OUR HISTORY
HISTORY
ESTABLISHMENT
The Geelong Independent Schools Sports Association (GISSA) was formed in 1995 to provide regular sporting opportunities for students from Year 7 to Year 12 from Independent Secondary Schools across the Geelong Region.
During these formative years, Christian College Geelong, Kardinia International College, Heathdale Christian College – Werribee and ‘Catholic Regional College Geelong’ (which would soon be re-named St Ignatius College) were key members of the Association.
Starting in 2004, Geelong Grammar School and The Geelong College also joined these Schools for casual weekly competition – predominately at the Senior Level (Year 11 and Year 12) and also at the Year 7 and Year 8 Level.
HISTORY
EXPANSION
Between 2012 and 2022, there was an explosion of growth throughout GISSA – both in the number Schools who joined the Association – and also the amount and range of sporting opportunities offered to students.
Throughout this period, the Association welcomed Clonard College, Covenant College, Geelong Baptist College, Geelong Lutheran College, Iona College, Sacred Heart College into the fold – taking the total number of Schools involved to 10, after Heathdale Christian College could no longer participate, and Geelong Grammar School reduced its involvement.
The quantity and quality of the sporting Programs also expanded enormously during this time, with the GISSA ‘Athletics’, ‘Cross Country’ and ‘Swimming’ Titles re-packaged as the ‘Big 3’ Major Championships that involved students from Year 7 to Year 12.
Running alongside this ‘Big 3’, new Championships were introduced for different sports at three different Age Levels – Junior (Year 7 + 8), Inter (Year 9 + 10) and Senior (Year 11 + 12).
Although staged prior in certain instances, these single-sport Championships were formerly recognised and largely run as one-day Tournaments for both Male and Female Genders.
The Year 7 + 8 Sport Program also underwent a significant and formal overhaul, with students at this Level given the opportunity to participate in weekly sports fixtures against other GISSA Member Schools on Wednesday afternoons.
HISTORY
A NEW ERA
In 2023, following an independent review of the Association’s operations and organisational structure, GISSA made the significant step to become an official Not-For-Profit Company.
Up until that point, GISSA had operated not as its own entity, rather simply an extension of the Member Schools; and its administration was handled by Staff within those Member Schools – most notably Mr. Jonathan Ryan and Mr. Andrew Richardson, both from Christian College Geelong.
In 2023, GISSA hired its first official employees – including its first Chief Executive, Mr. Jarrod Waight, from Kardinia International College – and established a ‘Board of Directors’, made up of representatives from its Member Schools.
GISSA
GALLERY
“I am very passionate about helping gissa maintain its current high standing, and also to help it grow in the future,” he said. “I am very fortunate to be taking over from such a high-regarded school sport administrator and educator, like andrew richardson.
Jarrod Waight