Bringing people together through events

Katya is completing her Diploma of Event Management (SIT50322) online, giving her the flexibility to study around her young daughter’s routine.

She has already gained hands-on experience, volunteering with TAFE Queensland’s marketing team at events like Cowboys Match Day, and the Start of Semester Pizza Party, as well as supporting the Cowboys Community Foundation.

Her journey into events began in a personal way. Originally from Adelaide, Katya moved to Darwin in 2020 at the height of COVID-19. With no friends, family, or job to rely on, she created her own opportunities to connect.

“I started a brunch club and a few little events just to meet people. When I moved to Townsville in 2023, I had to start all over again. Events became the best way to meet people and build a support network,” she said.

The move to Townsville also came with challenges. Katya became pregnant soon after arriving, but complications meant she was forced to leave her job.

“I was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which is extreme nausea during pregnancy. I lost 23 kilos because I couldn’t keep food down, I was hospitalised four times, and I spent 22 hours a day in bed. It was really isolating and hard on my mental health,” she said.

Determined to rebuild her confidence, she looked to study as a way forward. Flexibility was key.

“Being able to study completely online and having approachable, relatable teachers made the decision easy,” Katya said. “The flexibility has been amazing so I can still take my daughter to swimming lessons or rhyme time at the library and then study while she naps. It’s given me a chance to do something for myself while still being there for my daughter.”

Katya didn’t just want to study events – she wanted to be involved in them. That’s when she approached TAFE Queensland’s marketing team about volunteering.

“I just rocked up to the Townsville campus with my daughter and asked if I could get involved. They were so welcoming. They even said I could bring her with me if I needed to,” she said.

Helping with events like the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Match Day, where TAFE Queensland was the match day presenting partner, gave her an inside look at large-scale operations. It also gave Katya the chance to see first-hand how TAFE Queensland, as the Cowboy’s Official Vocational Education and Training Provider, supports major community events.

“I’d never been to a Cowboys game before, so it was amazing seeing how everything comes together behind the scenes,” she said

She has also gained valuable experience through the Cowboys Community Foundation, the charity arm of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys, which supports the community through life-changing programs.

“They’ve been so accommodating. They gave me my own office and even set up a safe space for me to feed or change my daughter. If I needed help, there was always someone to cuddle her while I got on with things,” Katya said.

Through her course and volunteer work, Katya has gained the confidence to start her own initiative – relaunching the brunch club that started her journey, Blush and Brunch Townsville.

“It’s really about bringing women together. You always see people posting online asking, ‘How do I make friends as an adult?’ I’d love to create a space for that connection while also pursuing big professional events like sports and concerts.”

Katya now has her sights set on a future in large-scale event management while keeping her passion project alive.

“I’d love to work on major events here in Townsville, but I also want to keep building those smaller, more personal connections for women who are new to the city. Both are about the same thing really – bringing people together.”

Her advice to other parents thinking about study is simple: take the first step.

“Even if you start slow, the time will pass anyway. You can either let it pass or use it to get closer to your goals,” she said.

“As mums we give so much to our kids, but we need to do something for ourselves too. For me, study has been that thing. It’s helped me build confidence, meet people, and take steps toward the career I really want.”