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Monash signs historic agreement with Oceania Foundation

5 March 2008

(back) Former Olympian Cathy Freeman; Kevan Gosper AO, Chairman, Oceania Foundation; (front) Professor Stephanie Fahey, Deputy Vice Chancellor (International), Monash University; and Anne King, Executive Director, Oceania Foundation.

Monash University has signed an agreement with the Oceania Foundation which will see the Samsung Oceania Talent Identification Program rolled out across the Oceania region.

The Program, which measures and benchmarks an athlete's potential, is the principle of the Samsung Oceania Sports Development Initiative, which contributes to identifying and developing young athletic talent across the Oceania region.

Monash University is providing the education and research methodology for the program, which will ensure best practice in identification and education of sporting talent from athletes to coaches in the Oceania region. Sports Performance Unit team leader Andrew Robinson is heading up the Talent ID program.

Professor Stephanie Fahey, Deputy Vice Chancellor (International) said the Talent ID program would primarily focus on the athletic abilities of secondary school students in the Oceanic region.

"We are pleased to be involved in a program which has the potential to identify and nurture top athletes," Professor Fahey said.

"The Oceania Foundation is making important inroads in developing sports programs in the Pacific Islands and we look forward to working closely with them in this new partnership."

Chairman of the Oceania Foundation Kevan Gosper AO, said the program had the potential to grow sporting infrastructure and culture which would lead the development of world class athletes.

"This is an historical initiative for the promotion of sport in the Pacific region and a giant step in narrowing the technological gap that up until now has favoured athletes from developed nations," Mr Gosper said.

Samsung Electronics Australia Corporate Marketing general manager Kurt Jovais said the program would provide opportunities to make childrens' dreams a reality.

"This new initiative provides regional athletes with the chance to fulfil their athletic potential. We are proud to continue our support and commitment to the global sporting community," Mr Jovais said.

Former Olympian Cathy Freeman launched the Samsung Oceania Talent Identification Program in Vanuatu on 13 February and will investigate how the program might be rolled out in Australia through the Catherine Freeman Foundation.

Describing how the Samsung Oceania Talent Identification Programme might help young athletes in non-developed nations, the 400 metres gold medallist said she understood how these young athletes may benefit.

"I think it is an exceptional beginning to something that could be beyond their wildest imagination," Freeman said.

" I can relate to their perspective from an indigenous background. I am a good example of what you can do with little resources, but a lot of passion."