A QUEENSLAND first new sports development program in Ipswich has received high praise in Parliament, with State Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard calling it a “revolutionary” step forward for the region’s young athletes.
The Ipswich Regional Sports Academy (IRSA), launched earlier this year, is already making an impact by supporting aspiring athletes who face financial, social or geographic barriers on their journey to elite competition.
“We have an amazing wealth of sporting talent in Ipswich,” Ms Howard told Parliament.
“But there are some kids who need extra support to reach their full potential. These kids face barriers that prevent them from achieving sporting success.”
Reflecting on the rise of Gout Gout, one of the world’s brightest young track stars, Ms Howard said he was just one example of the talent coming out of the region.
“Ipswich has many more young outstanding athletes like Gout who have set their sights on Brisbane 2032,” she said.
IRSA is a joint initiative between Bremer State High School and the University of Southern Queensland (USQ). The program is designed for primary and secondary school students who are already competing at regional, state, or national levels – or who show strong potential to do so.
“Students are provided with the skills, support, and mentoring required to excel across all sporting domains,” Ms Howard said.
“It’s about more than just training – it’s about building resilience, balancing education, and encouraging long-term ambitions to compete internationally.”
The academy already has 56 students enrolled, who have completed more than 1500 individual gym sessions since Term 1 began.
Those behind the successful initiative include Bremer SHS’s Director of Sport Michael Seiler; IRSA Director of Athletic Development Jack Pope; and USQ Director of High-Performance Sport Stephen Bird.
“They are enthusiastic champions for this program and are looking forward to working with the finest young athletes from across Ipswich,” Ms Howard said.
She Ms Howard noted that athletes often peak in their mid-20s – meaning today’s high schoolers could be at their best by the time the Brisbane 2032 Olympics arrive.
“They now have a great program like IRSA that gives them a really good shot at reaching that goal,” she said.
“It is revolutionising the way we train young athletes.”
