Thursday, 29 May 2025

Northern Victoria Region

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (13:02): (1622) My question is to the minister for sport. The recent Bendigo Academy of Sport annual presentation night was a powerful reminder of what regional investment in youth sport can achieve. The academy has helped launch the careers of countless elite athletes and provided a vital pathway for young people to pursue their sporting dreams closer to home. Yet, despite the success of this model, the north-east remains the only region of Victoria without a dedicated academy of sport. Every other part of the state has access to this kind of support. Graham Gordon has led the Bendigo academy as executive officer for the past 15 years, and his parting request on his retirement is to see young athletes in the north-east receive the same opportunities as the rest of the state. Minister, will you commit to establishing an academy of sport in the north-east so our young athletes receive the same opportunities as young athletes in every other part of the state?