La Trobe University Students Gain Valuable Work-Integrated Learning Experiences Through The New Balance UBL  

During the 2025 New Balance University Basketball League (UBL), La Trobe University offered students an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the sport industry through work-integrated learning placements with La Trobe Sport, placing these students in a dynamic, real-world sporting environment. Becoming an integral part of the game day experience alongside La Trobe’s UBL team, these interns helped bring games to life throughout the season.

La Trobe Sport has been offering students work-integrated learning opportunities aligned with the UBL since its inception in 2021, and, depending on the course they study, students are required to complete up to 200 hours of placement. When asked why La Trobe chose the UBL as the program to offer students hands-on experience, La Trobe Sport’s Sport Media & Communications Coordinator Ben Rowles explained “The UBL provides an outstanding on-the-job learning experience for those completing their internship by providing them with valuable exposure to the inner workings of running a sporting organisation and the successful delivery of a match day sporting experience.”

As part of La Trobe’s goal to be the university of choice for sport in Australia, La Trobe Sport’s industry-leading placements are designed to provide practical experience for students. Mr Rowles said that interns are encouraged to apply their classroom knowledge and skillsets to play a key role in the professional delivery of the UBL, while also receiving mentorship and guidance from sport industry professionals within the La Trobe Sport team. This approach has made the UBL an incredible learning experience, with interns taking on essential responsibilities across game day operations, from managing team administration and coordinating the match day schedule to providing sideline commentary, hosting the livestream broadcast, and handling marketing and social media coverage.

Among the interns this year were Ava Stone, a Digital Content Producer Intern, and Ojas Deshpande, an Events, Facilities & Partnerships Intern, who were given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fast-paced world of sport.

For Ava, she found that through her internship she gained an idea of what it is realistically like to work in the sports industry. “It’s been great to see what the industry is like, to take learnings and apply it in real-time under a time constraint” she shared, adding that she would highly recommend interning with La Trobe Sport to other students, noting that the team understands what it’s like to be a university student and provides guidance on balancing work and study. Ava’s roles and responsibilities included running the game day social media, and clipping highlights to showcase what La Trobe men’s and women’s teams have to offer in the UBL.

Reflecting on his internship, Ojas emphasised how it provided him value beyond what the classroom and books can offer as he helped ensure game days ran smoothly. “Putting theory to practical knowledge has been a great part of this internship, as there’s a lot more you can learn while you’re interning or working, than you can just studying” he said, adding that he has learned a lot about sport operations and that the internship wasn’t just a requirement to tick off his academic calendar, but an experience he genuinely looked forward to each week.

La Trobe Sport also held a press conference run by Media and Communications students with representatives from the men’s and women’s teams during the UBL season, providing another powerful example of how universities can integrate sport and education to deliver authentic work-integrated learning opportunities. The chance to interview Women’s Team Coach Cameron Burt and Men’s Team Captain Samuel Holland gave students insight into La Trobe’s UBL campaign, as well as confidence and experience that will support their future careers in media and communications.

Reflecting on the broader impact of La Trobe Sport’s internships, Mr Rowles said “Speaking purely on the media, communications, and content creation portfolio I oversee, 80% of the students who have completed Digital Content Producer internships with La Trobe Sport since 2021 have gone on to secure roles at prominent sporting organisations like Collingwood Football Club, Cricket Australia, Rugby Victoria, and Triple M, just to name a few.” These outcomes highlight how La Trobe Sport’s hands-on approach not only enhances game day operations but also equips students with the skills and professional networks they need to launch successful careers in the sport and media industries.

Looking ahead, La Trobe is committed to continuing and expanding these opportunities for students looking to work in the sport industry. “Providing work-integrated learning experiences is extremely important for our business unit to ensure we are playing our part in helping the University meet its strategic objectives” Mr Rowles said, noting that the UBL is just one component of what makes up an internship with La Trobe Sport.

La Trobe’s leadership in providing hands-on sporting experiences connects classroom learning with real-world practice, enriching the student experience and supporting the goals outlined in UniSport’s 2025–2028 Strategic Plan to give students practical exposure through our leagues and events.

By turning the New Balance UBL into an applied learning opportunity for their students, La Trobe Sport has created a program that delivers real value, equipping interns with practical skills, industry insight, and confidence to support their future careers. The initiative demonstrates how universities can integrate sport and education to make a meaningful impact on both students and the broader university sporting community.