Sport is more than a game at Manor Lakes P-12 College.
The school’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sport and recreation athlete development program has students treating it more as a career pathway than a Saturday pastime.
Physical education teacher Peter Walsh, who grew up locally, noticed a gaping hole for students with elite sporting talents and those yearning for a future within the sports and recreation industry.
“I grew up in Wyndham and sport wasn’t something that was fostered by schools in the Werribee area,” he said.
“I wanted to give kids in Wyndham a chance to have that opportunity.”
The VET program strikes a balance between sports and physical development and academic endeavours.
The success of students in a pilot program three years ago led to the school making it an ongoing part of its curriculum.
“Our first 16 students have gone on to be successful both academically and sporting- wise,” Walsh said.
Manor Lakes has formed an allegiance with Victoria University, allowing students access to elite training facilities.
Those involved in the program also have guaranteed entry to a course at VU upon completion of their secondary studies.
“VU’s sports science program is second only to the AIS, I would guess,” Walsh said.
“The kids have been able to do VO2 max [maximal oxygen uptake testing]; they’ve been able to do altitude training.
“Some of the things they’ve been able to do, you wouldn’t be able to do it in the classroom.”
Leadership is a key component of the program, with students coaching teams in younger age levels. The practice is helping build a good culture within the school, the aim being that it be passed on to future generations.
“The [student leaders] coach junior basketball, football and netball teams and help the teachers out as well, as it might not be their area of expertise,” Walsh said.
“They also work at our own school athletics carnival and the district athletics and swimming carnivals.
‘‘They’re doing a lot of work with kids across the region.’’
Some students involved are part of the Western Jets’ multicultural squad, including Duom Dawam, an AIS-AFL scholarship holder who recently featured in the AFL under-18 national championships.
“We realise that we’ve got a high percentage of African kids in Wyndham,” Walsh said.
“These kids have extreme athletic talent and it’s now being fostered.
‘‘They see [the sports and recreation field] as a pathway they can take.”
