Congratulations to Associate Professor Erin Hoare, Strategic Program Lead at UNE’s Manna Institute, who has been awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to investigate neurodiversity in high-performance sport.
“I was beyond thrilled and honoured to have been awarded a Churchill Fellow to explore neurodiversity in high performance sport internationally to strengthen Australia’s inclusive sporting future,” Erin said.
“I am privileged to hold lived experience as an athlete across two professional codes (netball, AFLW) and alongside my research interest in mental health and equity and embedding lived experience, which is our core principle at Manna Institute. This is a truly wonderful opportunity to bring together these areas of professional and personal interest. I will be proud to accept this Fellowship as a Manna Institute and University of New England member, and I thank the University for such warm ongoing support.”
Her project will focus on how international sporting codes support neurodivergent athletes, with the aim of strengthening wellbeing, enhancing performance, and contributing to a more inclusive sporting future for Australia. Neurodivergence – including ADHD and autism – is suspected to be more common among elite athletes than in the general population, are Australian systems are increasingly adapting.
Erin will undertake her Fellowship research in 2026, with findings set to benefit elite athletes and the wider sporting community.
“It is also important to recognise the community co-design, lived experience leadership, and collaborative partnerships that underpin this Churchill Fellowship project, are the exact Manna Institute principles that guide our research for regional, rural and remote mental health. This shows again that what works for community, works for everyone”
Churchill Fellowships are awarded annually to Australians from all walks of life, enabling them to travel overseas to explore new ideas and best practice, and to bring that knowledge back for the benefit of the Australian community.