Strengthen Our Sports Program by Partnering with Essendon Football Club

Written by Mr Andrew Petrie (Director of Sport)

26 February 2026

In a dynamic move blending education with elite sport, Aitken College has announced a new educational partnership with the Essendon Football Club, strengthening opportunities for students to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences.

The relationship, confirmed for 2026 and beyond, sees Essendon named as an Official Essendon Education Partner with Aitken College as they look to explore and create different pathways for the students at Aitken College to follow.

While details of the specific programs under this partnership are emerging, it aligns closely with Essendon’s broader education initiatives, particularly the Essendon Education Academy (EEA) co-delivered with RMIT University and hosted at the club’s elite training facility, The Hangar in Tullamarine.

The EEA offers students a Dual Diploma in Business and Leadership & Management combined with significant industry experience inside a professional sporting organisation, including at least 100 hours of work placements and two guaranteed graduate roles each year. This model shows how Essendon is pioneering pathways that connect academic study with practical skills and employment opportunities, a blueprint that the Aitken College partnership is likely to tap into.

For Aitken College students, partnering with an AFL club like Essendon represents more than just a brand association. It signals access to programs that:

Bridge school and industry by introducing students to careers in sport, business, leadership and management.
Encourage real-world learning through exposure to professional environments and networks.
Support student growth and aspirations beyond the classroom, whether they aim for further study or careers embedded in sport, business and community leadership culture and perspectives.
Engage in and learn about Indigenous cultures and perspectives thorough the Long Walk Program.
Access elite level facilities for VCE PE and Aitken College Senior Football Teams at The Hangar for training and learning.

It’s a partnership that not only celebrates the shared values of education and excellence but also opens doors for the young learners within the Aitken College Community.