For thousands of young Australians, sport is a major part of life. Training, competing and dreaming of playing professionally can create incredible ambition, discipline and determination. But while many young athletes dream of reaching the highest level, only a small percentage will ultimately build a long-term professional sporting career.
That doesn’t mean they should stop dreaming. It means having a game plan that extends beyond the field.
This year, Say Yes to the Trades will bring that message to life with special guest and newly appointed STC Sporting & Trades Ambassador Bryan Fletcher.
Bryan knows both sides of the story. Before building a successful career in professional rugby league, he trained as a plumber, giving him a practical qualification and a set of skills beyond sport. His journey makes him a natural fit for STC’s message that education, sport and vocational skills don’t have to compete with one another.
Sport teaches many of the same qualities valued in the workplace: commitment, teamwork, resilience, punctuality, communication and the willingness to keep learning. A trade can turn those qualities into a career that provides opportunities long after competitive sport comes to an end.
That is especially important for young athletes. Talent alone cannot guarantee a professional career. Injuries happen, interests change, opportunities can disappear, and even successful sporting careers eventually finish. Having a qualification and practical skills provides another pathway forward.
This is why STC wants young people to see trades differently. Becoming an electrician, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, plumber, carpenter or another skilled professional is not a second choice or simply a backup plan. These are careers with opportunities to specialise, build businesses, lead teams and continue developing throughout life.
On 27 August at Entertainment Park Bankstown, Say Yes to the Trades will give students the opportunity to meet industry, experience different trades and discover where those pathways could take them—with Bryan Fletcher joining the event to help reinforce one simple message:
Play hard. Train smart. Build your future.
