especially since my club is now based there. LFB is such a great facility and I’m really grateful for the City of Melville to provide me with free access. I use the pool, gym and classes, which has really helped me train well and reach my goals, such as, being selected to be part of the Junior National Synchro Team." - Alessandra Ho - Synchronised Swimming
"This scholarship will help keep costs down as my sport is currently unfunded in Australia, meaning we have to pay for basically everything. This scholarship will help me continue my dreams of going to the 2020 Olympics. Thank you!" - Kazia Zenke - Synchronised Swimming