The Momentum Triathlon Academy is a Not-For-Profit organisation dedicated to working with young people between the ages of 12-24 to help give them momentum in their lives through the sport of triathlon. We recognise the problem of insufficient physical activity among young people as a significant public health issue in Victoria and Australia. We believe that regular physical activity is essential for preventing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes while improving mental well-being by reducing stress and anxiety. We are also concerned with lower participation rates amongst adolescents in organised sport, particularly amongst young females and young people with a disability.

We aim to inspire and empower young Victorians through our secondary school, university and community programs to foster lifelong health, resilience, and community engagement.  By delivering these programs, alongside inclusive training and racing opportunities for young people, the Academy will ensure more young people have the opportunity to remain active through their teenage years and beyond. This includes a commitment to removing barriers to participation, such as the high cost of events or training gear. Our performance pathway provides opportunities for young people (para or able-bodied) looking to take their triathlon to state, national and international levels, including Olympic Qualification or professional sport.

By donating, your donations will fund initiatives such as:

• Individual Athlete Support:  Despite a lot of focus on female and para participation in sport, there remains a significant drop-off in sports participation among both cohorts aged 15-24. Our goal is to keep as many young athletes as possible engaged in swimming, cycling and running activities by offering financial support to overcome barriers to their training and competition, particularly during these critical developmental years.

• Adventures in Nature: We want to challenge young athletes to try new things and adventure in the outdoors. Research shows the enormous health and wellbeing benefits of being active with others in nature. In our 2024 trail running pilot program, we saw participants spend less time on their phones, build relationships with other young people beyond the adventure itself and embrace fun challenges such as river crossings and running steep trails, all of which stretched their comfort zones. In 2025, we are looking to expand the program to offer a third trail adventure. These activities offer unique impacts and opportunities for our young athletes to connect with nature, build mental resilience, teamwork skills and create lasting memories with friends.

• Athlete Health and Wellbeing Support Network: This initiative will empower young athletes with the essential tools and resources to enhance their nutrition, sleep, recovery, and overall physical readiness. This will be the first program of its kind within a triathlon club, with in-depth engagement of athletes, parents and evaluation of the progress made throughout the year. Sponsorship will enable targeted workshops with experts in the areas of nutrition, sleep, sports psychology as well as regular body maintenance sessions throughout the year. Your donation will educate young athletes on key health topics such as nutrition, sleep, recovery and sports psychology, enabling a range of life skills amongst a key age group and demographic.

• ‘On Your Bike’ Program:  By supporting our ‘On Your Bike’ Program, your company will help us provide necessary equipment to young athletes, increase bike knowledge and safety whilst training. As the most expensive component of triathlon, this support has the potential to save families thousands of dollars in equipment and apparel costs, as well as giving young people job skills relevant to the bike industry.