[mkdf_dropcaps type=”normal” color=”#f55549″ background_color=””]T[/mkdf_dropcaps]
he NSW Swifts and the University Of New South Wales (UNSW) have inked a new deal that will have a strong focus on pathway development.

In its role as the official education partner, UNSW will not only assist in developing pathways for athletes in the Swifts program, it will also look to provide scholarships to the QBE Swifts Academy.

Netball NSW executive general manager of commercial and marketing, Yael Reed said: “On behalf of the NSW Swifts and Netball NSW, I would like to welcome UNSW to the netball family,” she said.

“Netball is the clear number one sport for women, and young girls across NSW and the Swifts are hugely influential role models for many of them.

“To have the support of a trusted and highly regarded institute like UNSW is a real boost, not just for the club but for the game as a whole,” Ms Reed said.

“I think it is very special to have these two iconic brands starting a new partnership and working hand-in-hand to develop future stars of our game.

“UNSW is widely regarded as one of the finest universities in the world, and it has flown the flag for the State both nationally and internationally for decades,” she said.

UNSW head of sport and local community, Mark Wright, expressed his excitement for the partnership saying: “This partnership aligns closely with the UNSW’s Women in Sport and Active Recreation strategy – in 2020 UNSW because the first university in Australia to launch a female-focused sporting strategy.

“There are significant benefits to combining an elite sporting career with tertiary study, and we are proud to offer an Elite Athlete Program that provides flexibility and certainty for those athletes,” he said.