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AN Australian-first sports institute has been established on the Gold Coast.

The Australian Sports Academy, based at Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre, offers 21 certificate and diploma qualifications in sports education and training including sports coaching, sports development, marketing, event management, fitness and administration.

The Academy operates alongside the nation’s first academic football (soccer) institute – the Australian Football College.

According to Australian Sports Academy Chief Executive Officer, former national football representative of Egypt, Ahmed Sokarno, the academy and college will provide students and adult learners with Australia’s first formally-aligned sports and tertiary education qualifications in sport.

“The Queensland Government has formally recognised the Australian Sports Academy as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and the first of its type in the country to have that number of sports academic qualifications,” Mr Sokarno said.

“That’s a huge boost to sport and education in this region and a strong vote of confidence in the Gold Coast as a leading domestic and international sports business destination.

“We’re very confident we will attract tertiary students from throughout Australia, Asia, the Middle East and beyond, and courses can be taught multi-lingual.

“They are designed to provide a proper career path for people who want to professionally play, coach or work in administration,” he said.

Mr Sokarno said the Australian Football College is proving popular locally and there is strong interest from international students.

“We are losing out to Britain because so many Asian students go there to train in football administration.

“Now that we’re offering something very similar here, closer and in a much better climate, there is huge potential,” he said.

An advantage for sports students is that Australian Sports Academy also has a partnership with Australian Academy – a Vocational Education Training (VET) provider where students have an option to learn business skills as part of their sporting studies.

The Australian Academy courses include certificates two, three, four and diplomas in such areas as Marketing, Business, Hospitality and Occupational Health and Safety.

Training is recognised by all Australian universities whose students go on to further education.

Employers are being encouraged to enroll employees into these industry specific courses with Federal Government grants of up to $4000 for eligible applicants. Students may be eligible for a youth allowance or Austudy subsidy.

Mr Sokarno also made mention of an exciting new addition for the Gold Coast region’s sports education offerings.

“Currently at the planning and application stage is a college for year eleven and twelve students which will focus on education to build their sporting careers and high performance training.

“Expressions of interest are currently being sought from interested students and their parents as a measure of community support before final approval of the application process,” he said.

People wanting further information on the Australian Sports Academy, Australian Football College and Australian Academy can visit www.australiansportsacademy.edu.au , www.afc.edu.au and www.australianacademy.edu.au or call 1300 656 693.