As Salesian College Chadstone enters an exciting new chapter for its Sports Academy, we are pleased to welcome Mitchell Brendel as our new Sports Academy Leader.
Mitchell brings a wealth of experience across education and high-performance sport, with a strong passion for supporting young people to grow both on and off the field. After studying Exercise and Sport Science alongside Business at Deakin University, Mitchell began his teaching career in Health and Physical Education at Sacred Heart College in Geelong. He has also worked as High Performance Manager at the Geelong Falcons, supporting talented young athletes through their development pathways.
For Mitchell, the opportunity to lead the Sports Academy at Salesian College Chadstone is a natural alignment of his two greatest passions; education and athlete development.
“What really stood out to me was how unique the role is in combining education and high-performance sport,” Mitchell said. “I was also drawn to Salesian College’s strong focus on developing young men holistically. The College values character, wellbeing, relationships and community, and I believe sport can be a powerful vehicle to help develop those qualities.”
Mitchell believes sport plays a significant role in shaping young people, helping students build resilience, discipline, leadership, confidence and teamwork. Equally important to him is ensuring students maintain balance and enjoyment in their sporting journeys.
“Sport should be a space where students build friendships, confidence and a genuine love for improving,” he said. “It should support young people to grow, without becoming something that completely defines them.”
In his new role, Mitchell is looking forward to working closely with students, families, staff and external sporting organisations to create meaningful opportunities for student development. This includes wellbeing education, high-performance pathways and broader support that enables students to thrive both in sport and in life.
At the heart of Mitchell’s vision is a Sports Academy culture where students feel motivated, supported and empowered to be their best.
“I want students in the Sports Academy to feel like they are part of something bigger than just their individual sport,” Mitchell said. “Strong relationships with students, families, staff and coaches are essential so everyone is working together towards the same goal.”
Looking ahead, Mitchell hopes the Sports Academy will continue to be recognised not only for developing talented athletes, but outstanding young men.
“I would love to see students achieve great things in their chosen sports and create exciting opportunities for themselves,” he said. “But just as importantly, I want them to leave the program as resilient, disciplined and humble young men who are prepared for life beyond sport.”
With Mitchell’s experience, warmth and commitment to holistic student development, the Salesian College Chadstone Sports Academy is exceptionally well placed to continue supporting students to grow, thrive and reach their potential.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Stephen Sellwood for his outstanding contribution to Salesian College Chadstone over the past 18 years. Through his leadership of Human Development and the Sports Academy program, Stephen has helped shape a culture of opportunity, growth and connection for countless students. His passion, dedication and vision have left a lasting impact on our College community, and we thank him for his years of service and commitment to our students and families.
