Delivered in partnership with the John and Myriam Wylie Foundation and the Australian Sports Foundation, the AIS Athlete Education Scholarship (AES) program provides grants of up to $5,000 to support athletes with the costs associated with higher education.

Now in its fourth year, the AES supports high performance athletes to Win Well by assisting them to balance the demands of study, work and sport.

Australian Sports Commission Executive General Manager of AIS Performance Matti Clements said the scholarship not only aligns with the ASC’s mission to lead, support and provide opportunities for all to be involved in sport, but also Australia’s 2032+ High Performance Sport Strategy’s (HP 2032+ Strategy) vision to win well.

“The HP 2032+ Strategy and win well is about providing an environment where athletes can reach their potential and achieve sustainable success in sport as well as in life,” Ms Clements said.

“Developing the whole person is key to wellbeing, something we know leads to delivering the best outcomes. This partnership with the John and Myriam Wylie and Australian Sports Foundations will go a long way to helping athletes strike a healthy balance between sport and education.”

Australian under-21 hockey player and Bachelor of Physiotherapy graduate Jay Macdonald received an Athlete Education Scholarship in 2022 and said it allowed him to pursue sporting excellence, as well as plan for his future post-sport.

“When you're trying to pursue both education and sport at the same time you don't really have much time for paid work outside of that, so anything you receive from a scholarship like this one is really helpful,” the 22-year-old said.

“As an athlete, you’ve always got a shelf life. At some point, I’m going to have to switch my focus from my sport to my career, so being able to study while pursuing sport means I don’t have all my eggs in one basket when the time comes.”

Expressions of interest are now open for the 2024 Athlete Education Scholarship Program, with categorised athletes enrolled in a recognised Australian University degree or TAFE course in 2024 encouraged to apply.

For more information or to apply for the Scholarship visit the AIS Athlete Education Scholarship webpage. Applications close 15 March 2024.