The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have celebrated a major milestone with the opening of the Learning Life Centre at Sydney Olympic Park.

The Learning Life Centre was officially opened today by the Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey, New South Wales Minister for Sport and Recreation Gabrielle Upton and Chairman of the AFL Commission Mike Fitzpatrick.

The $11.5 million Learning Life Centre was jointly funded by the AFL, the Federal Government and the NSW Government through the Sydney Olympic Park Authority. 

The Chairman of the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS Tony Shepherd said the Leaning Life Centre was a state of the art facility that enlarged the GIANTS’ footprint across Western Sydney.

“I want to thank the Federal Government, the NSW Government and Sydney Olympic Park Authority and the AFL for their support for this important project in Western Sydney,” he said.

“This finally gives us a permanent and elite training centre that rivals the facilities of any AFL and sporting club in Australia and will help deliver ultimate premiership success.

The Learning Life Centre features the Tom Wills Oval, an indoor training field, athletic track and gymnasium among its many facilities. 

Through the Multicultural Community Education Centre it will also deliver the Bridges to Higher Education Program targeted at low SES students across Western Sydney in conjunction with the University of Western Sydney.

“This is more than just an elite training facility for young footballers. We also want to embrace personal development and learning, reflecting the value and aspirations of the GIANTS and the broader Western Sydney community,” Shepherd said.

The GIANTS also announced that Woolworths would partner its nutrition program which will be delivered to 1000 students from Year 5-10 across 40 different schools in Western Sydney.

“It’s great to have Woolworths on board for this important program which aims to build healthy lifestyles for children across Western Sydney,” Shepherd said.

The Learning Life Centre was built on the site on the former Golf Centre at Sydney Olympic Park and also features a community field that will be used by local junior sporting clubs.

“It once again proves we are innovators. We dare to dream and we dream big. GIANT dreams,” Shepherd said.

“With the opening of the Learning Life Centre we can stride confidently into the future and stand tall with the people of Greater Western Sydney,” Shepherd said.

The GIANTS will open their NAB Challenge campaign against the Swans at StarTrack Oval Canberra this Thursday, February 18.

They will also play the Swans in the opening round of the Toyota AFL Premiership season in the Battle of the Bridge at Spotless Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park at 4.40pm on Saturday March 15.