It has been a jam-packed start for our 2023 Sport & Business Program students. As we get back into weekly rhythms post Easter break, we thought it was a good time to reflect on some of the highlights in the first quarter of the year.
The Melbourne United program has featured plenty of star-power. Students were treated to a workshop and training session with Head Coach Dean Vickerman and Assistant Coach Rhys Palmer. They’ve also enjoyed watching NBA players Josh Giddy and Dyson Daniels at work training at the elite Hoop City facilities, and had the favour returned when Ariel Hukporti stopped by to watch the quarterly staff v students match!
Speaking of elite facilities, it doesn’t get much bigger than the MCG where students in the Cricket Australia Sport & Business Program have spent time in the nets and gym. Uniform presentations were conducted across the road at Cricket Australia’s head office, where students were also introduced to staff across the business allowing them to develop strong networks nice and early in the program.
Up in NSW, there is always a friendly rivalry between our Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers students. This was on show when they competed against each other in a bowling local derby during Orientation Week and has continued as they try to one-up each other with experiences. Students from both classes have enjoyed responsibilities on match days from ground announcing for NPL to running the Fan Zones for A-League games. Western Sydney Wanderers students have been captivated by workshops from high performance staff including A-League Women’s Head Coach (and former SEDA teacher) Kat Smith, while Sydney FC have had in-depth coverage of the marketing side of the business including following Sydney FC’s videographer for a day of press conferences, player interviews and content creation.
For students in the Collingwood Magpies program, work placements have been a clear standout. There have already been 23 student placement opportunities, including eight students involved in the club’s flagship ANZAC Day AFL and SSN matches. Other placements have included working with the club’s Reclink team and assisting with training analysis. Combined with volunteering opportunities, there have been almost 700 hours’ worth of experience that students have gained practical experience from.
While their geography couldn’t be further apart, the Melbourne Victory and Fremantle programs shared similar highlights. Senior staff at both organisations have provided key workshops. Managing Director at Melbourne Victory, Caroline Carnegie, demonstrated the value that sporting organisations are placing on sustainability when she shared her expertise as part of the Diploma of Business, Corporate Sustainability area of study. Fremantle also presented on this topic, taking students through their Sustainability Framework, while presentations for CEO, Simon Garlick and General Manager – Football, Peter Bell, also provided invaluable insights.
Whichever way you look at it, it has been a strong start across the board for our Sport & Business Program students. With plenty more of the program still to play out, we can’t wait to see what highlights are yet to come!
