Sport clubs

Impact of Giving

Help our athletes and clubs to thrive

Adelaide University Sport (AU Sport), and our sporting clubs, promote healthy, active lifestyles and athletic excellence for our students, alumni, and children across the South Australian community. Sport enriches education by building physical health, mental resilience, and academic performance, while also fostering teamwork, discipline, and leadership – skills that prepare students for success on and off the field.

Our clubs play a vital role by:

  • offering universal access to sport
  • fostering sporting excellence
  • cultivating athletes who represent the University, state, and country.

Among the many club athletes who have gone on to represent at the highest level in their sport are Olympian and World Champion rower, Amber Halliday; Australian rower, Nick Blackman; and AFLW player, Ebony O'Dea, who began her football career playing for the Adelaide University Football Club.  

Through our Elite Athlete Program, AU Sport has also supported an impressive roster of athletes — from Commonwealth Games beach volleyball player Paul Burnett and Olympic cyclists Maeve Plouff, Sophie Edwards and Thomas Cornish, to track athlete Aidan Murphy, former Port Adelaide Captain Tom Jonas, and Olympic rower Olympia Aldersley — as well as many others who have competed nationally and internationally.

To continue this important work, our sporting clubs urgently need support to purchase equipment, develop programs, provide scholarships, and upgrade facilities.

Your gift to the University Sports Fund will directly invest in students and athletes, helping them thrive in their studies, their sport, and their future, while strengthening the role of sport in our University community.

In 1896, the Adelaide University Sports Association (now AU Sport and Fitness Association) was established. Today, AU Sport and Fitness has 43 clubs under its umbrella and manages three on campus gyms and seven venues across South Australia.

AU Sport and Fitness has an independent board and takes great pride in promoting a healthy lifestyle for the University community on and off campus.

Established in 1881, our Boat Club is one of Australia's oldest rowing institutions. The club proudly counts both state and national representatives among its membership. Adelaide University Boat Club members strive for excellence and are renowned for their dedication to their sport. 

Your gift today will support the purchase of new boats and fund shed space for equipment storage.

Founded in 1907, the Adelaide University Cricket Club (AUCC) has a proud history as one of the longest established clubs of the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA). The AUCC also fields four teams in the Adelaide Turf Cricket Competition (ATCC) and one Women's SACA 2nd grade T20 and One Day Team. The club offers opportunities for players of all levels to participate.

Your gift today will support coaching development, offer scholarships to promising student players to progress them to representative honours, and to purchase equipment including helmets and starter kits for students.

Formed in 1906, the Adelaide University Football Club fields ten senior teams across the men's SA Amateur Football League, and the SA Women's Football League.

Your gift today will support the purchase of equipment.

With origins dating back to the 1920’s, the Adelaide University Gliding Club aims to make the sport of gliding as accessible and affordable as possible for members who share a passion for this sport.

Your gift will support the purchase of equipment.

The Adelaide University Gridiron Club prides itself on its inclusive culture, with players of all skill levels and experience offered the chance to participate.  The club is Australia's most successful gridiron (American football) club, with 27 premierships since the Gridiron League of South Australia was formed in 1985.

Your gift today will support the purchase of equipment.

Adelaide University Gymnastics Club facilitates the development and maintenance of gymnastics skills for adult gymnasts (16+), at the level and pace of each individual, in a safe, family-friendly environment.

Your gift today will support the purchase of equipment to support student engagement and participation.

The Adelaide University Hockey Club was established in 1912 and is one of South Australia's oldest continuing hockey clubs. With more than 250 members, the club proudly fields teams ranging from under 11 mixed teams, through to men's and women's teams competing in the Premier League – the highest level of competition in South Australia. 

Your gift today will support the replacement of the pitch to Poligras surface by Polytan. In addition, you will be helping to maintain the grounds in West Beach and providing development opportunities to talented players.

Established in 1956, the Judo Club offers training for beginners to advanced players, catering to those who are interested in taking up judo as a sport, for fitness, or as a martial art. The Judo Club is proud that 75% of its members are current students. 

Your gift today will support the hire of a dedicated facility with a suitable and permanent mat area. 

One of the University's newer clubs, the Adelaide University Motorsport Club was established in 2015 to provide a hub for motorsport enthusiasts on campus, and to provide support for the continuation of the Formula SAE team which was formed in 2001.

Comprising of students from every year level and multiple disciplines including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Business and more, each year the club competes in the Formula SAE Australasia competition – the world’s largest student engineering competition. The aim of the project is to design and manufacture a formula-style, open-wheeled vehicle to successfully perform in the competition.

Your gift will support the purchase of uniforms and apparel, equipment (including tools and materials) for manufacturing the vehicle, and registration costs for the annual competition (FSAE-A in Victoria)

Founded in 1967, the Scuba Diving Club welcomes members of all levels of experience, from beginners who love to snorkel to diving instructors.

The club offers dive and snorkel trips year-round and discounted equipment hire. 

Your gift today will support the ongoing maintenance of the boat and towing vehicle, in addition to training and equipment.   

As the University's largest sporting club, the Adelaide University Soccer Club proudly hosts more than 30 teams for men, women, and junior girls and boys. Led by experienced coaches and growth-orientated thinkers, the club offers players of all levels of experience the chance to play.

Founded in 1936, the club proudly supports a range of innovative junior programs to encourage young Australians to stay active. 

Your gift today will support the purchase of equipment and help fund projects that support the growth of junior and women’s programs. 

The Adelaide University Waterski Club has been offering students and the broader South Australian community the opportunity to develop their water sports skills since 1963.

The club hosts several events every year in Murray Bridge and Morgan. 

Your gift today will support the purchase of vital equipment including life jackets, wetsuits and helmets, ropes, skis and wakeboards.

Plans are in place for the Waite Clubrooms to undergo major redevelopment as part of the proposed masterplan for the Waite Oval. The proposed new 1,100m2, clubrooms will offer participants four new unisex changerooms, adjoining showers and toilets, a high-performance gym, recovery facilities, referee rooms, and a first-aid room.

The proposed first stage of the redevelopment will also see new social spaces including a function room, bar, café, kitchen, grandstand and public toilet facilities. This stage is estimated to cost $10M, of a $20M total project. The following proposed stages of the project will see the adjacent playing fields completely resurfaced, with a new irrigation system installed. High lux sports lighting will illuminate the perimeter and keep the games going well after dark, offering more and safer training opportunities. A new bitumen car park is also proposed to be added.

Michelle Wilson, CEO of Adelaide University Sports and Fitness Association, hopes the broader community will continue to use the space to walk their dogs or kick the footy with kids, because it's a beautiful spot. 

“In the new facility we'll have a café offering, with revenue helping future-proof the clubs that use that space. This will also allow the sports association to maximise the venue’s potential and connect the community into campus in a positive way,” she said. “It will improve the student experience and offer a place for alumni to reconnect.”

Kim Evans has been involved in rugby for 25 years, and with University sports for 10 years, and is excited about what this redevelopment means for the future. “The Waite Campus is the jewel in the crown. It's internationally recognised for its world class research and teaching. When Peter Waite gifted this wonderful site to the University in 1913, he specifically set aside this corner for University sport – quality sporting facilities were part of his grand vision for the precinct. This project will help this amazing campus reach its broader potential,” she said.

“We’re a big community, including students, adults, kids, all genders, all sexualities, and many different cultures. It isn’t just about running around with a ball on Saturdays; we're creating a welcoming, healthy space for everyone, not just in terms of getting out there and becoming fit and strong, but also for growing as a person in emotional and psychological safety,” Kim said.

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