Paris bound Olympians and Paralympians among 47 athletes receiving AIS Education Scholarship

Forty seven Aussie athletes striving to win well by balancing the demands of study and sport are the latest recipients of the AIS Athlete Education Scholarships (AES).

Ahead of Paris, the squad performed their Olympics routine at the Museum of Underwater Art on the Great Barrier Reef to raise awareness about conservation and climate change. Image: Mauro Barberis/Mauceano Pictures

Now in its fourth year in partnership with the John and Myriam Wylie Foundation, the successful recipients for 2024 includes nine athletes that’ll take part in the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, including:

• Putu Anastasia Kusmawan – Artistic Swimming / University of Melbourne, Bachelor of Science
• Emily Whitehead – Gymnastics / Deakin University, Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
• Benjamin Canham – Rowing / RMIT University, Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours)
• Caitlin Cronin – Rowing / University of New South Wales, Masters of Public Health
• Jean Mitchell – Rowing / Deakin University, Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
• Tobiah Goffsassen – Para rowing / University of Queensland, Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences (Honours)
• Ella Ramsay – Swimming / Central Queensland University, Bachelor of Psychological Science
• Alex Saffy – Para Swimming / University of Canberra, Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Banking)
• Matthew Byrnes – Water Polo / University of New South Wales, Bachelor of Commerce

The 2024 cohort are attached to 22 universities and TAFES and represent 19 different national sporting organisations.

Having spent much of her formative years in Indonesia, 19-year-old Kusmawan hopes to embark on a career in dentistry and share her skills and oral health knowledge around the world.

Rower Tobiah Goffsassen will make his Paralympics debut in Paris and will use the funding to support his goal of becoming a physiotherapist as a way to stay engaged with sport following his time as an athlete.

The AES program is delivered in partnership with the John and Myriam Wylie Foundation and the Australian Sports Foundation and supports high performance athletes by providing financial support towards their higher education.

Since launching in 2020, more than 165 athletes have benefited from the program and shared in over $488,000 going towards their education.

Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Executive General Manager of AIS Performance Matti Clements said the AES is a unique way to support athletes.

“We know that sport and study is a winning mix, and the Athlete Education Scholarship wants to make this as easy as possible,” Ms Clements said.

“At the AIS, we are supporting athletes to win not just on the field of play but also away from the sporting environment which is critical to the win well ethos as part Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.

“I’d like to thank the John and Myriam Wylie Foundation for their support and encourage everyone to consider how they can support our athletes to win well in all aspects of life.”

Former ASC Chair and Director of the John and Myriam Wylie Foundation, John Wylie AC sees the AES as a way for sport lovers to support young athletes at a crucial stage of their lives.

“I’ve long admired the commitment our athletes make in their pursuit of achievement at the top levels of their sport,” Mr Wylie said.

“It’s incredibly hard and competitive, and it takes courage, dedication, focus and resilience. The opportunity costs for young athletes can be very high at a time in their lives when their peers are busy advancing their careers.

“The AES enables anyone wishing to support these outstanding young Australians to invest in their futures by supporting their education, to help them prepare for success in life after sport. Even small contributions can make a big difference, as most young athletes face significant financial challenges.

“Myriam and I are delighted to provide leadership to this very worthwhile program. We congratulate the impressive young Australians who are part of the program this year and we look forward to following their careers, in and out of the sporting environment, for years to come.”

For more information about the Athlete Education Scholarship and ways you can support Australian athletes, click here.