Her Passion for Sport and Education
Asha Simpson’s Sports Administration traineeship at St Mary’s Star of the Sea College in Wollongong has allowed her to explore her passion for sport and education and she has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
When my year advisor shared the link for the traineeship, it felt like an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I originally saw it as a ‘gap year’ a chance to get a qualification I was interested in and give myself time to figure out my next steps. But from the moment I started at St Mary’s Star of the Sea College in Wollongong, I realised my love for sport didn’t have to stay on the netball courts on Saturdays I could actually turn it into a career.
Stepping into the traineeship felt like a natural fit for Asha, combining her love of sport with leadership and learning.
I’ve always been sporty and naturally drawn to leadership roles, so stepping into a traineeship at a girls’ secondary college felt like the perfect fit. It’s pushed me out of my comfort zone, boosted my confidence, and given me invaluable skills and experiences that have confirmed this is the career path I want to pursue. It’s honestly the best decision I’ve ever made.
Working in a girls-only school has helped Asha understand just how powerful sport can be, especially in supporting and inspiring young women.
This experience has shown me how important it is to create opportunities and support pathways for girls to stay active and involved.
I’ve loved contributing to the strong female sporting culture we have here at St Mary’s.
She’s also valued the structure and purpose that full-time work provided straight after school.
It’s been so valuable having routine and responsibility straight after high school. It’s a great feeling to wake up genuinely excited to go to work, knowing I’m doing something I enjoy and contributing to the school community.
Asha says the supportive environment at St Mary’s has been key to her personal and professional development.
St Mary’s has been nothing but welcoming, supportive and inspiring. They’ve advocated for my growth every step of the way and provided amazing opportunities to learn and get involved across different areas of school life. Through the traineeship, I’ve been able to move beyond admin into coaching, event support and team management.
The school has trusted me with real responsibilities, which has helped me build confidence and develop practical skills.
The variety in her role has kept the experience engaging while helping her build a strong foundation in sports administration.
No two days are the same, I help plan and run sporting events, coordinate year 7–10 sport rotations, and manage communication with staff, students, and external organisations. I also support trips, camps and excursions, working closely with teams to make sure everything runs smoothly.
I’ve learned to manage multiple responsibilities, adapt to challenges and support programs that make a real difference for students. I’ve organised school carnivals and gala days, supported representative fixtures, and built relationships with sporting bodies and partners.
This role has strengthened skills like time management, problem solving, communication and organisation all of which I’ll take into my future career. I’ve loved having independence in my work, knowing that I’m trusted with real tasks, but also knowing support is there when I need it.
Asha is now preparing to take the next step. Building on her Certificate III by enrolling in a Bachelor of Business (Sports Marketing and Management) at the University of Wollongong. Her goal is to work for a professional sports league or team in administration, public relations or communications.
One of the most meaningful parts of the traineeship has been the people she’s met along the way. Particularly her AFL SportsReady Employment Coach, Anna Booth, for being a constant source of support.
I’ve really loved being part of the staff team. Everyone has been so welcoming and I’ve had incredible support from teachers and supervisors. Working with students has been a highlight whether coaching, helping at events or supporting teams. It’s so rewarding to be a positive role model and build those connections.
Anna has been amazing so approachable and always happy to help. I really appreciated her coming down for a face-to-face check-in with my supervisor and me. Her support has been next level.”
Asha first discovered the traineeship through her high school careers advisor and was later transferred to St Mary’s, a move she says was the perfect fit.
It’s a program that truly sets you up for the future, whether you stay in education or move into another field.
You gain professional skills, hands-on experience and earn a qualification all while working in a real environment. And on top of that, it’s just a really enjoyable experience.
In a way, it’s like reliving the best parts of high school but from the teacher’s side of things.
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