40 Under 40 winner reshaping youth sport 

This 40 Under 40 winner is discovering why young people drop out of youth sport and what needs to change to keep them feeling safer, healthier and involved for longer.

When children walk away from sport, it’s often not because they’ve lost interest in the game, but because the experience around it has failed them.

That’s the problem Associate Professor Sam Elliott, from the Flinders Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, and who was recently named a 40 Under 40 winner, is working to solve.

Associate Professor Elliott’s research is reshaping youth sport across South Australia and beyond. His work explores why young people drop out and what needs to change to keep them involved, pointing to mental health pressures, unsafe environments and the influence of parents and other adults.

His approach embeds research directly into the sporting system, working alongside clubs, government and organisations to develop new knowledge and solutions in real time.

That model is now influencing major policy and investment.

Research from Associate Professor Elliott and his team has supported South Australian Government priorities through the generation of evidence-based, sport re-engagement guidelines that have been incorporated into the $9.1 million ‘Power of Her’ grant funding program which seeks to boost participation for girls and young women. Nationally, the research is also supporting research priorities alongside the $1.36 million Play Well Research Unit guided by a global review funded by the Australian Sports Commission.

MORE: Not just surviving - thriving: How a 40 Under 40 leader is redefining cancer care

MORE: Seven ways science is changing lives - starting with fungi

For local communities, the impact is tangible.

Clubs are becoming better equipped to create safe, supportive environments. Parents are getting clearer support on how to positively shape their children’s sporting experiences, and programs are being redesigned to prioritise wellbeing as well as performance.

For Professor Elliott, the work isn’t just professional, it’s also personal.

“As a Korean-born Australian, I’ve experienced racism in sport personally and seen its impact on others,” Professor Elliott says. 

“Those experiences strengthened my commitment to creating culturally safe and accountable environments in sport and academia.”

Professor Elliott’s work has once again been recognised thanks to his award win which recognises South Australia's young entrepreneurs and leaders.

“By day I'm a researcher, and by night I'm a coach so this recognition is special because it acknowledges the value of bringing those two worlds together to create better outcomes for young people and communities,” he says.

Flinders University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Raymond Chan, who is also a Matthew Flinders Professor of Cancer Care, Systems and Policy at Flinders’ Caring Futures Institute, says the award reflects Flinders’ dedication to working alongside community to find solutions to everyday challenges.

“Professor Elliott’s work shows how research can be done collaboratively with industry and community to have a big impact. His work is changing lives for the better.

“Here at Flinders, we’re incredibly proud of the work and dedication from Professor Elliott to drive real change so this award win is a well-deserved reflection of that commitment.”

Professor Elliott says he’s hopeful the award win will connect him with other leaders he can learn from. 

“I've learned that meaningful change rarely comes from having better answers, it usually comes from asking better questions,” he says.

“What I'm most looking forward to is hearing how other leaders think about problems, because that's often where the most valuable learning begins.”

Top photo credit: Jack Fenby and InDaily