SHAWN McQuillen felt there was always a chance one lockdown might interrupt his internship year but a second snap shut-down in Victoria proved a big curveball.
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Mr McQuillen said being based with Basketball Ballarat and able to keep gaining industry experience through lockdowns had proved a great lesson in how to keep adapting on the job.
He said most of his fellow sports management students at Federation University had their internships stalled under pandemic restrictions.
Moving from Gippsland for his studies, Mr McQuillen said he knew a little about the Ballarat Miners and Rush elite programs but delving into a communications role had opened his eyes to different pathways working in sport.
"It's been awesome. You have some expectations for an internship but you're really not sure what's involved until you do it," Mr McQuillen said. "You learn a lot about the players and I'm travelling with the players so you feel like you're part of a tight bunch."
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Mr McQuillen said basketball had always been his favourite sport growing up. He said the internship had made him realise the work involved off the court, especially in elite spaces.
Basketball Ballarat has been able to offer Mr McQuillen a media internship predominantly with the NBL1 teams with three more students completing their placements in event activation on game nights.
They have been based at the Minerdome and Ballarat Sports and Events Centre.
Basketball Ballarat partnerships and events manager Andrew Day said it was important for the organisation to ensure students could complete placements amid the pandemic. Mr Day said changing restrictions had become a key part of building industry experience.
"Almost all our staff pool has come via Federation University Australia, many of which were employed directly out of the student internships or placements with Basketball Ballarat," Mr Day said.
"Our goal is assist the students become employable by the end of their internship or placement and play a role in their industry development.
"It's great to see students bring to the organisation their academic learnings, and then be able to use them in a practical situation working in the industry itself through these experiences."
Miners and Rush NBL1 action returned to BSEC on Saturday night with no crowds.
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