University of Newcastle moving the world through sport

You don’t have to look far to see how sport strengthens our communities. Our passion for sport is central to our culture and shapes national discourse that is debated and displayed across news publications around the country. No matter the code, sport inspires us and connects our communities like nothing else.

Our University is deeply proud of our impact on sport in the Hunter region – we’re not just cheering from the sidelines, we’re actively contributing to the success and meaningful impact that sport has on our community and our students.

This belief is embedded in our University’s Global Sports Strategy, which outlines a bold vision for sport as a catalyst for community engagement, health, and excellence. It outlines how we will continue to support elite athletes, foster community participation, and contribute to the broader sporting ecosystem, not just in the Hunter, but on a national and global scale.

At the very top level, it begins with our strategic partnerships with elite teams that represent our region on national and international stages. These sporting partnerships provide our students with real-world experience in sports science, physiotherapy, media, and business, while also supporting research and innovation that helps athletes perform at their peak.

Our commitment goes beyond elite sport and this month, our University strengthened our commitment in this space, launching the Global Sport and Movement Collaborative (GSMC). Bringing together world-class expertise across sport, GSMC will transform lives and communities by promoting equitable participation, enhancing wellbeing, and optimising athletic performance.

The Global Sport and Movement Collaborative is a powerful example of how universities can lead change. By integrating cutting-edge research with real-world application, we are creating a platform that not only advances knowledge but delivers tangible benefits to our communities locally and globally.

Our University has the pedigree. We have been recognised globally for our sports-related research, ranking 39^th in the world*, and our partnerships with organisations such as the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) and Venues NSW, exemplifies our commitment to providing world-class sports education.

This collaboration with GIS and Venues NSW is a first-of-its-kind learning experience that will teach students from inside stadiums, like the SCG and Allianz Stadium, providing them with real-world insights into the operations of major sporting venues, events and organisations. We’re excited to be offering a Master of International Sports Business and a Master of Sports Analytics, along with a Graduate Certificate of Sports Analytics from our Sydney campus starting in 2026.

We’re excited to be a team training venue for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with four games hosted in Newcastle. And as part of an Australian tour in January 2026 our University will be hosting the Oxford University Blues, a world-leading amateur rugby team.

We’ve also had outstanding success with our elite athletes' program for students in the classroom and on the sporting field. Lainee Harrison is a great example of what success in nurturing student athletes looks like. Lainee is a proud member of the Paramatildas – Australia’s national women’s cerebral palsy football team – which secured the title of World Champions, all while Lainee achieved excellence in the classroom.

The GSMC brings all this together, leveraging this strength to deliver greater outcomes for research, our students and our communities.

We know that while our nation is a global leader in sport, there remains key challenges in access and equity. As the leading University in the country for equity, we have a keen focus on addressing these challenges through the GSMC, with programs promoting access and participation, as well as supporting physical, psychological and social wellbeing through movement.

We have teamed up with the NSW Department of Education, Enrichd Group and the Central Coast Mariners Football Club on a primary prevention program to promote respectful relationships among secondary school students on the Central Coast.

This is a great example of how we can harness the power of sport to address complex social issues and how community-focused research, supported by government and industry partners can drive global change and result in real-world impact.

With access to state-of-the-art facilities and a pipeline of high-achieving students and researchers, the University of Newcastle through the Global Sport and Movement Collaborative invites our partners from government, industry, and community sectors to join the movement and help us move the world.

Because when sport thrives, so do our communities.