Career Taster helps Ella take her first step towards Brisbane 2032

The Games will place Queensland at the centre of the global sporting stage, creating significant opportunities across sport, events, hospitality, tourism, media, and community services, while inspiring the next generation of industry professionals.

Building on its strong legacy as an official Training Partner of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, where more than 15,000 volunteers received 360,000 hours of training across 200 roles, TAFE Queensland is continuing to create pathways that connect education with industry opportunities.

Through practical, hands-on training and strong industry partnerships, TAFE Queensland is preparing Queenslanders with the skills needed to thrive in the lead-up to, and beyond, Brisbane 2032.

One way TAFE Queensland is engaging future talent is through its Career Taster Program for Year 10 students.

Designed to help students explore career pathways before committing to senior studies or future training, the fully funded program gives students the chance to “test drive” different industries through hands-on learning experiences delivered one day a week at TAFE Queensland campuses.

The Career Taster Brisbane 2032 program specifically connects students with the growing sport industry, giving them exposure to areas such as coaching, athlete development, e-sports, and sports broadcasting.

For Corinda State High School Year 10 student Ella Carson, the program is already helping bring her future ambitions into focus.

A basketball player for the Brisbane Capitals, Ella hopes to one day represent Australia at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

If her playing career does not eventuate, she says she would love to stay connected to the sporting world through sports journalism or coaching.

“I like sports, and I want to do sports as my career, so this just interested me,” Ella said.

Attending the Career Taster program one day a week, Ella has already begun learning coaching fundamentals and says the hands-on experience has strengthened her interest in the industry.

“We’ve learnt coaching stuff so far, and I’m interested in it more now,” she said.

Ella said the program has also provided an opportunity to learn alongside like-minded students from different schools who share the same passion for sport.

“It’s great being around people who just love sport,” she said.

With aspirations to study journalism after high school and potentially coach in the future, Ella sees the Career Taster program as the first step towards achieving her Brisbane 2032 dream - whether that’s competing on the court or covering the Games from the sidelines as a sports journalist.