Breony goes from Bunnings to big events

After initially pursuing a Bachelor of Primary Education, she felt lost in the program. Then, while scrolling through Facebook, she saw an ad for the Brisbane Broncos Sport Business Institute.

Encouraged by a friend who had already applied, she decided to take the plunge and study the Diploma of Sport and Diploma of Leadership and Management (SIS50321/BSB50420), delivered by TAFE Queensland.

“I was feeling a bit stuck with my teaching degree, so I thought, why not give it a shot? The networking opportunities stood out to me,” Breony said.

Although she hadn’t initially considered a sporting career, Breony realised how much sport had shaped her life. In high school, nearly all her electives were sport-related, including dance and fitness.

"I also have a Cert III in Fitness, which can lead to professional personal training, so when it came to sport coaching, I already had the knowledge on how to coach someone," she explained.

That background and her experience working with children and the community made the transition to sport management a natural fit.

Breony gained invaluable insights through her studies, particularly in emotional intelligence—one of her favourite units.

“It put everything into perspective. It helped me understand workplace dynamics and why people react the way they do in different situations,” she explained.

Breony took full advantage of the course’s work-integrated learning opportunities, gaining practical experience with major sporting organisations, including the Brisbane Broncos.

Her highlight? Supporting the Broncos’ events team in organising their prestigious Presentation Ball.

“I got to be the event manager’s right-hand person. It was an incredible opportunity to see firsthand what it takes to run a large-scale event,” she said.

“It was like watching a duck paddling on the water - everything looks smooth on the surface, but a lot is happening underneath.”

After completing her qualifications, she’s leaped from organising kids' activities at Bunnings to managing large-scale events at Souths Logan Magpies Rugby League Club as part of their event management team.

Breony credits her TAFE Queensland experience with helping her land the job and the industry connections she built that helped her secure a reference from a Broncos contact.

“Networking in this course is priceless. I went from knowing no one in the industry to having connections that helped me get my job. That’s something you can’t get from just any course,” she said.

Looking ahead, Breony is excited to grow her skills in event management, with ambitions of managing large-scale functions and possibly even weddings.

She’s thriving in her new role and recommends the course to anyone considering a sport or event management career.

“TAFE Queensland gave me the confidence, skills, and connections to enter this industry. If you’re looking for a hands-on, industry-connected way to launch your career, this course is it,” concluded Breony.