THE ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 2025
The Athlete Development Program is a select-entry program available to all students enrolled (or intending to
enrol) at any of the Bendigo Education Plan Government Secondary Colleges. This includes Bendigo Senior
Secondary College, Bendigo South East College, Crusoe College, Eaglehawk Secondary College and Weeroona
College Bendigo. Students in year 7-12 are eligible to apply for the program.
All coaching and physical training is carried out by highly qualified and professional staff. Student-athletes are
required to meet certain academic and behavioural standards, attendance, and effort. All of these requirements
are identified in the Student-Athlete Agreement which every member of the program signs when accepting a
place in the program.
2025 SPORTS AVAILABLE
• Australian Rules Football (AFL)
• Athletics (Middle Distance and Sprints/Jumps)
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Cycling (EOI)
• Netball
• Soccer
COMPONENTS OF THE ADP
General Physical Preparation: General Physical Preparation (GPP) is the foundation for athletic development.
GPP develops physical conditioning in flexibility, mobility, strength, speed, agility, endurance and other
fundamental components of fitness. GPP plays an important role in injury prevention, rehabilitation and
reconditioning post injury.
Technical Squad: The Athlete Development Program’s Technical Squads are focused on providing an opportunity
for each student-athlete to develop, challenge, refine their skills and increase their understanding of their
chosen sport. The Technical squads train in the morning before school with our specialist and qualified coaches.
These sessions focus on skill acquisition, tactical development and game understanding.
Theoretical and Health Professional Content: Students will be exposed to a range of information, concepts and
health professional presentations throughout their ADP journey. To complement the delivery of VCAA
curriculum requirements, the ADP uses an accredited Sports Psychologist, Sports Dietitians, Physiotherapists,
and an Exercise Physiologist to deliver and inform theoretical content.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR MEMBER SCHOOLS
Athlete Development Program website: https://www.adp.vic.edu.au/
Application documentation will be available via the ADP website (above) and via the following contacts at their
respective colleges.
Bendigo Senior Secondary College – Dean Sheldrick Sheldrick.Dean@BSSC.EDU.AU
Bendigo South East College – Isaac Murphy Isaac.Murphy@education.vic.gov.au
Crusoe College – Nic Facey Nicholas.Facey@education.vic.gov.au
Eaglehawk Secondary College – Darcy Richards Darcy.Richards@education.vic.gov.au
Weeroona College Bendigo – Liam Ireland Liam.Ireland@education.vic.gov.au
2025 APPLICATION TIMELINE
Applications Open: 26th July
Applications Close: 30th August
Physical Testing: 18th September (sessions are approximately 1 hour and scheduled throughout the day)
Technical Squad Trials: 7th October – 18th October
Outcome Notification: 8th November