The Australian sports tech industry currently employs more than 13,000 people and as the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games draw closer, it’s an industry that’s set to keep thriving.
To help create jobs of the future, Sunshine Coast Council has joined forces with Sports Tech College.
This unique collaboration will help the region’s primary and secondary schools access a sports technology, sports digital and sports innovation curriculum.
Schools can access the council-funded program over the next three years.
Tech-driven stepping stone to new opportunity
The initiative will provide a stepping stone for young people considering further study and careers in a range tech-driven areas, such as sports performance analytics, wearable technology and digital health.
The program forms part of Council’s legacy ambitions towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and includes creating sports tech expertise and future sports entrepreneurs within Australia.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli says the program will inspire students and create jobs – both before and after the 2032 Games.
“Technology, data, IoT and AI are some of the fastest growing tech industry sectors within sports, health, gaming and entertainment,” says Natoli.
“We are committed to building future-ready, world-class students who understand the real-world today and the opportunities of tomorrow.
“The micro-credential program aligns with the Council’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the local economy with tech education highly relevant for our emerging knowledge and digital economies identified in the Sunshine Coast Regional Development Strategy 2013-2033.”
How the program will roll out
The full-year elective curriculum program Sports Technology Towards 2032 will be made available to all schools and teachers within years five-six (primary school) and years seven-10 (secondary school) within the Sunshine Coast region.
It’s a partnership that offers Sunshine Coast schools the opportunity to collaborate with the Sports Tech College to deliver specialised courses that cover a wide range of topics, including sports analytics, wearable technology and digital health.
Once the program is completed, these micro-credentials will enhance students’ knowledge and prepare them for further university studies and future careers in a rapidly growing sector.
SportsTech has been identified in the Queensland Government’s Elevate 2042 Legacy Strategy as an important component of leveraging the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to create jobs for the future.
This initiative with Sports Tech College has the potential to grow the capacity of local businesses and start-ups on the Sunshine Coast and to develop the skills of our future workforce.
A growing industry with a promising future
According to the Australian Sports Technologies Network Sports Innovation Report, the Australian sports tech industry is thriving, valued at approximately $4.25 billion annually.
The sector is being driven by advancements in technology and an increasing demand for data-driven insights in sports performance, wearable technology and digital platforms.
Phase 1 of the new school curriculum program will be delivered between 2024-2026 by Sports Tech College, an Australian-based sports, entertainment and gaming technology education business.
Through comprehensive programs and resources, the institution aims to empower individuals to engage with cutting-edge technology, fostering a global community of learners who are equipped to drive positive change and innovation in the ever-evolving landscape of sports.
Sports Tech College started in Melbourne to solve the problem that industry education was too slow, too expensive and unnecessarily complex. Its Online Library is a world-first platform to access cutting-edge industry reports and intelligence in Sports, Entertainment, Gaming and Health — this helps save time, save money and accelerate learning.
Job-ready learning
Sports Tech College founder Matt Dobell says the Sunshine Coast offers two outstanding opportunities to leverage towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – the Sunshine Coast International Broadband Network, which provides the fastest connection from the east coast of Australia to Asia, and access to a high speed/low latency WiFi 6 Network for testing new technology in a real-world environment.
“These both offer significant opportunities for sports technology sector entrepreneurs and educators like us,” Dobell says.
“Teaching today’s school students practical, job-ready knowledge and digital practice is critical to their development and understanding of future technologies and possibilities.
“Working with Sunshine Coast Council, we have been able to customise content so that all school students can explore, celebrate and build sustainable solutions through the lens of sports technology, giving them a natural competitive edge when preparing for their future careers.
“Imagine, by 2032, having thousands of young professionals and volunteers from the Sunshine Coast with a deep respect and passion for sports technology and digital transformation.
“This is an opportunity for teachers and schools to have made a meaningful, lasting contribution to our next generation of leaders for Queensland and Australia”.
