On October 27 2022, the university hosted the inaugural ACU Sport and Performer Awards. The event symbolised a unique celebration of ACU spirit, acknowledging the incredible achievements of our elite student and alumni athletes, performers and sporting community.
The evening, held in Melbourne Campus’s magnificent Cathedral Hall, welcomed a host of nationally and internationally awarded Australian sporting and performing heroes, Olympians, Paralympians, world champions, AFL and NRLW stars. The university honoured not just our sporting club, volunteer, official and team of the year, including two-time Indigenous UniSport Nationals champions, but 21 of ACU’s first ever Blues Award recipients.
After the awards presentation, a panel featuring Ellie Cole, Ashley Waterman and Jarryn Geary shared some moving, insightful and humbling stories and opinions around leadership, resilience and the value of the Elite Athlete and Performer Program (EAPP).
The evening showcased some of the EAPP’s talented performers including the hilarious musings of voice actor and MC of the night, Barnaby Pollok, a heart-lifting melody by four-time ARIA nominated singer-songwriter Jasmine Rae, and a finale performance by our very own punk princess Azure, or Ashley Waterman.
This award recognises outstanding sporting achievement combined with academic excellence. Award recipients will have displayed high-level sporting/performing achievements while maintaining a significant study load and high academic results.
GPA 6.59.
Bachelor of High Performance Sport.
Bronze in Judo at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
GPA 6.69.
Bachelor of Physiotherapy.
Swam at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and World Short Course Championships.
GPA 6.0.
Bachelor of Physiotherapy.
Professional NRLW player for the Sydney Roosters and the NSW Blues.
This award recognises an exceptional performance by an elite student-athlete with disability (AWD) at a world championships event or other significant international or national para event. Performance is not related to a university sport event.
This award recognises an exceptional performance by an Indigenous elite student athlete or performer at an Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, world championships or other significant national or international event.
The Sport Club of the Year must demonstrate success in an external competition, have high levels of student membership, have maintained a positive club culture, and boast a strong presence and level of involvement in life on campus.
The ACU Sport Team of the Year recognises the sporting achievement/s of a university sport team at an event or competition.
ACU FC won two premierships in 2022. Five out of six teams made the finals. The club boasts 130 members in total including student, alumni and community members.
UniSport Indigenous National champions two years in a row. Second in basketball, second in touch rugby, third in volleyball, third in netball. The team comprised of students from six different campuses who represented their Indigenous heritage and the university with great pride.
This award recognises the achievement/s of a sport official who has made a significant contribution to the success of a sport person, team, competition or program associated with ACU Sport.
This award recognises a volunteer for their outstanding contribution, commitment and dedication to building the capacity of sport and/or a specific sport club or program.
A Blue is awarded in recognition of a student athlete/performer or alumni who has represented Australia or performed at an international or benchmark event while maintaining their academic studies.
A Blue in the sport of rowing.
Bachelor of Paramedicine.
Bronze medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Senior member of the Australian Rowing Team.
A Blue in the sport of swimming.
Bachelor of Physiotherapy.
Gold medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 4 x 100m mixed medley relay.
World Short Course Championships 2022.
A Blue in the sport of judo.
Bachelor of High Performance Sport.
Bronze medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Bronze medal at the European Cup in Romania.
A Blue in musical performance.
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). Billboard-charting pop punk artist as Azure.
National and international headline tours in 2022.
A Blue in the sport of swimming.
Bachelor of Physiotherapy.
Three-time Paralympic gold medallist, eight time world championships gold medallist, Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
Former world record holder in the S9 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle events.
A Blue in the sport of diving.
Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science.
Bronze medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Gold medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
A Blue in the sport of swimming.
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy.
Member of the 2022 Commonwealth Games swimming team.
Silver medallist in the Australian National Championships.
A Blue in the sport of athletics.
Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science (Honours).
Silver medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Australia’s number one 20km race walker.
A Blue in the sport of water polo.
Graduate Certificate in Religious Education, graduated 2019.
Bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships.
2020 Tokyo Olympian.
A Blue in the sport of swimming.
Bachelor of Exercise and Health Science, graduated 2019.
Six gold, five silver and six bronze medals at the Paralympics.
Three gold, three silver and four bronze medals at the world championships.
One silver and three bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games.
A Blue in the sport of rugby sevens.
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy.
Gold medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Professional NRLW player with St George Illawarra.
Member of the Australian Rugby League World Cup team.
A Blue in the sport of Australian rules football.
Bachelor of Commerce, graduated 2019.
207 games played for St Kilda Football Club.
Captain of St Kilda FC from 2017 – 2021.
A Blue in the sport of ultimate frisbee.
Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Exercise Science.
Silver medallist at the International World Games with the Australian Mixed Ultimate Frisbee team.
Voted player of the tournament at the 2022 International World Games.
A Blue in the sport of cricket.
Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport Leadership.
Member of the Australian T20 World Cup squad.
Professional Big Bash League contract with the Melbourne Renegades.
A Blue in the sport of rugby league.
Bachelor of Business Administration, graduated 2020.
Played 176 NRL games across two clubs: South Sydney and Sydney Roosters.
Clive Churchill medallist in the 2018 NRL Grand Final.
Has represented NSW, Australia and Ireland between 2017 and 2022.
A Blue in the sport of Australian rules football.
Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science.
87 ALF games across two clubs: North Melbourne and St Kilda.
Presented with the Robert Harvey Best Clubman award at the St Kilda Best and Fairest Awards in 2022.
A Blue in the sport of rugby league.
Bachelor of Commerce.
Played in 102 NRL games with the Sydney Roosters.
Member of the 2020 NRL academic team of the year.
Selected as part of the Prime Minister’s XIII in 2022.
A Blue in the sport of cricket.
Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport Leadership.
Gold medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Member of the World Cup-winning team in 2022.
A Blue in the sport of hockey.
Bachelor of Nursing, graduated 2009.
222 games for the Senior Australian Hockey team.
Dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
Silver medallist at the 2009 Champions Trophy.
A Blue in the sport of karate.
Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology.
Member of the Australian Karate team.
Silver medallist at the Commonwealth Championships.
A Blue in the sport of cycling.
Bachelor of Exercise Science, graduated 2011.
Professional cyclist with Canyon/SRAM Racing.
Member of the Australian Cycling team for the tour of NZ and Tour of Qatar in 2010.
National Criterium and Road Race winner.
