We are extremely proud of the Team WA Pathway Program, culture and experience, and we are excited to continue to support our young WA triathletes in the 2026-27 season.
This season we are introducing a new layer to our program, called the Team WA Academy, which is designed for our younger athletes (DOB 2013-14) and any slightly older athletes that are very new to the sport. The Academy program will provide opportunities for these athletes to learn, make friends and have lots of fun through regular skill development focussed training sessions designed to build their skills and confidence without any pressure or expectations.
This foundation layer of the program was added based to our Pathway program to align with on the Australian Sports commission Athlete Development Framework, which aims to build a more holistic athlete pathway that ensures developmentally appropriate support for every participant. Based on that, the focus for each of our groups within Team WA will be:
- Academy: Deliberate play – foundation skill development, race play, community & fun
- Squads – Deliberate practice – development of skills under pressure and fatigue. Education support and community focus with occasional performance goals
- Futures- Specialise to perform. Additional support around performance focus and preparation for next steps.
We will continue to be one team, TEAM WA, with each layer overlapping so we stay connected while ensuring athletes are getting the most suitable development opportunities in the best environment for them to enjoy them.
Registration will open for Team WA in line with our 2026-27 season starting on July 1st and first round registration will close on Tuesday 21st July.
As part of the registration process all Team WA Athletes must confirm that they:
- Hold an AusTri Standard or Premium membership for the 2026-27 season
- Are a resident of WA
- Have access to a road bike
- Athletes must also agree to, and sign, the relevant Athlete Agreement which will also be shared and linked on our website on July 1st.
There is a levy of $170 (plus GST) to be involved in Team WA and this payment will be required as part of the registration process. The levy helps cover the cost of running the program and the cost has remained unchanged from last season thanks to the generous support of the Triathlon WA board. There is also a regional subsidy available for any athletes outside the Perth metropolitan area.
If the levy is a barrier for participation for any athletes or families, or if you have any questions about the program, please reach out to our Athlete and Coach Development Manager, Janine Kaye, Janine.kaye@wa.triathlon.org.au
The link for the second round of applications will be shared closer to that date and will also be active on the Junior Development page of our website.
More Information About the Futures Squad and Target Talent Program (TTP)
These programs offer additional support for Team WA athletes born in the years 2004 – 2011 that are keen to progress to the high performance pathway.
- Futures is a state program designed to support athletes who have demonstrated potential through meeting the required performance standards.
- TTP is an AusTri program supported by the states designed to provide athletes who have demonstrated talent through meeting the required performance standards.
This year any Team WA Squad athletes interested in selection (for Futures, TTP or possible categorisation with AusTri) will have the opportunity to attend a state delivered AusTri certified testing session on October 11th, 2026, to complete the benchmark testing protocols of an 800m swim and 5000m track run to lodge times. Athletes who achieve the required benchmark times for Futures or TTP at that session will receive automatic selection into the program.