ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app

February 21, 2025

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app welcomes Australian Government funding for Community and High Performance Centre

World-class facility will create a vibrant hub for sporting and educational excellence and for community wellbeing and engagement

The University of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app (ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app) welcomes the Australian Government's announcement of funding under the Growing Regions Program to support the development of the Community and High Performance Centre (CHPC) at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app’s Innovation Campus in North ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app.

The Community and High Performance Centre is being developed by the St George and Illawarra Dragons in collaboration with ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app and will create a state-of-the-art hub for sport, education and community wellbeing in the Illawarra. It has already received funding from the NSW Government.

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app Interim Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President (Operations) Matthew Wright said the project will support ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app’s education, research and community engagement objectives.

“This project represents a unique opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the Dragons while delivering immense benefits to both the University and the broader community,” Mr Wright said.

“The Community and High Performance Centre will provide exceptional educational opportunities for ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app students, with access to top-tier resources for research, internships and placements in areas such as sports science, health and education.”

The facility will activate an underutilised part of Innovation Campus. All costs of the development are being met by the Dragons, who will also be responsible for ongoing maintenance and other costs associated with the facility.

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app will receive a range of financial and in-kind benefits through the partnership, including a suite of exciting opportunities to support the University’s strategic education, research and community engagement goals.

Mr Wright highlighted the Centre's role in advancing gender equity and Indigenous participation in sport.

“One of the most exciting aspects of the facility is its potential to transform local sports participation, particularly for women. ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app is deeply committed to promoting gender equity in sports and the Centre’s equitable male and female player facilities will create an inclusive environment where women and girls can thrive in sport,” he said.

“The Centre will also play a vital role in supporting Indigenous participation in sport, offering meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange, engagement and sporting excellence.

“We look forward to working alongside the Dragons to bring this world-class facility to life, reinforcing our shared commitment to excellence in sport, education and community development.”

More information about the Community and High Performance Centre is available .