St Kilda Football Club and Monterey Secondary College have teamed up to help the school create a unique football academy.
The Saints will help design a best-practice curriculum for the academy, which is set to have its first in-take of students in 2021.
The club’s team of academy coaches and high performance staff will be heavily involved in the program design and the rollout, as Monterey sets its sights to becoming a destination school in the Frankston region.
St Kilda GM of Community Lisa Laing said the partnership was a great opportunity to create a strong program for the region’s aspiring young footballers.
“We’re really excited to be playing such a key role in helping the school create a first class football curriculum,” she said.
“We look forward to working with the team at Monterey Secondary College to build a program that offers young boys and girls a really unique education and career pathway opportunity.”
Acting Principal at Monterey Secondary College, Peter Langham, said the program would provide an excellent platform for aspiring athletes.
"This select entry sports program will enable athletic students to develop their sporting talent while also receiving an excellent secondary school education in an integrated and supportive environment."
"We are very proud to be partnering with the St Kilda Football Club to deliver a high quality, tailor-made program for student-athletes specialising in Australian Rules. Our comprehensive program will increase select students sporting, academic and vocational opportunities and deliver a program tailored to their chosen sport."
Simon Hamilton, Area Executive Director of the Department of Education and Training, said the program would greatly benefit the Frankston Area.
"This is a very exciting time for the people of Frankston North as the Frankston North Education Plan starts to become a reality," he said.
"By working with remarkable partners such as the St Kilda Football Club we are building a world class education system that promotes excellence and improves education outcomes regardless of background or circumstances."
Paul Edbrooke MP, Member for Frankston, echoed Hamilton's thoughts.
“I am extremely proud to be involved in a community that has had one of the largest educational infrastructure programs implemented," he said.
"This partnership between the Frankston North Education Plan and the St Kilda Football Club is another win for the Frankston North Community.”
Click here to find out more about Monterey Secondary College's football academy.
