Federation University Australia and Victorian Institute of Sport Partner to Expand Elite Regional Pathways

Federation University Australia and the Victorian Institute of Sport have announced a strategic partnership designating the university’s Mt Helen campus as a preferred regional training location for Victorian Institute of Sport athletes.

Representing the first arrangement of its kind for the VIS outside Melbourne, the collaboration is designed to eliminate geographic barriers for regional Victorian athletes by providing local access to elite training facilities, high-performance environments, and expert support services without the burden of extensive travel.

Under the agreement, eligible Victorian Institute of Sport athletes can utilise Federation University’s advanced gymnasium facilities free of charge while remaining fully integrated within the VIS high-performance pathway.

High-profile regional competitors set to immediately benefit from the arrangement include Ballarat-based Paralympic bronze medallist and world champion para-cyclist Alanah Forster, alongside nationally recognised para-equestrian athlete Kelly Frost.

Federation University WestVic Academy of Sport CEO, Scott Allison, underscored the immediate regional impact of the initiative.

“For many regional athletes, accessing elite sporting support can involve several hours of travel for a single training session or appointment.”

“This partnership brings those opportunities closer to home and creates a more accessible and inclusive high-performance environment for athletes across western Victoria and beyond,” Mr Allison said.

Victorian Institute of CEO, Nicole Livingstone, emphasised the broader mission of equity and athletic development across the state.

“This partnership is about expanding access to elite training environments and making sure regional Victorian athletes are given every opportunity to thrive within the high-performance system.”

“By working with Federation University and the WestVic Academy of Sport, we are extending the reach of the Victorian Institute of Sport and ensuring more athletes can access the support, structure and opportunities they need without leaving their communities behind,” Ms Livingstone stated.

Beyond athletic training, the partnership fosters institutional knowledge-sharing between Victorian Institute of Sport personnel and Federation’s academic staff, led by Exercise and Sports Science head of discipline, professor Rob Aughey.

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