National Institute Network (NIN)
Comprises the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the eight State and Territory Institutes and Academies of Sport.
Since the early 1980’s State and Territory governments have established institutes and academies of sport to assist their high-performance athletes.
The National Institute Network (NIN) comprises the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the eight State and Territory Institutes and Academies of Sport.
ACT Academy of Sport, opens in a new tab (ACTAS). The ACTAS was formed in 1989 as the high-performance arm of Sport and Recreation. ACTAS is an endorsed Official Olympic and Paralympic Training Centre providing high performance services and support to ACT elite and developing athletes from a variety of Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports.
Vision - The leading high performance daily training environment to enhance talented ACT athletes. Purpose - To contribute to Australia's high performance sport targets by providing a quality daily training environment that enhances athletic development through providing quality high performance programs and services.
New South Wales Institute of Sport, opens in a new tab (NSWIS). Established in 1996, the NSWIS is a high-performance sports organisation supporting Australian athletes to become world’s best.
Vision - More NSW athletes representing Australia and winning medals. Purpose - To support Australian athletes to become world's best.
Northern Territory Sports Academy, opens in a new tab (NTSA). Established in 1996, the NTSA aims to support the Northern Territory (NT) sporting community to provide enriching environments that engage, recognise, and empower Territory athletes, coaches, officials and other key support personnel to optimise their potential and enhance their abilities to thrive in their sporting and non-sporting lives.
Queensland Academy of Sport, opens in a new tab (QAS). Established in 1991, the QAS is the Queensland Government’s high-performance sports agency responsible for preparing Queensland elite athletes, teams and coaches for world class success. On 1 May 2025, the Queensland Parliament passed, opens in a new tab the Queensland Academy of Sport Bill 2025, opens in a new tab to establish the QAS as a statutory body, commencing 1 July 2025.
Vision - Inspiring extraordinary sporting success. Mission - QAS enables a supportive and holistic athlete high performance journey to win well.
South Australian Sports Institute, opens in a new tab (SASI). Established in 1982, the SASI is the high-performance sports hub in South Australia. They find the best potential athletes, recruit the most qualified people to use the latest and most innovative training techniques, state-of-the-art facilities, sports science, and wellbeing support. They work to develop complete athletes, who are excellent both in sport and in life, and support them to reach their full potential.
Vision - To be the heart of South Australia's sporting success. Mission - Empower people to achieve their sporting dreams and inspire Australians. Uphold the highest ethical and performance standards. Enhance South Australia’s international reputation in high-performance sport and create valued legacies for future generations.
Tasmanian Institute of Sport, opens in a new tab (TIS). The TIS was established in 1985 by the Tasmanian Government to assist Tasmania's talented athletes achieve excellence in sport. The TIS operates with a mix of State and Federal Government funding and sponsorship from the business sector.
Vision - To be a world class centre for excellence that delivers Tasmania's largest, most successful cohort of Olympic and Paralympic athletes in 2032. Purpose - Developing world class athletes.
Victorian Institute of Sport, opens in a new tab (VIS). The VIS was established in 1990 by the State Government as a private trustee company with a Board of Directors appointed directly by the Victorian Minister for Sport. They assist Victoria’s best athletes to achieve national and international success. The VIS provides advanced and specialised coaching, sports science and sports medicine services, career and education advice, and training and competition support.
Vision - Victorians are proud and inspired by our national and international sporting success. Mission - To provide leadership that enables talented Victorian athletes to excel in sport and life.
Western Australian Institute of Sport, opens in a new tab (WAIS). Established in 1983, the WAIS has a proud history of supporting Western Australian athletes achieve their sporting dreams.
Vision - Western Australian sporting champions creating community pride and inspiring the next generation. Purpose - To enable Western Australian athletes to achieve international sporting success.
Historical timeline
1981 | The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) was established |
|---|---|
1982 | The South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) was established |
1983 | The Western Australian Institue of Sport (WAIS) was established |
1985 | The Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) was established |
1989 | The ACT Academy of Sport (ACTAS) was established |
1990 | The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) was established |
1991 | The Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) was established |
1996 | The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) and Northern Territory Sports Academy (NTSA) were established |
2011 | In February 2011, the Sport and Recreation Ministers Council established a new National Institute partnership to fulfill national objectives. Subsequently, in June 2011, the National Institute System Intergovernmental Agreement (2011) was created to promote collaboration among high performance agencies, primarily focusing on the delivery of national sporting organisations' high performance plans. |
2013 | In late 2013, the AIS and National Elite Sports Council (NESC) initiated an 'Independent Review of National Institute Network' [access restricted] to evaluate state institutes, strategies, and alignment. The review produced 27 recommendations covering leadership, governance, capability, training environment, and system efficiency, advocating for new governance models to enhance national high performance efforts and accountability. |
2019 | The National High Performance Sport Strategy 2024 (NHPSS), focused on Olympic, Paralympic, and Commonwealth Games outcomes. The NHPSS was a joint strategy of National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), the National Institute Network (NIN), and other system partners. |
2022 | Australia's High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy, commonly known as HP2032+ or Win Well, focuses on optimising outcomes and sustainable success for Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports. Launched in December 2022, the strategy has been co-designed by Australia's High Performance Sport System, with the aim to foster collaboration, alignment, clarity and accountability across Australia’s High Performance Sport System. |
2024 | In December 2024, the first Para-Sport Unit was launched at the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI). A partnership between the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Paralympics Australia and National Institute Network (NIN), the Para-Sport Units will provide additional opportunities for people with a disability to be discovered and to provide world-class services which supports athletes on their pathway from identification through to the Paralympics. |
2025 | In 2025, NIN Para-Sport Units were launched at the Queensland Academy of Sport (February), New South Wales Institute of Sport (March), Victorian Institute of Sport (March), Western Australian Institute of Sport (May), Northern Territory Sports Academy, and the Tasmanian Institute of Sport. The Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) officially became a Statutory Body, opens in a new tab on 1 July 2025. This change provided the QAS with greater autonomy and operational flexibility to strengthen its support for emerging Queensland athletes and enhance its high-performance capabilities. |
