The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are celebrating a significant milestone with the graduation of the inaugural class of the Sea Eagles Sports Business Academy
Launched in partnership with TAFE Queensland in July last year, the 12-month program is delivered from the Sea Eagles' Penn Centre of Excellence at Brookvale, where students complete a dual Diploma of Sport and Diploma of Leadership and Management while immersed in a professional sporting environment.
The inaugural class of 22 students achieved a 100 per cent course completion rate, undertaking 1,546 hours of industry work experience across 10 Club departments. The inaugural class achieved 14 internship placements and experienced 15 industry masterclasses across the year.
The SBA program has already delivered outstanding employment outcomes, with one graduate securing a full-time role with the Sea Eagles, two earning casual positions with the National Rugby League and another completing a contracted role with the Club.
Sea Eagles Head of Education & Foundation Tim Gee said the graduation was a proud moment for the Club and highlighted the success of the Academy's vision.
What truly sets this experience apart is the opportunity to study nationally recognised qualifications while being immersed in a genuine high-performance sporting environment every day.
Tim Gee Head of Education & Foundation
"It's been fantastic to see students develop not only their knowledge, but also the practical skills, industry connections and professionalism needed to build successful careers in the sports industry.
We look forward to watching where this talented group goes next."
Graduate Finnegan Boyd said the SBA had provided invaluable insight into working within an elite sporting organisation.
"We not only learned what it means to be a part of a major sporting organisation and all the little things that go into it, but we were also able to have fun while doing it. The Sea Eagles made us feel like part of the team."
The graduation of the inaugural class represents an important step in the continued growth of the Sea Eagles Sports Business Academy, which is creating genuine career pathways and helping develop the next generation of professionals in the sports industry.
Learn more about the Sea Eagles Sports Business Academy.
