Supporting RMIT's elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence.
What is the RMIT Elite Athlete Program?
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program (REAP) supports elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence. By supporting students to devote time to training and competition while also completing their tertiary studies, student athletes can achieve both their sporting and academic aspirations.
Through dedicated assistance from the REAP team, over 200 student athletes successfully balance the high demands of elite sport and university life each year. Program benefits include some or all of the following depending on whether you meet the criteria as an elite or emerging athlete.
Benefits for elite and emerging athletes
- Adjustment factors for course entry (10 adjustment factors towards your aggregate score. Equivalent to 3-7 ATAR points)
- Advocacy and support from the Coordinator, Elite Athlete Pathways
- Access to early timetabling preferencing
- Assessment and exam flexibility
- Opportunity to study with other institutions
- Free access to the RMIT Health Clinic, for services including Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Chinese Medicine, Massage and Psychology
- Free RMIT Gym membership
- Free access to the RMIT Sports Academy programs and services
- Assistance with course planning
Am I eligible?
To qualify as an Elite Athlete, you must be at least one of the following:
- National Squad member from a Sport Australia recognised and funded sport.
- AIS scholarship holder.
- VIS scholarship holder.
- Member of any of the following – AFL Players Association, Australian Cricketers’ Association, Rugby Union Players Association, Rugby League Professionals’ Association, Professional Footballers Australia.
To qualify as an Emerging Athlete, you must be at least one of the following:
- State Squad member from a Sport Australia recognised and funded sport.
- Listed player in any of the following – Victorian Football League (VFL and VFL Women's) (Australian Rules), NPL or NPLW (Football Victoria), NRL Victoria (First Grade), Rugby Dewar Shield (Seniors), Premier Grade Cricket, NBL1 (Formerly South East Australian Basketball League), University Basketball League (UBL).
Esports
To qualify as an esports Elite or Emerging athlete you must fulfill the following requirements:
1. You must be competing in a current AEL affiliated game, or a well-established, international game of an appropriate genre.
Factors for whether the game is considered a well-established, international game:
- Whether the game is currently estimated to be in the top 10 for international earnings and player count.
- Total number of game competitions (tournaments or leagues), and competition prize money.
- The presence of an established international code of conduct.
- The game genre and whether it aligns with RMIT values and student conduct requirements.
2. You must be contracted with a professional organisation to play the specific game; or in the absence of a contract must be competing at a national level demonstrated by your results from the past 12 months, current ranking, and player earnings.
Factors for whether an organisation is considered professional:
- Player travel commitments, training requirements, and salaries.
- Commitments to particular competitions or leagues and its ranking.
- Support staff and other services offered to players.
- Current organisation sponsorship.
- ABN validation (or similar).
The level of competition will determine whether the esports athlete is classified as elite or emerging. E.g. Students competing at an international level may be categorised as elite, while students competing at a national level may be categorised as emerging.
Apply to join REAP
REAP Applications are open for 2024!
When applying, you'll need to provide supporting documentation on letterhead from your sporting governing body outlining your involvement in the sport and that you are in one of the squads listed on the previous tab. Screen shots and emails will not be accepted.
You will also need to provide a high resolution photo from competition
For businesses
Interested in engaging with our elite athletes?
Interested businesses can engage with our elite athletes in various ways including:
- guest speaking at corporate events
- mentoring elite athletes and career development opportunities
- partnership and branding opportunities
- sponsorship and scholarships.
RMIT is dedicated to supporting our athletes while they study and creating opportunities to aid their transition into the workforce. To discuss your opportunity with the team, please register your interest below.
More information
If you have questions about the Elite Athlete Program, email elite.athletes@rmit.edu.au.
