Our Sport and Business Programs have commenced for another exciting year; On the 31st of January, we had 212 students entering the classroom for their first day of learning across our seven programs nationally.
The Melbourne Victory, Cricket Australia, Melbourne United and Collingwood Magpies Sport & Business Programs all returned for their second year in Melbourne. In Sydney, it was the start of the inaugural year for the Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers Sport & Business Programs, and the Fremantle Dockers and Purple Hands Sport, Business & Leadership Program in Perth.
We are proud to be helping our partners to deliver this opportunity for our students to be taking their first steps towards their future careers.
Students across the country came eager to get their year underway. There was a lot of anticipation and excitement amongst them as they received their new uniforms, heard from staff and set their goals for the program.
We spoke to two of the Melbourne Victory Sport & Business Program students, Josephine Politics and Luka Sinni, in their classroom at AAMI Park after they heard about everything in store for them in the year ahead.
Josephine is particularly looking forward to studying and gaining experience in Event Management, saying “I want to learn more about the roles in events as I’d love to one day be able to be an Event Coordinator.”
The program will give students the opportunity to gain a thorough insight into Melbourne Victory as a sporting organisation. Luka, who is interested specifically in youth coaching programs, expressed “The program has everything I’d want to learn and will allow me to learn more about how football clubs run their coaching programs.”
At the Cricket Australia Sport & Business Program Orientation, students were presented with their official program uniform by James Quarmby, Cricket Australia’s National Schools & Junior Cricket Manager. James spoke of the values of wearing the uniform and representing a professional sporting organisation.
In Perth, Orientation week for the Fremantle Dockers Sport, Business & Leadership Program was spent at the Dockers Headquarters, the Cockburn ARC, where students heard of some of the exciting opportunities and business exposure planned for them throughout the year. Program Facilitator Liam Thompson said it was great to see and hear so much excitement from the students ahead of “what is sure to be a fantastic year”.
Student Kaitlyn Streeter spoke about how she is looking forward to the opportunity later in the year to connect with remote communities, saying “I believe it will be a life-changing experience putting all the hard work in throughout the year, to then be rewarded with making an impact on young children, both sport and social sides.”
Across the country, at Commbank Stadium in Parramatta, Sydney, the Western Sydney Wanderers Sport & Business Program students were lucky to have an induction into Commbank Stadium, participate in the Wanderers volunteer induction as well as learn about the Values, Culture and History of the Wanderers.
Program Facilitator Yianni Tsattalios is eager to see students involved within the Wanderers business, saying “I am looking forward to working closely with the Wanderers in a wide variety of business and community initiatives throughout the year and seeing our students working within these programs, which will no doubt offer a great opportunity for growth and development of their skills and knowledge.”
As students across all of our programs work hard throughout this year, we look forward to seeing how they make the most of each opportunity and follow their own individual pathways.
We would like to wish a warm welcome and good luck to all students in the 2022 Sport and Business Programs!
