Champion swimmer dives into a social media career

While competing, travelling and training for two Paralympic Games, a Commonwealth Games, and multiple World Championships, Keira sought a flexible study path aligned with her busy lifestyle and professional ambitions outside of swimming.

"I wanted a field that resonated with me that could adapt to my training and competition schedule," shared Keira.

Having initially pursued social work, Keira found her interests shifting, realising that social media marketing was a natural fit for her as a Paralympic athlete.

Through a career practitioner with Swimming Australia, Keira discovered TAFE Queensland Online and its convenient, flexible study options, which allowed her to study on her terms.

Enrolling in the Diploma in Social Media Marketing (10904NAT), Keira learned advanced skills and specialised knowledge to navigate the fast-evolving social media and marketing landscape at her own pace.

"Social media has been instrumental in building my brand while connecting with fans, sponsors, and athletes worldwide. I saw this course as a way to channel my love for digital media into a career," she said.

TAFE Queensland Online is designed for flexibility and high engagement and is supported by a dedicated student support team. It is ideal for someone like Keira as it allows her to study on a schedule that suits her athletic demands.

Keira studied online self-directed courses, which offered her flexible, pace-driven study, giving her access to materials through Connect, TAFE Queensland’s learning management system.

Her course taught her essential digital marketing tools, including platform engagement, content creation, and strategic brand-building - all valuable skills that will set her up for a seamless transition into a career post-swimming.

Balancing rigorous training, travelling and competing commitments with online studies hasn’t been without its challenges, but Keira credits the TAFE Queensland Online team for their understanding and support.

"The teachers are incredibly supportive and flexible with deadlines, especially when I have competitions. Their guidance makes all the difference," she explained.

The flexibility to access course materials anytime, from anywhere, has enabled Keira to thrive academically alongside her Paralympic swimming duties.

One of the highlights of Keira’s studies has been understanding the strategic side of social media.

"I didn’t realise how much thought goes into each post, campaign, and interaction," she admitted. "It's given me a new perspective on how brands build their presence."

As for her future, Keira aspires to work as a social media manager within the sports, fitness, or fashion industries, creating campaigns that promote products and drive positive social change.

"Social media is powerful for breaking barriers and building global communities around shared passions, and I want to be a part of that," she said.

Describing her TAFE training as practical, flexible, and supportive, she appreciates the opportunity to immediately apply what she has learned in the real world.

Now confident to take on the digital world with the same determination she brings to the pool, Keira highly recommends TAFE Queensland Online for those with busy schedules or athletic commitments.

"Studying through TAFE Online has been a fantastic experience that’s helped me grow professionally and personally," she concluded. 

Photo credit: Paralympics Australia