Building Confidence and Careers: TALS Netball Students Step into the Sport Industry

All Smiles: our 2026 Netball Students can’t wait for season 2026 to roll around!

From left: Rahya Zain, William Green, Chelsea Browning

For students in the Netball stream of the Tasmania Academy of Leadership and Sport (TALS), the weekly experience inside the Netball Tasmania office provides a direct path to building the skills, confidence, and connections needed to succeed in the industry.

Each week, TALS Netball students spend one day working closely with Netball Tasmania staff across a variety of departments. This placement time allows them to gain practical experience in areas such as event activation, junior competition administration, and strategic support during high-profile events like the Tasmania Netball League (TNL) dinner.

From helping organise and deliver community programs to managing logistical details, students are exposed to the full spectrum of what it takes to keep netball thriving across the state. Whether they’re setting up for an event or working behind the scenes on competition frameworks, their work directly contributes to the smooth running of netball in Tasmania.

Throughout the program, students have also had the opportunity to learn from leaders across the sport. Guest speakers have included former Netball Tasmania CEO Mitch Coulson, who shared his insights into leadership and growth within the sport. High Performance Coach Jon Fletcher gave students a behind-the-scenes look at athlete development and elite performance environments, while CEO Penny Shearer offered a fresh perspective on the direction of Netball Tasmania and the importance of innovation at the community level.

Among the standout student experiences is that of Ashley Cruse, who has played a key role in designing pilot programs for Australia’s leading grassroots netball initiative, Woolworths NetSetGO. In addition to her work with juniors, Ashley has taken on administration tasks for the Master’s Competition in Southern Tasmania, helping ensure older athletes also have access to high-quality opportunities to stay active and engaged.

“I’ve learnt to be more confident in myself,” Ashley shared. “Doing this course has proven to me that I can do whatever I put my mind to.”

Another student, Alicia Iles, has been focused on delivering netball opportunities for secondary school students. She has developed programs aimed at increasing participation and engagement, including a recent partnership with Reclink Australia to bring inclusive sport to communities that need it most. “I think it's been a really good opportunity to see all the work that goes on behind the scenes, and learning the skills to help run the events”.

What unites all these experiences is the way the Netball stream gives students ownership of their learning. For these aspiring sport leaders, the TALS Netball stream is a launching pad into future careers, grounded in practical skills, professional mentoring, and a growing belief in their own potential.