EELS INSTITUTE WRAP UP - TERM 2 2026
Updated: Aug 12
And, just like that our inaugural cohort are half-way through their 12-month program at the Eels Institute. The personal and professional growth that I’ve witnessed in these students over the past 6 months has blown my mind (I’m so proud!).
Here’s a snapshot of what’s been happening around-the-grounds in Term 2...
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE:
In Term 2, our students have engaged in another 1300+ hours of practical work experience at the Parramatta Eels through Game Days, Club Events & Appearances, as well as Work Placements & Internships.
Game Days
Let’s start with Game Days... In the past term, we’ve had:
25 students contribute to our 5th, Home Game of the season against the Warriors.
27 students contribute to our 6th, Home Game of the season against the Raiders.
27 students contribute to our 7th, Home Game of the season against the Rabbitohs.
28 students contribute to our 8th, Home Game of the season against Manly.
Our students rotate through six core game day roles, but have also had the opportunity to support with game-by-game specific opportunities, such as helping with Directors’ Club, supporting with Mitch Moses’ 250-game-milestone celebrations and assisting with Former Players & Officials during Old Boys’ round.
Club Events & Appearances
Our students have also continued to support with a variety of Club Events & Appearances, allowing them to gain exposure to a variety of different departments at the Parramatta Eels:
Club Event: | Departments Overseeing Event: |
Academy Presentation Night | Academy/Elite Pathways + Game Day & Events |
NRLW Content Day | NRLW + Digital & Content |
Western Sydney League Stars Challenge Gala Day | Game Development |
Captain’s Run x Foundation | NRL + Foundation & Community |
Junior Member Clinic | Game Development + Consumer (Membership) |
Yarn at the Farm | Foundation & Community |
Work Placements & Internships
In Term 2, we started to unlock more structured blocks of work experience for our students through work placements and internships.
Our work placements are where students spend 1 day/wk for 4-6 weeks supporting a department of interest. We recently had 2 of our students complete a work placement within the NRL High Performance department. They both gained authentic insight into Coaching, Athletic Performance, Sports Science, Sports Medicine, Nutrition and Logistics for our first-grade, NRL squad. Curious about their experience during this work placement...?
Our internships are extended versions of these work placements. This is where students spend 1-2 days/wk for 12 weeks supporting a department of interest. In Term 2, we’ve had students complete internships across Game Day & Events, Hospitality & Membership.
The advantage of these more structured blocks of practical experience is that students simulate what it’s like to act as an extension of a Parramatta Eels department. This enables them to gain real-life, industry experience that they can reference on their CVs and in interviews, whilst simultaneously building strong connections with people in sport. Win-Win.
You can read more about their internship reflections below:
GUEST SPEAKERS:
Our students have gained further insight into the inner-workings of a professional sporting organisation through another set of engaging, Guest Speaker sessions:
They learnt about:
Impactful Events & Experiences in Sport from Monique Austin (Game Day & Events Manager)
Marketing & Branding in Sport from Maddy Dirks (Marketing Manager)
Digital & Social Platforms in Sport from Lauren Ferreira (Senior Manager – Content & Digital Commercialisation)
Foundation & Community in Sport from Belinda Woolford (General Manager – Foundation & Community)
Not only do our students leave these sessions with authentic insight into these concepts and departments, but they walk away inspired by each speakers’ career journey. In these sessions, our students are quickly learning that most people who are working in roles in sport that they aspire to didn’t follow a prescribed, 5 year plan; they landed these ‘dream roles’ in their own unique, authentic and non-linear way.
LOOKING AHEAD TO TERM 3:
Along with our remaining Home Games for the season and a number of Club Events & Appearances, we’ve got students doing work placements and internships across:
NRL High Performance
NRLW Operations
NSW Women’s Premiership
Marketing & Media
Partnerships
Community & Foundation
Game Day & Events
Consumer – Hospitality
Consumer – Membership
We’re also super excited to welcome our next cohort of Eels Institute students who will be kicking off a Dual Diploma of Project Management / Leadership & Management. This course will be contextualised around the NRL in Vegas initiative. These students will simulate what it’s like to project manage and lead the Club going to Vegas in class... and because the Parramatta Eels are going to Vegas in 2027, they'll gain insight into this project in real-time through a curated line up of Guest Speakers from the Club. They'll also get to contribute to helping the Club prepare for Vegas in 2027 through their practical experience later in the year.
In other words, it's an exciting time to be a student at the Eels Institute!!!
- Kirstene Ciappara | Education Program Manager, Parramatta Eels
WANT TO JOIN US AT THE EELS INSTITUTE IN 2027?
If you’re interested in studying at the Eels Institute in 2027, you can jump on our waitlist here!
