Broadcasting to the world

TAFE Queensland gave Julia the opportunity to develop skills that led to a traineeship with NEP Australia, Host Broadcaster of GC2018 and a division of NEP Group — the worldwide outsourced television technical production partner supporting premier live sports and entertainment content producers.

While Julia's grandfather, her biggest fan, had a huge influence on her life, her passion for film and photography stemmed from the young age of 13, when her father bought her a camera so she could take photos of the animals and landscapes on the farm where they lived. Many years later she travelled Australia for two-and-a-half months, videoing her entire journey and thinking to herself “I wish I knew how to do this better.”

It was this experience that encouraged Julia to enroll in a Diploma of Screen and Media and turn her lifelong passion into a successful career.

Through TAFE Queensland’s relationship with NEP, Julia attended an Introduction to Outside Broadcasting training module. Not only did this enhance her skills, but Julia’s technical aptitude shone through, so NEP selected her to attend a Camera Control Unit (CCU) workshop. The NEP Host Broadcast Training Program (HBTP) then provided further integrated learning opportunities for Julia in CCU, where she assisted with NEP live outside broadcasts in Queensland under the expert supervision of NEP staff and skilled freelancers.

Crediting the hands-on practical training she received at NEP, and TAFE Queensland's support, for the opportunity to play a part in GC2018, Julia could not be more excited to put her skills and knowledge into practice for such a significant event.

“The opportunity to work with a world-renowned company such as NEP is a dream come true,” she said.

"I'm assisting with colour correction on the netball and basketball games for broadcast internationally.

“Over the course of my training I've been really lucky to be supported by some fantastic teachers with a range of knowledge and experiences. Their sincere and highly knowledgeable approach to teaching has made all the difference from a learning perspective, and they've definitely brought a lot of first-hand industry experience and connections to the classroom,” she said.

NEP has offered many work experience opportunities to TAFE Queensland students and graduates and over the past two years, providing students with unprecedented opportunities to further their skills and train with NEP in the live broadcast arena on NRL AFL, the Australian Swimming Championships, A-League, golf and cricket in preparation for their roles working with the Host Broadcaster during GC2018.

“Throughout my studies at TAFE, NEP came to the Coomera campus and delivered a series of masterclasses presenting all facets of the Host Broadcast for the Games – from broadcast engineering through to planning,” Julia said.

“With all the practical experience I’ve gained during my time both on campus at TAFE Queensland and training and work experience at NEP during live broadcasts, I feel ready to hit the ground running at the Games working with the Host Broadcaster.

“These training opportunities have given me both the knowledge and skills I need to be job-ready, and the confidence to know I can, which I never could have achieved in just one year at another education provider like university,” she said.

TAFE Queensland Interim Chief Executive Officer, Mary Campbell, said TAFE Queensland is committed to their students’ future development and is thrilled to help Julia, alongside many other students, experience working at the Games.

“TAFE Queensland’s partnership with GC2018 means we can facilitate hundreds of world-class work experience and employment opportunities across a wide range of industries.

“Working at the Games is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience at any stage of your career, so we are thrilled to be able to provide this as a major stepping stone for our students as they look to build on the skills they have learnt with us at TAFE Queensland,” Mary said.

TAFE Queensland has a long and proud history of providing students with practical learning experiences. Partnering with the Games is another way in which TAFE Queensland continues to Make Great Happen for students, by enabling them to do extraordinary things in front of a global audience.

As the Official Training Partner for GC2018, TAFE Queensland is training 15,000 volunteers to provide them with the skills needed to make a great Games.

Leading up to the Games, volunteers will be trained in both online and face-to-face environments across a variety of role specific and venue specific training including spectator services, press operations, anti-doping, protocol and transport.

Volunteers will be equipped with the valuable skills and knowledge to not only successfully perform their roles at the Games, but also to contribute to their communities long into the future - inspiring growth and building capability within Queensland communities.

For more information about student opportunities at NEP visit nephb.com/student.