Head coach of the Perth Wildcats basketball team, Rob Beveridge, spoke about the importance of ongoing education for young sportspeople at an Elite Athlete Friendly University (EAFU) program forum, held at the University of Western Australia in Perth on 28–29 October 2009.

Beveridge spoke highly of the benefits of the EAFU network, an Australian Government program that provides greater flexibility, assistance and options for Australian athletes in combining sporting and academic goals. He also discussed the importance of athletes pursuing meaningful activities outside of sport, such as further education.

‘Our [Perth Wildcats] players are encouraged to pursue further education studies for a trade or a profession or to get actively involved in volunteering or community work while competing, as part of a healthy balanced lifestyle,’ said Beveridge.

The annual EAFU forum provides an opportunity to discuss common goals and explore ways to enhance the program through a national exchange of ideas and expertise, in both the context of university and the Athlete Career and Education (ACE) program.

Since the ACE program was established in 1994, it has supported more than 20 000 elite athletes across Australia to manage their education, work and sports performance, as well as preparing them for life after sport.

More than 900 student athletes, coaches and dancers receive support through the EAFU network, a partnership between the Australian Sports Commission and 36 Australian universities.

During this year’s EAFU forum, former Olympic swimmer Daniel Kowalski, who now works as an adviser for the ACE program, remarked that one of his biggest regrets was not extending his education while training as a swimmer, and praised the network for working to ensure other elite athletes do not experience the same regrets.

A panel of Western Australian Institute of Sport athletes also spoke favourably about the EAFU network, many remarking that they would not be studying at university had it not been for the program.