VU massage student and Bulldog

VU and the Western Bulldogs: an iconic partnership for the west

The VU and Western Bulldogs’ partnership brings together two icons of Melbourne's western region: the west’s own university and the west’s own football team. More than an accident of geography the relationship is a recognition of the shared commitment and vision for the western region.

This is a unique partnership among Australian universities: no other Australian university has an AFL partnership of the range and depth of our association. The key elements are:

• Sport, human movement and recreation
  These are core components of the business of any football team. They are also the core elements of VU’s profile with nationally recognised teaching and research capacities in these areas. For both VU and the Bulldogs, sport and human movement are seen as part of a continuum of health, recreation and related activities.
• Economic and social wellbeing of the west
  Building on our capacities to make the links between sport, health and social wellbeing is a key priority for both VU and the Bulldogs. We both have a mutual commitment to the economic, social health and wellbeing, and development of the west.
• A partnership approach to doing business
  We are both organisations looking to build a constellation of partnerships. Some are small-scale, specific partnerships, not directly linked to the west, while others are iconic, whole-of-institution and regionally specific.
• Commitment to excellence
  Both of our institutions work in performance-based environments. Whether it is in relation to academic or sporting achievements, we are bound by the common goal to be the very best in what we do.

Free 3 game membership

Our partnership with the Bulldogs has enabled VU students and staff to see the Bulldogs in action at 3 free home footy games. Registrations for the free 3 game membership occur early in the football season once the fixtures are set.

Bulldogs and VU working together

A sponsorship agreement gives VU and the Bulldogs public recognition of their relationship through marketing and branding opportunities with both the VU and Bulldogs’ communities and the public at large.

Training and research

The partnership means shared development and use of high-quality, cutting-edge sport science, training, research and service facilities at both the Bulldogs' Whitten Oval and VU’s brand new Sports Science complexes.

Conjoint staff

Both organisations share access to highly educated sports scientists who can apply their skills, conduct research and communicate effectively with a range of different audiences.

Bulldogs Friendly Schools

Bulldogs Friendly Schools (BFS) is a program developed in collaboration with VU, the Western Jets, the AFL and AFL Victoria. VU provides student teachers to facilitate the program in about 45 primary schools. The program is based on the engagement of school students where, with the assistance of their VU student teacher, they can take leadership skills ‘from the field’ to the classroom and into their lives.

Western Bulldogs School Cadets

The Western Bulldogs in collaboration with VU and AFL Victoria offer students the opportunity to join the Western Bulldogs School Cadets program. The program delivers the skills component of the Footy in Schools Program, which offers students skills in communication, leadership and coaching.

Learning in the workplace and community

The partnership makes Whitten Oval a venue for Learning in the Workplace and Community (LiWC): work and practical placement of VU students in business, administration, event management, tourism and hospitality. VU Furniture Studies students designed and built the Bulldogs boardroom table to honour the partnership.

Community wellbeing

We have a shared commitment to collaborative community building programs including heath and wellbeing in the west. Activities have included the Community Bike Ride, Women of the West and Spirit West.

VU Achievement Scholarships

The Bulldogs were among the first supporters of the new VU Achievement Scholarships. The Bulldogs will donate $1 for every club member, every year, to support the scholarships.

VU provides a package of two Achievement Scholarships for every secondary school - around 50 schools - in the western region of Melbourne. From each school, one student enrolling in a vocational education course at VU, and one student enrolling in an undergraduate degree at VU will receive a scholarship.

The scholarships will be funded for the duration of the student’s course with higher education students receiving $5000 per year of study and vocational education students receiving $2000 per year.

Contact us

If you want to know more about our partnership with the Bulldogs, contact Steve Pereira at steve.pereira@vu.edu.au.

Visit the Western Bulldogs website for more information about the club.