Indigenous athletes embracenew opportunities in North Coasttalent identification program

THE North Coast Academy of Sport (NCAS) Indigenous Talent Identification Day brought together around 60 young athletes for testing and skill development aimed at identifying emerging talent at Southern Cross University, Lismore.

The event is for athletes aged 13 to 17, with many returning in subsequent years to continue developing their skills.

Students from across the region took part in a series of sport-specific skill sessions to introduce them to new sporting opportunities.

Participants rotated through a range of sports including golf, netball, basketball, rugby union, rugby league and athletics, alongside a structured battery of performance testing focused on agility, coordination and endurance.

A major focus of the day is exposing young people to sports they may not have tried before.

NCAS sports programs manager Luke Field said the event has become a key fixture on the academy’s calendar.

“A lot of these kids are very ingrained in the sports they already play, like footy and soccer,” he said.

“But when they try something like golf or athletics for the first time, they often discover they’ve got real ability they didn’t know about.

“We’ve had kids pick up a golf club for the first time and show real talent.

“The goal is to say, ‘you should consider this sport further’ and hopefully help them progress toward state or national level opportunities.”

The program also aims to address barriers faced by many Indigenous children, particularly around access, distance and cost.

“If we identify talent, we can invite them into our programs for free, so cost isn’t a barrier. It gives them the best possible chance to progress,” Field said.

“Even if they have to travel an hour or more, it still gives them access to something they may never have experienced before.

“We get kids coming back saying they loved it and want another go, or hoping to get selected into one of our programs.”

NCAS has supported long-term success emerging through its pathways.

“We’ve had athletes identified through this program who have gone on to higher honours like the Commonwealth Games,” Field said.

“It shows the system works and gives kids opportunities they may not otherwise have had.”