The Hunter Academy of Sport was formed after an initial meeting on the 21st of January, 1987, between a panel of government, university, councils, community, science and sport representatives and since its launch in 1988 the Hunter Academy of Sport has successfully developed various aspects of regional sport.

Since that historical meeting in 1987 and the functional commencement of the academy in 1988, sports talent development programs, training camps, clinics and national congresses have highlighted a very busy and active academy program.

Today the Hunter Academy of Sport is the largest regional academy in Australia with some 600 talented young sports people from the region now participating in twenty five talent development programs with a similar concept to the Australian Institute of Sport programs, but conducted at regional level.  The sports involved are; Archery, Athletes with a Disability, Baseball, Basketball, BMX, Clay Target Shooting, Cricket, Cycling, Figure Skating, Golf, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Lawn Bowls for those with a Disability, Netball, Netball Umpires, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Sailing, Softball, Tennis, Touch, Track and Field (Athletics), Trampolining, Triathlon and Water Polo.

Many hundreds of youngsters have attended our vacation development camps, which are open to all boys and girls, and which are aiming to provide interest opportunities which may entice some of our youth away from the street corners and onto the sporting fields.

Each year during July the academy conducts the nib Games as part of the nib Hunter Festival of Sport which is expanding to international proportions as overseas, interstate and intrastate academies and sporting groups are now participating. 

The academy is also providing advice in areas such as sports administration, coaching, refereeing/umpiring, facilities, injuries (and the prevention of the same), fitness testing and training, sport psychology, dental and eye care, public speaking, ethics in sport, nutrition and personal development.

Two successful national congresses, one on "Drugs in Sport", and one on "Sport in Schools" and various other seminars have bee conducted.

Although the Hunter Academy of Sport has been very successful in assisting the development of the region's sporting talent over the past twenty years the board looks forward to further progress and development throughout 2011.