How EngageRM supports grassroots athletes with the Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund
21 March 2022
At EngageRM, we like to say that we are ‘born in sport’, and we know that grassroots competitions are just as important as the Olympics. Every competition is a step up on the ladder for emerging athletes, and we are inspired to help everyone engage and thrive within sport, at all levels.
This drive is illustrated by our team’s conscious effort to work within the community, from slicing oranges for youth games on Saturday mornings to linking up with charities to create better outcomes for local groups.
That is why our ongoing partnership with the Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund (SESF) has been a natural fit.
The SESF provides scholarships to Australian school students from low socioeconomic backgrounds who have been selected to represent their state at a national competition. Prior to 2022, only Victorian students were eligible for scholarships, but the foundation has expanded nationally this year, with all Australian students now eligible to apply.
The SESF provides a helping hand to students and their families, with as many as one in 10 athletes who are selected to represent their state facing financial constraints and barriers that may impact their ability to compete.
In addition to the scholarships, recipients can be mentored by athletes such as Olympians Mack Horton, Brooke Stratton and Bec Henderson.
Over the past five months, EngageRM has been working closely with the SESF to build a portal for athletes to submit their scholarship applications. The portal, which we launched last month, streamlines the application and decision-making process, with all the required elements now held in one place, rather than across multiple systems, as was previously the case.
“Everyone who works at the SESF are grateful for the time and energy that the team at EngageRM have put in to getting this portal up and running,” SESF Executive Director Nick Mooney says.
“With this portal, we can push our mission to help as many athletes as possible across Australia attend competitions and continue on their sport pathway. We are excited for what’s to come at the SESF and are grateful EngageRM are joining us on this journey.”
EngageRM CEO Ned Coten – a former professional basketballer himself – understands the importance of supporting athletes during their junior years.
“Helping athletes continue on their pathways through our work with the SESF is something the entire EngageRM team are proud of,” he says.
“The SESF is an outstanding foundation whose mission to help low socioeconomic athletes is both needed and admirable. Everyone at EngageRM is looking forward to working with the SESF to play a small part in helping these athletes.”
If you’d like to learn more about the SESF, please visit their website.
