36ers launch SACE Schools Program

Ground-breaking new SACE program to develop essential skills for greater success in life

Leading emotional intelligence, resilience and leadership organisation XVenture to partner with Adelaide 36ers in landmark South Australian school initiative using a virtual world environment

From 2023, South Australian secondary school students will have their first opportunity to learn under the tutelage of a professional sporting organization whilst developing essential skills in emotional intelligence, resilience and leadership.

The Adelaide 36ers have partnered with XVenture to create the Adelaide 36ers & XVenture Schools Program. 

Aimed at improving student mental health and wellbeing, the program will equip young people with important life skills to thrive in their lives, so they have the confidence to achieve success in education, employment and life.

A revolutionary new South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) accredited program, backed by Flinders University’s sports research expertise, takes teachers and students into a unique Adelaide 36ers virtual learning world that encompasses a blend of immersive classroom and online-based activities, as well as connected outdoor experiential sessions.

The fully integrated program aims to equip young people with improved emotional intelligence, giving students important life skills for greater success and reduce growing levels of anxiety.

Students also get a rare insight into what’s involved in an elite sports organisation with subjects also including sports marketing and media, types of career opportunities as well as world-class health, well-being and nutrition understanding.

The program’s experiential and outdoor-based sessions are designed to be accessible to any student, with a focus on having a great time whilst learning in a team environment and putting into practice key learning on leadership, teamwork, and general well-being.

One in five Australian citizens will experience mental or behavioural conditions each year. According to findings from a recent national survey of mental health from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 20 per cent of Australians between the age of 16-34 experience varying high levels of mental distress.

The Adelaide 36ers & XVenture Schools program was established as both organisations identified a need within the community to positively impact the mindset of young people and develop important life skills to minimise the number of students Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).

Adelaide 36ers CEO Nic Barbato says the club is thrilled to be part of this initiative to give secondary school students the chance to develop essential skills for greater success beyond the classroom.

“The program will provide young people the opportunity to learn and develop essential skills that will assist them within their educational journey and help them with their employment aspirations,” Mr Barbato said.

“Over many years it has been identified that influencing and inspiring young people through positive role models, such as the Adelaide 36ers, can have a profound impact influencing change.

“Even if students aren’t basketball fans, it provides a unique engagement opportunity that can make a real difference in their lives”.

XVenture founder and CEO Mike Conway is an honorary professor in leadership and emotional intelligence, and a sought-after adviser and mental coach in business, education and elite sport.

Mr Conway is the current emotional intelligence and mental agility coach for the Australian men’s national soccer team, the Socceroos, as well as being a mentor to domestic and national team coaches in a variety of sports – including the 36ers and he and his XVenture team have a reputation for designing, producing and delivering world class immersive learning programs, including a high schools resilience program originally piloted in New South Wales schools.

“When Nic Barbato approached me with the idea of turning our existing high schools’ resilience and leadership program into a SACE accredited subject as part of a partnership I was thrilled,” Mr Conway said.

“For our team it has always been about supporting and finding opportunities for young people to develop essential skills. We’ve been searching for a great partner to realise this opportunity.

“I also applaud the SACE board for recognizing that developing essential skills is as important as some of the core subjects in the education curriculum.”

Teachers who are given the opportunity to lead and deliver this program in their school will be provided with world-class training and development delivered by Adelaide 36ers and XVenture key staff, as well as direct access to all the resources in the program.

Pulteney Grammar will be the first school in SA to implement the program and its principal Cameron Bacholer said the school and the club are part of the fabric of Adelaide.

“The opportunity for the XVenture partnership provides Pulteney Grammar students with access to the world-class environment of the 36ers and the chance for their learning to be active beyond the school gates,” Mr Bacholer said. “It is an exciting opportunity that we hope is just the beginning for our students.”

The Adelaide 36ers & XVenture Schools Program is being supported by Flinders University with Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) Professor Romy Lawson commenting that the program was a logical fit with Flinders’ extensive expertise in sport and wellbeing research.

 “As a leader in the field of sport and wellbeing, Flinders University are thrilled to come on board to lend our expertise to this program aiming to increase youth participation and positively benefit the participants’ physical and mental wellbeing. We look forward to working together to ensure the successful future of the program and its potential roll out across the SA public education sector,” Professor Lawson said.

Parents, teachers and principals can register their interest in the program here.

Watch a short introduction to the program here.