A NSW public school principal has been selling the success of school sport in Australia to the world.

The principal of Great Lakes College in Forster-Tunurry, Graeme Jennings, recently attended the International School Sport conference in Brazil in his capacity as the President of School Sport Australia and of the International Sports Federation Oceania.

Mr Jennings was one of five keynote speakers and outlined how Australia’s leadership in inclusivity and equity in school sport provided students with an opportunity to build their life skills.

“Teamwork, resilience, goal-setting and strong and lasting friendships are just some of the outcomes of well-organised school sport,” he said.

“Australian schools’ emphasis on social inclusion and equity ensures all students, no matter what their background or circumstances, have the opportunity to use sport to help them develop personally and academically.”

Mr Jennings showed how school sport in Australia was structured so students had a clear route from the local level to regional and state competitions and beyond.

This included describing how the interconnection of state and territory systems feeds into the national school representative pathway managed by School Sport Australia, culminating in the School Sport Australia National Championships that showcase Australia’s top school-aged athletes.

Mr Jennings’ travel during personal leave was funded by the International Sports Federation.