Bendigo Schools Engage 20,000 Students Through Linked Athletics Programs

Over 50 schools and 20,000 students in Bendigo annually use the Lar Birpa Athletics Complex for school sporting carnivals and training. This level of use shows how high school athletics sits at the centre of organised sport in the city.

Pathways Through the School Sport Victoria Calendar

Bendigo high school athletics primarily follows the School Sport Victoria calendar. Schools compete first in the Sandhurst Division, then move to the Loddon Mallee Region and, for some athletes, the State finals. The structure gives students a clear sequence from local events to higher-level competition without leaving the region.

Annual Sandhurst Athletics Carnival at Bendigo Regional Athletics Complex

Local secondary schools take part in the annual Sandhurst Athletics Carnival. All eleven local secondary schools are represented at the event, which is held at the Bendigo Regional Athletics Complex. The carnival brings together students from across the district on a single day and provides the main inter-school competition for the year.

Athlete Development Program at Crusoe College and Bendigo Senior Secondary College

The Athlete Development Program for Years 7-12 links classroom learning with sport. It offers select-entry training in Athletics (Track & Field) at multiple Bendigo colleges, including Crusoe College and Bendigo Senior Secondary College. Students combine regular schoolwork with structured coaching in the same facilities used by the wider school population.

Bendigo Harriers Athletics Club and Summer AVSL Competition

Bendigo Harriers Athletics Club hosts the summer AVSL competition from October to March. The competition is open to ages 12 and over and includes track and field events such as 100m, hurdles, long jump and shotput. Many students who begin through school carnivals continue into this club-run series once they reach the eligible age.

These connected elements, school access to the Lar Birpa Athletics Complex, the SSV competition ladder, the Sandhurst Athletics Carnival, the Athlete Development Program at named colleges, and the Bendigo Harriers summer series, create a continuous route from school sport into community athletics. Families seeking further involvement can contact their school for details on the Sandhurst Athletics Carnival or the Athlete Development Program, or visit the Bendigo Harriers Athletics Club for information on the AVSL competition.