Elite athletes chasing the Olympic dream not only have the chance to become sporting heroes, they can also study and become fully qualified professionals thanks to a unique partnership between the Australian Sports Commission and 36 universities across Australia.

The Elite Athlete Friendly Universities Network provides assistance and flexibility for Australia’s leading athletes to pursue their combined sporting goals and academic aspirations.

Under the scheme, athletes benefit from flexible study options, support for course entry, and advice from specialised university contacts.

It is a delicate balancing act for many elite athletes to juggle training, study and work, so it is wonderful that more than 900 athletes are now benefitting from the scheme’s flexibility and support for study.

The Elite Athlete Friendly Universities Network is helping the likes of AIS swimmer and Olympic bronze medallist Alice Mills to complete a nursing degree at the University of Canberra.

Mills faces intense training commitments. She does pool work twice a day between 6.00am and 9.00am and then from 4.00pm to 6.00pm, including sessions for rest and recovery and medical treatment. It is often a gruelling and unforgiving schedule.

‘The scheme gives me the flexibility and options to achieve my best in sport and to study for a profession in life after sport,’ Mills said.

National Coach and Athlete Career and Education program consultant, Dr Nathan Price, said it is phenomenal to have 36 universities across Australia working together to support the education needs of elite athletes.

‘Athletes now have greater support to combine training commitments with study for a career,’ Price said.

‘Educating and preparing athletes for a life after sport is an important part of their training and development.

With the ASC educating universities on the requirements of elite athletes, and the universities in turn providing flexible education options, we are seeing less athletes withdrawing and deferring from their studies and in a position to become not only successful in sport, but successful in life.