Sport partnerships
Get hands-on learning with our prestigious sporting partners
Learn in the real world from academics who are experts in their field. From AFL, netball, basketball and cricket, to football, swimming and tennis, our partnerships offer you unparalleled access to further your studies and get your career off to a great start.
What our industry partnerships mean for you
We’ve fostered industry relationships that matter so you have access to a range of unique placements from a network of over 150 industry connections.
Industry placements and research collaborations
Collaborate with our partners to advance sport science, high performance and sport management. Look forward to exciting placement opportunities with organisations across Victoria, including:
- athlete management, communications, events and championships placements at Netball Victoria and the Melbourne Vixens
- strength and conditioning, nutrition and performance technology placements at the Geelong Cats
- exercise science, sport management, media and graphic design at Eastern Football League clubs.
Access industry partner state-of-the-art facilities
Enjoy access to facilities at GMHBA Stadium, home of the Geelong Cats, including the gymnasium, theatre and high-performance facilities for course practicals, video capture, seminars and meetings.
Contribute to the professionalisation of women's sport
Challenge, change and advance the sport industry by raising the profile of women in sport. Get involved in strengthening relationships with communities and partners.
#1 school of sport science in Australia
Our School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences is ranked the #1 school of sport science in the world for five years running by the ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments 2021–2025, making Deakin the leader in progressive, real-world sport education.
What’s it like on a sport industry placement?
Ever wondered what it’s like to work for the Geelong Cats? Hear from Deakin sport students, Rowan, and Mikayla as they share their internship experience in high performance and management during the 2023 AFLW Season.
Immerse yourself in the sporting industry
Get hands-on professional experience in a variety of leading sports organisations. Deakin’s industry partnerships span the full range of sports and related fields:
Deakin proudly supports Australia's leading women's sport as the official education partner of:
- Melbourne Vixens
- Netball Victoria
- The Netball Victoria Schools Championship
- Netball Victoria's schools and youth development programs.
Deakin is the official education partner of the Geelong Cats. This long-standing partnership was enhanced when Deakin became a co-major partner of the Cats AFLW team for its inaugural season in 2019.
Deakin is the official education partner of the prestigious Sport Australia Hall of Fame. This partnership, established in 2024, creates opportunities for thought leadership, enriches student experiences, and champions the advancement of women in sport.
Deakin is a support partner of the Mapei Cadel Evans Ocean Road Race, Australia's premier international cycling event, held annually across Victoria's Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula regions.
Our partnership with the Eastern Football League allows us to work with them to improve female participation and engagement in sport and physical activity. It also allows Deakin to further its support of community-wide participation in sport and physical activity among those living in the eastern region of metropolitan Melbourne.
Barwon Sports Academy (BSA) is part of the Victorian Regional Academies Sport Group. Deakin is the official apparel sponsor for BSA and has a reciprocal training and program development collaboration with the academy. We proudly support the education programs for program managers to access nutritional advice, sports psychology and injury prevention – as well as other educational benefits for athletes in their program.
Belmont High School’s BioLAB promotes excellence and innovation in science and mathematics education. BioLAB joined forces with Deakin to create and deliver a program called 'The Winning Edge', offered to secondary school students at the Deakin Waurn Ponds Campus.
Partnerships in action
Geelong Cats AFL team at GMHBA Stadium
Geelong Cats AFLW team at GMHBA Stadium
Melbourne Vixens
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
Connect with industry
We’re recognised as an international leader in sport education, and this has helped us to build an extensive network of industry connections.
