GIS partners with University of Newcastle to launch stadium campus in Sydney

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Image Credit: Global Institute of Sport

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) has announced a landmark partnership with the University of Newcastle to launch a state-of-the-art campus in Sydney.

Sydney’s iconic sporting precinct, which is home to the historic Sydney Cricket Ground and the world-class Allianz Stadium, is set to welcome a new wave of students preparing for careers in the sports industry.

With the nation heading into a golden decade of sport in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the new campus is set to play a key role in developing the talent that will drive the industry forward.

This collaboration will offer postgraduate programs at these inspirational sporting venues as well as the University of Newcastle’s Sydney CBD campus, thanks to a partnership with Venues NSW.

The unique ‘stadium-based’ campus model of learning is based on GIS’ success of campuses including Wembley Stadium in London and Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium in the USA.

The new Sydney campus will offer two master’s degrees: a Master of International Sports Business and a Master of Sports Analytics, along with a Graduate Certificate of Sports Analytics.

These programs are the first Australian university degrees with teaching from inside stadiums and are open to both domestic Australian and international students from January 2026.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone for GIS and reinforces our commitment to providing world-class sports education,” said Sharona Friedman, President and CEO of Global Institute of Sport.

“By combining our global expertise with the academic strength of the University of Newcastle and the unique access to elite venues provided by Venues NSW, we are creating a first-of-its-kind learning experience for Australian students as well as producing the next generation of leaders for the ever-growing Australian sports industry.”

The Master of International Sports Business will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the global sports landscape, covering areas such as sports marketing, sponsorship, economics, sustainability, leadership, integrity and athlete management.

The Master of Sports Analytics and Graduate Certificate of Sports Analytics will focus on the use of data analytics to improve sporting performance, fan engagement, and business decision-making, one of the fastest growing areas within sport.

“We are excited to be partnering with GIS to offer these Australian-first programs which will deliver experiences far beyond the traditional classroom setting,” said Professor James Skinner, Dean of the University of Newcastle’s Business School.

“To further mark the University of Newcastle’s 60th year delivering world class education, this unique collaboration offers our students unparalleled access to international experts, hands-on experience and world-renowned facilities to set them up for successful careers in the dynamic sports sector.”

Sydney-based students will also be able to learn at GIS’ professional sports facilities around the world which in addition to Wembley Stadium and Chase Stadium also includes the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, RSC Anderlecht’s Lotto Park in Brussels, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s BMO Field in Toronto, and football academies in Dubai and Jamaica.

This access, facilitated in Sydney by Venues NSW, will provide students with real-world insights into the operations of major sporting venues, events and organisations as well as access to a vast network of sports industry guest speakers that has already included the likes of Socceroo and Liverpool legend Harry Kewell, former Wallabies captain James Horwill, and senior executives from Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia, AFL clubs and A League clubs.

“Venues NSW is delighted to support this partnership and contribute to the development of future sports industry leaders, as well as the sector and the economy more broadly” said Matt Hart, General Manager – Commercial at Venues NSW.

“The Allianz Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground are inspiration venues, and we are excited to provide students with the opportunity to learn in these world-class settings.”

Applications for the Master of International Sports Business, Master of Sports Analytics, and Graduate Certificate of Sports Analytics are open now. For more information about the programs and how to apply, please visit www.gis.sport.

Information session

An open evening and networking event will be held at the Allianz Stadium on Monday 12th May from 5.30pm. Register at www.gis.sport/events.

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Football NSW announces 2026 First Nations Scholarships as pathway access program enters new phase

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football NSW has announced the recipients of its 2026 First Nations Scholarships, with ten emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players from metropolitan and regional NSW receiving support designed to reduce the financial and structural barriers that have historically limited First Nations participation across the football pathway.

The scholarship program, developed and assessed in collaboration with the Football NSW Indigenous Advisory Group, targets players across both elite and development environments – recognising that talent identification alone is insufficient without the resources to support progression once players are identified.

Co-Chair of the Indigenous Advisory Group Bianca Dufty said the calibre of this year’s recipients reflected the depth of First Nations football talent across the state, and the importance of structured support in converting that talent into long-term participation.

“Their dedication to football and the desire to be role models for younger Aboriginal footballers in their communities is to be celebrated,” Dufty said. “I’m confident we will see some of these talented footballers in the A-League and national teams in the future.”

 

Beyond the pitch and into the pipeline

The 2026 cohort spans both metropolitan clubs and regional associations, an intentional distribution that acknowledges the particular barriers facing First Nations players outside major population centres, where access to development programs, qualified coaching and pathway competitions is more limited and the cost of participation more prohibitive.

The next phase of the program will introduce First Nations coaching scholarships, extending the initiative’s reach beyond playing pathways and into the coaching and administration pipeline – areas where Indigenous representation remains among the lowest in the game.

The structural logic is clear. Scholarships that reduce financial barriers at the entry point of elite pathways matter most when they are part of a sustained ecosystem of support rather than isolated gestures. Football NSW’s collaboration with the Indigenous Advisory Group provides that continuity, ensuring the program is shaped by the communities it is designed to serve.

Football NSW Targets Female Coaching Gap with Twin Programs

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football NSW has announced two new initiatives targeting the development of female coaches and coach education tutors, backed by federal and state government funding, as the governing body moves to address the longstanding structural absence of women across all levels of coaching in the sport.

The Future Female Coaches Mentoring Program, funded through the NSW Office of Sport’s Empower Her program, will select six female coaches holding a minimum AFC B Diploma for a structured mentoring program beginning mid-year. Participants will be paired with experienced mentors and receive three in-person visits including real-time observation and feedback, alongside regular online development sessions throughout the season.

Separately, Football NSW has opened expressions of interest for its 2026/27 Female Coach Education Tutor (CET) Program, supported by the Australian Federal Government’s Play Our Way investment, targeting C Diploma holders who want to move into coach education delivery.

Together, the programs address two distinct but connected gaps in the women’s football coaching pipeline- the progression from active coach to elite-level practitioner, and the transition from practitioner to the tutors who shape how coaching is taught.

The Pipeline Problem

The structural underrepresentation of women in football coaching isn’t a new observation. It is a documented and persistent feature of the game at every level, from community clubs to national team environments. Female coaches remain a minority in pathway competitions, and female coach education tutors are even more so.

One current tutor in the program described the environment she encountered when she came through the system. “My experience coming through as a coach, there was no females on the courses as participants and there was no females running the courses either,” she said. “That kind of inspires me to be someone that can hopefully make other females feel comfortable and confident to want to become coaches.”

“It is really important to have female role models because it shows that there is an opportunity or pathway for females,” said one program participant. “Traditionally it has been a male-dominated area and to know that yes, you can do it as a passion or a side thing, or you can actually make a career of it if you want.”

Removing barriers at the point of entry

The mentoring program’s design reflects an understanding that formal accreditation alone is insufficient to retain and develop female coaches in high-performance environments. Access to experienced mentors, observation in live coaching contexts and ongoing reflective practice address the informal development gaps that credentials cannot fill.

“Learning happens through coaching in real environments, and we recognise our role in providing both stretch and support to high-potential coaches,” said Edward Ferguson, Football NSW Head of Football Development. “This program offers tailored mentoring that complements formal coach education and enhances effectiveness in practice.”

Hayley Todd, Football NSW Head of Womens and Schools Football, framed the initiative in terms of long-term system building rather than individual development. “Creating sustainable pathways for female coaches is a key priority,” she said. “This program supports their development while also providing valuable insight into what is required to progress from state competitions into national and international environments.”

The barriers the programs are designed to remove are clear. The cost of accreditation, lack of access to mentoring networks, the absence of welcoming environments in coaching courses and the scarcity of female role models at senior levels all compound one another in ways that make progression difficult regardless of ability or commitment.

“You want to try and remove as many barriers as possible,” said one tutor involved in the program. “If you can start to remove those barriers, you actually get to engage with the females more consistently and build their confidence and competence in that space.”

A system investing in itself

The timing of both announcements sits within a broader national moment for women’s football. The AFC Women’s Asian Cup, currently underway in Australia, has delivered record crowds and sustained visibility for the female game at the elite level. The programs announced this week operate at the other end of the pipeline – building the coaching infrastructure that will determine whether the players inspired by that visibility have qualified, experienced and representative coaches to develop them.

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