Podium Program

Enabling Senior School students to focus on their elite sport without compromising academic success.

Supporting Elite Athletes

At Illawarra Grammar, we celebrate the pursuit of sporting excellence and recognise the dedication required to reach the podium.

We are proud to support our elite athletes through the Podium Program, designed to foster excellence both on and off the field.

This program provides tailored support for students competing at a regional, state, national or international level.

Learn More About Sport Scholarships

About the Podium Program

The Podium Program is structured into three distinct tiers, recognising that athletes at different stages of competition require tailored support:

Gold Level: For athletes competing at national and international levels.
Silver Level: For athletes competing at state level.
Bronze Level: For athletes competing at regional or AICES level.

Each tier ensures that athletes receive the specific guidance and resources they need to excel at their respective levels.

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A Dedicated Head Coach

We have a Head Coach who focusses entirely on the Podium Program, offering dedicated support to our most elite sportsmen and sportswomen.

Our Head Coach, Mr Matthew Brown, has previously worked as a World Champion Swim Coach and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the program.

Student testimonial

“Without Podium Program there was a real chance that I was not going to be able to finish school. I always loved school but I was finding it increasingly difficult to juggle school and my surfing career. Mr Brown was a big support to me throughout Year 11 and Year 12, he helped to organise my school deadlines and he worked with my teachers to make sure that I could still compete in surfing events without falling behind at school. His support and advocacy made it easier for me to focus on my HSC when I was at school and work towards my academic goals. The Podium Program gave me the confidence to feel like I could do both and I could do both well.”

Sammy Lowe (Class of 2025) – Australian U18 Junior Surfing Champion

Finding Time

Elite sports people in Years 8 and 10 can choose the Finding Time elective to manage their academic responsibilities alongside their extracurricular activities.

Finding Time will be a supervised opportunity for these students to undertake independent work to catch up on missed lessons and prioritise the completion of independent learning and study.