Future Leaders Recognised in NSW

Two up and coming leaders in the business administration field are this year’s joint recipients of the AFL SportsReady HOSTPLUS Trainee of the Year award, announced at a special graduation ceremony in Sydney.

AFL SportsReady NSW State Manager Luke Pellegrini said it was impossible to choose between Paula Feagaiga and Jarrod Venes, who each recently completed a Certificate III in Business Administration. “Both Paula and Jarrod stood out among a high achieving group of 35 trainees across the state last year,” Mr Pellegrini said.

The NSW graduates, including 10 young Indigenous trainees, completed studies in areas across sport and recreation, business, financial services and retail, while undergoing traineeships at sporting organisations, banks, and with AFL NSW/ACT. “Choosing the Trainee of the Year is never easy and we had a high calibre group work with AFL SportsReady across the state in 2012,” Mr Pellegrini said. “However, Paula and Jarrod’s maturity, enthusiasm and strong leadership skills made them standout Trainees.”

Mr Pellegrini said Paula, who complemented her studies through a traineeship with the membership department of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, had shown constant professionalism and leadership throughout her studies. “Paula is a part of a club who boasts the most memberships in the NRL, making for a busy membership team, in which Paula immediately slotted into,” he said. “Her great start to her career has been rewarded with not only the AFL SportsReady award, but the Rabbitohs have been keen to see her continue her success with them while she now completes a Certificate IV in Business Administration.”

Rabbitohs Chief Operating Officer John Richardson said Paula’s consistent and unflappable approach was a great asset to the club and the membership team in particular. “Paula has, from day one, taken on board the fundamentals of the Rabbitohs’ code-leading membership program and the critical role of servicing our members to the highest standard,” Mr Richardson said.

Mr Pellegrini said the joint winner, Jarrod Veanes, who completed a traineeship with the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS’ membership department, stood out for his ‘can do’ attitude and professionalism during the GIANTS’ first year in the AFL. “Jarrod has also progressed to a Certificate IV level qualification and has proved himself as a strong and valuable member of the GWS team, so much so that he has recently accepted a full-time role within their merchandise team” he said.

GIANTS Chief Operating Officer Richard Griffiths congratulated Jarrod on his award and said the young trainee was respected by his peers throughout the club. “He is a diligent and conscientious person who shows great initiative and is a valuable asset to the club,” Mr Griffiths said. “AFL SportsReady is passionate about helping young people create a rewarding career in sport, recreation, business and other industries and we are proud of the high number of our trainees who go on to further study or work in their chosen fields.”

The graduation dinner, held at the Sydney Cricket Ground, also awarded honours to a number of other AFL SportsReady trainee graduates, including Erin Worger who received the HOSTPLUS Indigenous Trainee of the Year. Mr Pellegrini said Erin completed a school-based traineeship with ANZ, undertaking a Certificate II in Business. “Erin excelled in her role and her customer service and attention to detail was well noted by ANZ,” he said. “The way she was able to balance her studies and traineeship was a true reflection of the type of person she is.”

The other award handed out at the graduation ceremony was the HOSTPLUS Recognition award, which went to Merinda Beale, who completed her Certificate III in Financial Services while undertaking a traineeship with Chipping Norton ANZ. “Merinda worked between three bank branches and completed her studies while also showing maturity beyond her years within her community. We were not surprised at all to learn Merinda has secured ongoing employment with ANZ since completing her traineeship,” Mr Pellegrini said.

Mr Pellegrini said AFL SportsReady was proud to work in partnership with sporting organisations, clubs and other businesses across the state to ensure all graduates had the best chance at success beyond the sporting field. “The completion of their studies, whether it be at Certificate or Diploma level, along with the invaluable experience of a traineeship, will provide these students with a strong foundation for their future careers,” Mr Pellegrini said.

Mr Pellegrini said it was also fantastic to see so many NSW graduates benefit from AFL SportsReady’s national partnerships with the ANZ, NAB, the Commonwealth Bank and Australia Post. “As a national not-for-profit company we are driven to give all our trainees and students the best kick start to their career possible, which is why at AFL SportsReady you can expect real education, real jobs and real careers,” Mr Pellegrini said.

“The graduation ceremony is a fantastic way to recognise the achievements of these graduates, who have all worked hard to achieve success in their chosen areas, and we wish them all the best for their future endeavours.”

DATE: Thursday, 21 March 2013
IMAGE: The New South Wales, 2013 Graduating Class