High Performance Centre of Excellence location announced

Hockey Australia (HA) is pleased to announce Hockey Western Australia (Hockey WA) as the successful bidder for the new High-Performance Centre of Excellence in Australia.

The $135 million investment by the WA State Government is the biggest in the sport’s history in Australia and will arguably be the best hockey facility in the world.

The Western Australian Government’s investment (through Hockey WA) will secure the delivery of the world’s best hockey development support systems and environment for athletes with a contemporary ‘one-stop-shop’ facility which will assist in the Australian national men’s and women’s teams staying at the top of world hockey.

HA President Ross Sudano said it’s a landmark day for the sport in Australia.

“Our athletes are already performing at a high level with the recent Men’s Olympic Silver Medal and Gold Medal for the seventh straight time at the Commonwealth Games, the Women’s Silver in the Commonwealth Games and Bronze medal at the FIH Women’s World Cup and the Hockeyroos being a finalist in the Team of the Year category for the 2022 AIS Sport Performance Awards,” Mr Sudano said.

“These are significant achievements and this investment will allow us to sharpen our focus on player welfare and a world class training environment. The Hockey WA commitment includes a new purpose-built facility which incorporates all the requirements set out by Hockey Australia.”

HA CEO David Pryles also celebrated the investment in athlete well-being along with the investment in infrastructure.

A new athlete travel allowance program will provide opportunities for athletes to remain connected to family and friends. And where possible undertake community and club engagements as role models for the next generation of players in their home bases.

Pryles also lauded the provision to provide and fund an ‘athlete wellbeing support role’ to be a ‘players concierge’ that supports athletes as they establish themselves and adjust to a change in their lifestyle.

“We recognise these arrangements will be quite different, with some athletes relocating and some being part of a hybrid program with short stays,” Mr Pryles said.

“We want to ensure we cater for all players’ circumstances. The outcome sought will be to ensure the best possible outcome for the player and their families.”

Five bids to host the High-Performance Centre of Excellence were received through the Expression of Interest process; from Hockey NSW, Hockey Queensland, Hockey ACT, Hockey Victoria and Hockey WA, demonstrating the deep level of support hockey has right across Australia.

“We thank all our Member Associations and their stakeholders who took the time and effort to submit a bid for the HP Centre,” Mr Sudano said.

“We were delighted by the passion and innovation contained in all the proposals with the five bids eventually narrowed down to three – Hockey ACT, Hockey Victoria and Hockey WA.

“More information was then supplied by the final three contenders, with the bid from Hockey WA considered superior when all selection criteria was considered.”

This selection criteria encompassed a range of requirements including improved athlete well-being support and initiatives, world-class facilities for athletes on and off the pitch, learning and developmental facilities, major event capabilities and funding viability.

Mr Sudano said Hockey Australia had done its utmost to ensure the selection process was impartial to guarantee the outcome represented the absolute best result for all stakeholders including athletes, staff, and fans.

“With the future of the High-Performance Centre now determined, the HA Board was encouraged by the participation in the process, as well as the growth and initiatives in the sport.”