GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Internships in Australia

Meet Thomas Dickman, AustraLearn Internship alum

GO: What originally inspired you to intern in Australia with AustraLearn?

Thomas: I've always wanted to study abroad, but playing Varsity Basketball for the University of Mary Washington limited my time frame for traveling to the summer months. I attended a study abroad fair sponsored by the school and was immediately intrigued by Australia's vivid culture. There were a number of different providers that I spoke with, but GlobaLinks and AustraLearn stuck out to me. They were very personable, and after explaining my situation to them, Mike Green, one of the Senior Leaders in the organization suggested I look into internship possibilities with the National Basketball League. I fell in love with the idea, and applied for the Marketing Internship at the Headquarters in Sydney, Australia.

Tad at the ANZ Stadium during his NBL internship

GO: Describe your day to day activities as an intern for the NBL.

Thomas: Working for the National Basketball League of Australia was definitely a blessing. They were very trusting and encouraging with projects, and allowed me to personalize these to the best of my ability. A typical day consisted of conducting interviews of various players and coaches in the league.

I had the opportunity to work on the NBL's social media sites: posting new content, interacting with fans, and planning trivia contests/promotional giveaways. On multiple occasions, I did site visits to a few of the neighboring teams (Wollongong Hawks/Sydney Kings) where we took pictures, talked to players, and observed training. A few of the long-term projects I worked on were developing the league's 300-page media guide, updating team rosters and player profiles, and brainstorming ideas for the 2012 Season Marketing Plan.

Tad skydiving over Australia!

GO: How has this experience impacted your future?

Thomas: This internship really opened my eyes to the determination and motivation it takes to be successful in the Sports Industry. Furthermore, it confirmed my passion to pursue this as a career. Working with the NBL has definitely impacted my life in other forms as well.

Personally, I became very attached to the league and the teams, and continued to make an impression by writing a blog about the NBL for one of my classes: An American Perspective on the Australian NBL. I participated in the league's Fantasy Games and still interact with my colleagues on a regular basis. Professionally, as I begin to apply for jobs in the Sports Industry, many of the qualifications that are required to work with these teams, I completed during my internship. I have had many employers comment on the unique experience that international work brings to an organization.

Academically, this internship allowed me to focus my interests on Sports Marketing and Communications. I now work as an intern with my University's Athletic Department, and strive to bring many of the tools I learned from the National Basketball League to my peers at school. The internship allowed me to progress individually in many realms. I feel very confident that the skills I learned will benefit me in the workforce after college, but more importantly, the friendships and relationships I built with my roommates, colleagues, and supervisors while in Australia are something I cherish every day and will never forget.

Meet Brandon Gilbert, AustraLearn Internship alum

Brandon and some friends at the acmi

GO: What originally inspired you to intern in Australia with AustraLearn?

Brandon: I was originally inspired to go to Australia because I wanted something different for my internship experience. Anyone can get an internship, and almost everyone does before graduating college...but how many people can say they were willing to go halfway around the world to do theirs? It's also a plus that I love to travel, and going to Australia was a dream come true.

GO: Describe your day to day activities as an intern in Australia.

Brandon: Everyday I would work on projects. The bigger projects that I had (and consistently worked on) were developing content and editing design for the website, and developing tools for teams to use in their marketing campaigns. I also sat in conference calls and attended meetings frequently, because many of the people involved with Softball Australia are scattered in different territories.

GO: How has this experience impacted your future?

Brandon: This experience was almost like living a dream. There were many times when I had to stop and say "wow, I'm really here" and I truly appreciate the fact that I was blessed enough to go. I get asked by all of my friends how it was, and I never get sick of telling stories. It's also a GREAT resource on a resume. Employers get dozens of papers with names, dates, and educational backgrounds...but having a professional reference/experience in Australia makes my resume standout and it's ALWAYS a topic of discussion in an interview. That alone at least gets me noticed. I've also become good friends with a few of the people I went on the trip with. I'll never forget those people or the experiences we shared...it was truly special.

Brandon won the Gold in the Olympics. Wait a second...