RMIT University Students Gain Work-Integrated Learning Experience at 2025 UniSport Nationals

At the 2025 UniSport Nationals (Nationals), RMIT University turned participation into more than just competition, giving Media, Chiropractic and Osteopathy students the chance to bridge classroom knowledge with hands-on experience through work-integrated learning placements at the event. Opportunities like this allow students to develop practical skills, gain confidence, and see the real-world value of their studies in action.

Led by RMIT Manager for Sport & Fitness Steve Harrison, Active Digital Engagement Officer Sofia D’elia-Ruggiero, Active Programs Coordinator Marco Serruto, and Active Programs Officer Alannah Busch, the initiative put these students in a fast-paced, high-performance sport setting. Mr Serruto discussed the motivation behind RMIT choosing the UniSport Nationals as the event to bring these students to, building on what is already a strong work integrated-learning placement for media and allied health students through the RMIT Sports Academy, saying “expanding our program to UniSport Nationals made a lot of sense as it improves the overall experience for our participating athletes by giving them amazing exposure and content by our talented media team, while our sports trainers gave the athletes every chance to perform at their best in such a high-level competition.”

RMIT prepped students to step into the dynamic Nationals environment through multiple briefings prior to the event, including sessions on the sports involved, an introduction to the staff and team managers, supplying them with the relevant equipment, and a general overview of the week.

For the Osteopathy and Chiropractic students, Nationals offered invaluable hands-on experience supporting athletes and applying classroom knowledge. There were six allied health students that took part in practical learning at Nationals, aligning with their studies. For Osteopathy student Ryan Clegg (Fifth-year Osteopathy), who returned to Nationals as a Sports Trainer after competing in 2023 and volunteering in 2024, he found that compared to the classroom, being at Nationals gave him the chance to apply his learnings in real-world situations, particularly in athlete support. “Treating acute injuries is not something I see much of in my clinical experience,” said Ryan, “and Nationals offered an opportunity I normally wouldn’t get. Working at Nationals gave me more practice and exposure to acute injuries, and I worked with athletes on how to get them to their fittest without risking further injury.”

Working closely with athletes throughout the competition also showed him the impact he could have on the field. “My time at Nationals reaffirmed my passion for wanting to work in sport, I love working with athletes and seeing them overcome adversity to perform to their best” he shared, reflecting on how his Nationals experience strengthened his commitment to Osteopathy. “The most rewarding part was knowing I’ve helped players’ performance and return to the sport they’re passionate about” he added.

Ryan’s experience highlights how Nationals serves as more than just a sporting competition, but offers a platform for practical, real-world learning. While allied health students applied their skills in athlete care and recovery, others found their learning opportunities through capturing content. As the osteopathy and chiropractic students supported players on the sidelines, the sports media students caught the action on the field.

This year, the RMIT Sports Media Program brought their largest team of volunteers to Nationals with four media students, alongside an additional four work-integrated learning students who contributed in the two months leading up to the event. The four students who didn’t travel to the Gold Coast still gained practical experience and skills to add to their resumes, but for the four students who did, it was a chance to put their learning’s into practice in a live sports environment.

Inspired by the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and with a goal of photographing Brisbane 2032, for student Taylah Chapman (Master of Photography) attending Nationals was the perfect learning opportunity to capture a wide range of sports as she discussed how the week was her entry into shooting a multi-sport event. “Nationals provided an experience to build my portfolio as for me, I have shot a little bit of sport before but not a lot, so it was a great chance to be exposed to an event that has so many different sports” she said.

For student Margaritha Jesslyn (Master of Media) she noted that her biggest learning from Nationals was how to edit quickly during live sporting events, something the classroom doesn’t necessarily teach. “Sport moves fast, and you need to be on time and relatable with your content, so you need to edit on the go and that is something we haven’t learnt much of at university. Nationals gave me the opportunity to adapt and become better at that” she shared.

Sport media students were guided by RMIT Active Digital Engagement Officer Sofia D’elia-Ruggiero, who is a shining example of a student who benefited from work-integrated learning whilst at university to shape her career and unlock opportunities. Volunteering for the RMIT Sports Media Program whilst undertaking her Bachelor of Arts (Photography) degree helped her discover a passion for content creation and communications, paving the way to awards, an internship, a casual position and now her current role as Head of Digital Engagement for RMIT Active. “Since starting full-time, I’ve focused heavily on growing the RMIT Sports Media Program, which means so much to me as I wouldn’t be here without it” she said, as the program has now reached 60 participants.

Having attended Nationals from 2022 to 2025, Ms D’elia-Ruggiero knows how valuable the experiences provided to students at an event of this calibre are. “I am so excited to continue building opportunities like this at Nationals because I have seen firsthand how much it can change a university students’ life. There is truly nothing like Nationals out there for students as it gives them an environment to learn hands-on like no other” she shared.

Mr Serruto (Active Programs Coordinator) observed that the work-integrated learning opportunity fostered both personal and professional growth in the students through the new connections built with RMIT athletes and teams, and learning to navigate the dynamic environment and apply their skills effectively. On how this experience will then support their transition into the workforce after university, Mr Serruto said “it gives them real-world experience to perform under pressure and exposes them to sports they may not have had the chance to be involved with previously, further expanding their practical skillset and preparing them for life post-studies.”

RMIT’s leadership in the work-integrated learning space not only strengthens the student experience but also reflects the goals outlined in UniSport’s 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, encouraging programs that connect the classroom to the competition field and gives students practical experiences through our leagues and events.

The value the opportunity provided was prevalent for the RMIT students, as they were able to step beyond the classroom, take on meaningful roles in a professional sports environment, and develop practical skills. By turning the 2025 Nationals event into a hands-on learning opportunity for their students, RMIT has helped them take the next step in their career journey, showcasing that experience off the competition field can be just as transformative as the moments on it.

(C) All photographs courtesy of RMIT University and may not be used without the express permission of the university.