Australian Athletics is committed to providing support to athletes as they progress towards senior representation. There are a number of programs, supported by Australian Athletics and our partners, that aim to assist athletes on their progression through this pathway.
Australian Athletics (AA) Pathway Transition Program (PTP) is a program that supports Australian athletes who are demonstrating potential to achieve AA's HP Program goals and targets at Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games, but who are not yet categorised on AA's National Athlete Support Structure (NASS). The program provides performance support, planning assistance, and other developmental opportunities to athletes, with the strategic aim of bridging the gap between successful junior performance and medal winning performance at senior level. The focus will be in the Under-20 age group, however Under-23 athletes can be selected on a case-by-case basis.
Key performance services benefits for PTP athletes and coaches:
Sports Medicine
Sports Physiotherapy
Soft Tissue Therapy
Biomechanics
Sports Psychology
Sports Nutrition
Physiology
Strength and Conditioning
Other benefits include:
Athlete Well-being and Engagement Support
Travel assistance budget to support attendance at camps and key competitions
Coach development opportunities
A national PTP camp
To discuss the changes to PTP for 2025, Australian Athletics hosted an information session on Wednesday, March 19. Lead by Director of Performance Sustainability, Craig Pickering, and Pathways Transitions Manager, Adam Didyk, the session covered key aspects of the Pathway Transition Program.
The recording of the session can be found below along with some information about the program.
Prior webinars are recorded and can be viewed through the Australian Athletics Learning Centre
A number of our Member Association partners have their own athlete support schemes, aimed at assisting developing athletes who have not been selected onto NASS. An example of this program is the SA Emerging Program.
Check with your State Athletics Association to see what may be available to you.
AA is also very keen to keep close contact with Australian athletes who are attending college or university in the US to support them in making the best decision for their future, as well as providing on-going support and communication for athletes already at college in the US.
To assist athletes in making a decision, we’ve put together a guide on Navigating the USA Collegiate System.
We also have the following video in which Adam Didyk and Sean Whipp discuss the NCAA system and application process.
If you’re considering attending college in the US and are happy for Athletics Australia to pass your details onto colleges, please fill out the NCAA Recruitment Availability Form below.
Once you decide to attend college in the US, and wish to keep in contact with Athletics Australia, please complete the NCAA Athlete Declaration Form below, which will give you access to the AA NCAA Facebook group.
Further information about NCAA recruitment and eligibility can be found below, as well as Information on the recruiting calendar.
If you have any questions around the college system, or are a college coach wishing to discuss athletes, please contact Adam Didyk at adam.didyk@athletics.org.au
Athletics International is an organisation set up to provide a forum through which former and current elite athletes can put something back into the sport. They provide social opportunities around major athletic events and milestones for you to cement or renew acquaintances, and support junior and emerging athletes with grants. If you have represented Australia at the highest level, won an Australian Open athletics championship, or held an Australian Open record you are probably eligible to join.
| Craig Pickering - Director of Performance Sustainability, Email: craig.pickering@athletics.org.au | Adam Didyk Pathways Transition Manager Email: adam.didyk@athletics.org.au | Steve Caddy Paralympic Technical Lead Email: steve.caddy@athletics.org.au |
