Page 27 - Tropic Magazine Issue 29

TROPIC • EDUCATION

Strong bond

SPORTING ACADEMICS
CQUniversity Cairns
celebrates a decade of
partnership with the Snakes.

This NBL season marks the tenth Over the past decade, the partnership
anniversary of CQUniversity’s has blossomed into so much more than
partnership with the Cairns Taipans. a major sponsorship – it has brought
The University first bonded with the with it some wonderful community
franchise in 2012 when the CQUniversity engagement opportunities.
Taipans Academy was re-established. Through its partnership with the Taipans, Cairns Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft
“CQUniversity first became involved CQUniversity was able to launch its said the club was pleased with how the
with the Cairns Taipans through the Exercise and Sport Sciences degree in partnership with CQUniversity had
resurrection of the Taipans Academy – Cairns that sees students embedded evolved and grown over the past decade.
a program that provides professional within a national, professional
basketball coaching and development sporting team.
to elite junior basketball players in the “Our Sport Science students have access I think it has surpassed
Cairns region,” CQUniversity Associate to the full resources and expertise
Vice-President (Far North Queensland) of a professional sports team in the all of our expectations in
Ms Jodie Duignan-George said. CQUniversity Cairns Taipans and the terms of the synergies
“Many members of the CQUniversity course is offered out of the purpose-built
Taipans Academy have gone on to sports science laboratory at the Cairns and success
play professionally for the Taipans Basketball Association facility Mark Beecroft,
and have explored options related to on Aumuller Street,” Ms Duignan- Cairns Taipans CEO
university study. George said.
The relationship between CQU and the “None of that would have been
Taipans not only grew into a naming achievable had we not had this successful “While initially (the partnership) was
rights sponsorship but has provided both partnership with the Taipans.” established to provide Australian athletes
organisations with much more than a The course structure sees students and with a track to professional basketball
branding opportunity. researchers working alongside Taipans without having to go overseas and
players, coaching and professional staff undertake scholarships in the USA
college system, it has since developed into
to ensure graduates are industry-ready
after real life experience in working with providing genuine pathways for many
young players and grassroots participants
a professional sports organisation.
Lecturer in Exercise and Sport Sciences, connected to basketball across various
levels,” Mr Beecroft said.
Dr Joshua Guy said this had involved “This is brilliant for Cairns as we have
research by PhD and Masters students
investigating areas such as sleep, recovery such a large basketball community, with
so many people involved in the sport
and game performance.
“We have also had undergraduate in different areas. Even the Taipans
administration team have undertaken
students embedded with the team studies in subjects of Business,
throughout the season, assisting with
strength and conditioning, fitness Accounting and Education.”
testing, and monitoring of player
wellness,” Dr Joshua Guy said. MORE: cqu.edu.au

25 • tropicnow.com.au