The Southern Sports Academy (formerly Riverina Academy of Sport) was officially opened in July 1992 and was the fifth of nine Regional Academies established across the State of New South Wales, with the sports of Softball and Rugby League chosen as the initial Academy sports, with Soccer being added under the Academy's umbrella in 1993. Since then the Academy has successfully provided over 1,000 talented athletes with the expertise to nurture both their sporting prowess, and their holistic personal development. Operating in an area of 156,384.4 square kilometers, with a population in excess of 275,000, the Academy strives to provide networks, partnerships, technology and communications to facilitate regional athletes, coaches and officials achieve their goals. Within each sport program, a number of athletes and officials are awarded Academy scholarships on an annual basis. These scholarships allow individuals to participate in the Academy's programs, by giving them access to specialised workshops in sports' specific technique and skill training; Athletic Development; Sports Technology; Sports Medicine; Sports Psychology; Sports Nutrition and various Personal Development Workshops. The Academy aims at providing Southern NSW athletes with high level and professional resources not readily available to athletes in regional areas, therefore eliminating the high cost of travel to seek these resources.