Our History
Uniting communities and inspiring youth through sport.
2005
The Beginning of the Melbourne Sports Institute
The Melbourne Sports Institute was founded by Neville Braver with the idea of transforming school sport into a professional experience for every student and every school community.
2008
Expansion to 32 Schools
MSI had expanded to supplying umpires to 32 schools and providing sports coaches to 5, reflecting the rapid uptake of our services.
2010
First Government Sporting Schools Program
We proudly cut the ribbon on this milestone when we delivered our first Sporting Schools program a landmark achievement for MSI that represented formal recognition by the Australian Government of our professionalism and capacity to deliver on a national scale. This milestone highlighted not only our ability to engage students in sport through structured programs, but also our alignment with national priorities in education and community wellbeing.
2013
Building the Future with Natalie Leontaridis
Natalie Leontaridis joined MSI, beginning what has become a remarkable 13-year journey. Her leadership, dedication, and loyalty have been central to the development of our programs and the continued growth of the organisation. Natalie is the heart of the company, and her long-term commitment reflects the strong culture at MSI and continues to be one of the driving forces behind our success
2015
Opening Our First Office in Melbourne
From operating out of a home office to opening our first office at 339 North Road, where our offices are still located today
2016
Going National
Interstate expansion marked a defining chapter in the Melbourne Sports Institute’s growth. Building on our strong foundation in Victoria, we established Sports Institutes in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane, creating a truly national network.
2020
Childcare Provider Licence
Securing our Childcare Provider licence was a key milestone for MSI. It required us to meet strict Federal Government standards around staff qualifications, ongoing training, risk management, and workplace health and safety. Achieving this licence allowed us to deliver safe, high quality holiday programs for children and demonstrated our commitment to compliance and child safety at the highest level.
2021
NDIS Registration
Becoming a registered NDIS provider marked another step in MSI’s growth and community impact. This accreditation required rigorous governance checks and quality standards to ensure that we could support participants safely and effectively. It formally recognised MSI as an organisation capable of delivering inclusive programs and services that benefit people with disabilities and the broader community.
2022
First Aid Accreditation-Department of Health
MSI achieved First Aid Accreditation, becoming a Registered Provider with the Department of Health — a recognition of our professional standards and commitment to safety and
2025
Record-Breaking Weekend-950 Fixtures in One Morning
In May, MSI broke all previous records by covering more than 950 fixtures on a Saturday morning, an extraordinary achievement that showcased the scale of our operations and the strength of our coordination systems, ensuring every game was staffed and delivered to the highest standard.