TAFE Queensland Sports Diploma Hub launches first industry field trip with Tennis Queensland

The visit represents a significant step forward for the Hub, which brings together students completing the Diploma of Sport in collaboration with Football Queensland, Queensland Rugby Union (Queensland Reds), Gymnastics Queensland, Hockey Queensland and now Tennis Queensland.

For students studying the Diploma of Sport (SIS50321), exposure to major venues such as the Queensland Tennis Centre is more than a tour. It provides practical context to units focused on event operations, facility management, participation programs and stakeholder engagement.

The venue hosts the internationally recognised Brisbane International, as well as a range of national and community events throughout the year. Understanding how a significant event of that scale is delivered, from commercial partnerships and broadcast to operations, volunteer coordination and player services, is directly relevant to students developing careers in sport administration and event delivery.

Students received a comprehensive behind-the-scenes tour of the precinct. They heard from former TAFE Queensland and Brisbane Lions Institute of Business and Sport student Kelarnie Whalen, as well as Tennis Queensland Coach Programs Manager James Peach, about their career pathways and current roles within the organisation.

Manager of the Academy of Sport, Don Harley, said the visit demonstrates exactly what the Sports Diploma Hub is designed to achieve.

“The Sports Diploma Hub is about moving beyond theory. It is about showing students how sport actually operates behind the scenes. When they walk through a venue like this and understand the complexity of delivering something like the Brisbane International, the learning becomes real.”

Mr Harley said the diversity of partner sports within the Hub strengthens the experience for all students.

“What is powerful about this model is that we now have students aligned with football, rugby, gymnastics, hockey and tennis. They are learning from different codes, different business models and different participation structures, but the underlying principles of sport management and operations are consistent.”

He added that significant event exposure is critical preparation for the industry landscape leading into Brisbane 2032.

“Queensland is entering a period where major events and sports infrastructure will only increase. Our role is to ensure students understand not just how to play sport, but how to deliver it, govern it and grow it. Visits like this accelerate that understanding.”

The Academy of Sport is particularly pleased to support two dedicated tennis students within this intake, who will continue building their industry capability throughout the year through a 70-hour work experience placement and various engagement opportunities.

The field trip marks the end of the first round of a structured series of industry immersions for the 2026 cohort, which has already seen them participate in tours to Meakin Park, the home of Football Queensland, and Ballymore Stadium, the home of the Queensland Reds. With Tennis Queensland now formally integrated into the Sports Diploma Hub, students will continue to gain practical exposure across multiple sporting environments as they complete their studies with TAFE Queensland.

For the Academy of Sport, the message is clear: the future workforce of Queensland sport will be built through genuine industry connection, operational insight and early exposure to the realities of major event delivery.