Australian Volleyball Academy Qld (AVAQ)

The Australian Volleyball Academy Queensland (AVAQ) is Queensland’s state-based, high-performance development program aligned with Volleyball Australia and the National Performance Program (NPP).

AVAQ provides a structured, high-performance training environment for selected athletes who have been identified as having the potential to represent Australia in beach and/or indoor volleyball at the international level. The long-term objective of the program is to prepare athletes for successful performance at World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Training Environment

AVAQ squads train at:

• Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre (QSAC) – Sandstorm Beach Club (Beach)
• Sunnybank State High School (Indoor)

Athletes are selected through Volleyball Australia coaches and National Pathway Talent Identification scouts. The program follows a dual-discipline model, with athletes training in both beach and indoor volleyball.

Training is conducted twice per week, with the annual training cycle running from May to April each year.

Pathway Integration

The AVAQ program complements existing school, club, and state squad programs. Athletes are strongly encouraged to participate in these programs alongside AVAQ training to support a consistent and well-rounded daily training environment.

Volleyball Australia Emerging Talent Program

The Volleyball Australia Emerging Talent Program is the entry-level program within the Volleyball Australia performance pathway in Queensland and underpins the AVAQ squads.

The program operates across two training centres in South-East Queensland:

• Brisbane
• Sunshine Coast

This is a participation and development-focused program, not a competitive club team. It is designed to support long-term athlete development and assist athletes in progressing through the national volleyball pathway.

Athletes train once per week during school terms. Sessions focus on:

• Technical and tactical skill development
• Application of skills through gameplay and game-based scenarios

Athletes are not position-specialised, allowing them to develop a broad skill set and experience all positions on the court.

Further Information

For more information about the AVA Queensland or Volleyball Australia Emerging Talent Program, please contact:

Dean Bielanowski
Volleyball Australia Program Manager
📧 dean.bielanowski@volleyball.org.au