Leading Australian athletes are being supported in their studies through the Elite Athlete Friendly University (EAFU) network while competing with the best of the best at international events — such as the World University Games, and world championship events.

More than 900 Australian athletes are supported through the EAFU network; part of the Australian Sports Commission’s National Athlete Career and Education program. Thirty-six Australian universities in the EAFU scheme provide assistance and flexibility for Australia’s leading athletes to pursue their sporting goals and academic aspirations. The EAFU scheme is supported by the Australian Institute of Sport and all state and territory institutes and academies of sport.

One of the athletes currently supported by the EAFU scheme is track and field star Tristan Thomas, who will be competing at the World Athletics Championships, held in Berlin from 15 to 23 August. Thomas is currently working towards a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Biology at the University of Canberra.

Thomas has already competed at many international high performance events, such as the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia, where he won gold medals in the men’s 400-metre hurdles, and the 4 x 400-metre relay along with Chris Troode, Sean Wroe and Brendan Cole.

‘It’s great to have the support of the EAFU scheme on my side, which provides open and flexible options to pursue ongoing study for a professional qualification, while training for competition and success in elite sport,’ says Thomas.

A number of other athletes supported by the EAFU network won gold medals at the World University Games, including swimmer Cameron Prosser (Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Canberra), athlete Dani Samuels (Bachelor of Arts at University of Western Sydney), and members of the Australian men’s water polo team who study through 11 different universities across four states.

National Athlete Career and Education program consultant Dr Nathan Price says providing options for athletes to achieve their sporting goals while not foregoing their educational pursuits is a key aim of the EAFU network.

‘The career of an elite athlete can be short so we recognise a need to prepare them for their life after sport. Undertaking education while training and competing assists in this process and ensures they don’t get left behind in their preparation for a career outside sport,’ says Dr Price.

Any athlete at the Australian Institute of Sport, or a state/territory institute or academy of sport currently enrolled in one of the 36 tertiary institutions that form the EAFU network can apply for support through the scheme.