Sport
4 February, 2022
Suns Regional Graduate Program Launches In Cairns
A partnership between TAFE Queensland and the Gold Coast SUNS Football Club will help regional AFL players take their game and education to the next level.
The two-year SUNS Regional Graduate Program will kick off in Cairns in 2022, providing young male and female players with access to train in a high-performance environment while studying a qualification of their choice with TAFE Queensland.
TAFE Queensland Project Manager Jesse O’Hara said the post-secondary school athlete development initiative would provide regional AFL players with opportunities they would only otherwise receive if they moved to a big city.
“The SUNS have a strong junior development program that’s wellknown across Australia for providing young athletes with a pathway to the elite level,” he said.
“Through the SUNS Regional Graduate Program, participants will also connect with professional coaches and sporting stars and gain a Certificate II in Sports Coaching plus AFL coaching and umpire certificates.
“We believe by the end of the two-year program, student-athletes will be well-equipped to pursue success on and off the field.”
With support from AFL Cairns, student-athletes will develop their football skills and endurance with tailored training sessions at Cazalys Stadium and gym. AFL Cairns General Manager Craig Lees said the launch of the SUNS Regional Graduate Program was a huge win for local players.
“With a new gym and state-of-theart facilities at Cazalys Stadium, the SUNS Regional Graduate program will provide unprecedented opportunities for young players to develop their game,” Mr Lee said.
“After more than a decade of working in partnership with the SUNS, we’re delighted to support a new pathway for emerging players.
“Three members of the 2021 TAFE Queensland Academy of Sport have already progressed to higher AFL honours, and through the launch of the new SUNS Regional Graduate Program, we know that even more future stars will follow in their footsteps.”
Peninsula representative player Jessica Frape said she was excited to join the SUNS Regional Graduate Program to improve her game and education.
“I want to be able to take AFL that step further and learn as much as I can about it. I feel that this development program is a good opportunity to improve my overall performance,” Ms Frape said.
“I want to study health care. It’s something I’ve been interested in for a while because I like the idea of being able to take care of people.”
Enrolments for the SUNS Regional Graduate Program close February 14, 2022. Athletes who want to apply can call 4042 2354 or email cas.north@tafeqld.edu.au.
