The partnership between Victoria University and Melbourne Victory was formed in 2017, with a focus on VU providing sport science and performance support for the Melbourne Victory Academy teams.

In September 2019, we celebrated the expansion of the partnership with the announcement of Victoria University as the Official University and Major Partner of Melbourne Victory Football Club.

The collaboration provides further opportunities for VU to engage, connect and collaborate with the local community. In addition, it will continue to provide a range of unique learning experiences for current and prospective Victoria University students in areas including research and professional development.

VU & Melbourne Victory: Leaders in Sport - Transcript

Student opportunities & placements

Victory University students have the exciting opportunity to work with the biggest football club in Australia. They will learn from the best in an elite sporting environment. This will help our students to finish their courses career-ready, with invaluable industry contacts.

Our graduate students in Master of Sport and Exercise Science are eligible for Melbourne Victory Academy internships.

Undergraduate students in sport science, coaching and sport management can take part in placements as part of the Melbourne Victory Academy sport science and performance program.

"VU has a strong reputation for sports research, course delivery and world-class facilities, and we work closely with industry partners in elite sport.

The opportunity to gain practical work experience while completing my undergraduate studies was important, as I was eager to begin working in the field immediately." 

- Adam Cox, Master of Sports Science (Football Performance) graduate.

Our students have taken placements and found employment in various roles with Melbourne Victory Football Club such as:

  • strength and conditioning coach
  • video analyst
  • performance analysis coordinator
  • U15 team manager and assistant sports scientist.

"At the end of my bachelor degree I knew I wanted to further my studies in sport science, being able to do this at VU was great.

VU’s connections and partnerships have allowed me to undertake placements in sports that were suited to what I wanted to do; specifically, the Football Federation of Victoria and Melbourne Victory. This has led me to create contacts with professionals in the industry that I can learn from now and into the future."

Read Sharna's story.

Sharna Naidu undertook a placement and began her sports science career at Melbourne Victory. Read Sharna's story.

Samuel Dunn, Master of Sports Science (Football Performance) student honed his skills at Melbourne Victory. Read Sam's story.

VU Breakthrough Wes Clarke (Sport Science) - Transcript

Elite sport programs & world-class facilities

Melbourne Victory benefits from Victoria University's skills, knowledge and experience working with elite sporting organisations. We offer the team our expertise in sport science, high-performance coaching and sport management.

Our sporting partners have access to VU’s state-of-the-art sport and exercise training and research facilities.

Melbourne Victory’s football players are also be eligible for our elite student athletes program, which supports elite athletes to study while maintaining a high-level sporting career.

"We are thrilled to be working with Australia's leading Sports University for the next five years, and we're looking forward to building a strong and sustainable partnership with VU.

"We will truly benefit from the access to VU's coaching, sport science and high performance programs, and we're pleased to be able to offer VU's students an opportunity to experience working in an elite sporting organisation."

Melbourne Victory CEO, Ian Robson

Athlete on an exercise bike at our Footscray Park Campus physiology lab.

Industry expertise

Being one of the most industry-connected institutions in Australia, VU provides opportunities for students to gain industry expertise through our many partnerships.

VU’s Dr Fabio Serpiello, Head of Academy Performance and Sport Science, leads the sport science and performance program with Melbourne Victory Academy Director, Paulo Cardoso. Students will benefit directly from Fabio’s industry knowledge in the Bachelor of Sport Science and Master of Sport Science (Football Performance).

Adrian Juniper loves that he has the opportunity to work with industry leaders and professionals at the top of their game.

"I chose VU because of its reputation as the sports university.

I've learned that practical experience in the field is just as valuable as class work. Industry placements give students the chance to get on-the-job experience while studying. Working closely with people whose job you aspire to do is an enjoyable way to learn."

Adrian Juniper, Bachelor of Sport Sport Science (Exercise Science) graduate.

Contact

To find out more about this partnership, please contact:

Michael Clayton
Manager, Industry, Community and Sport Engagement
Phone: +61 3 9919 6318
Email: [email protected]

So you want to work in the sport industry?

The workplace experience VU students are offered is a major factor in their ability to successfully transition into the industry as graduate employees. They already have the skill set to assimilate quickly and adapt to team structures.

Rob Sherman — General Manager Technical and Coaching, Melbourne Victory FC
Work placement benefits