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QUT-AIS Scholarship recipient and Olympic water polo player Elle Armit is forging a path in athlete and career education after landing a role with Water Polo Australia in the Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement team and as a high school teacher.
Elle completed a Graduate Certificate in Education, Career Counselling and Development this year and hopes to draw on her elite athlete experience and university education to assist other athletes in realising their full potential.
“Whilst studying at QUT and juggling my sporting commitments I tapped into the elite athlete program, as well as the careers and education advisors at QAS to jointly to obtain support which enabled me to access convenient times for training, as well as help in navigating extensionsand other assistance where needed,” she said.
Elle competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and was a member of the Aussie Stingers water polo squad. In 2019 she was a member of the bronze medal winning team who contested the World Championships in South Korea and juggled the responsibilities of meeting academic deadlines whilst competing on the world’s largest competitive stage.
“Having the experience as an athletehas helped me in both my areas of work, as I feel I bring key transferable skills that employers value such as working in teams and communicating with a variety of people.”
Water Polo Australia Performance Services, Wellbeing and Engagement Manager Sharyn Arnold said that one of the greatest challenge athletes’ faces is time management.
“Commitment to sport, including competing domestically and internationally, juggling education commitments, meeting training and program requirements, attending engagement sessions while also juggling work or study is a huge challenge.”
“Having a strong support network and a number of people who can advocate on the athlete’s behalf whilst they juggle their sporting commitments and career development is crucial” she said.
“At times athletes can feel overwhelmed not only psychologically, but also financially and that's where scholarships and financial support from the university can really assist and provide athletes with that additional chance to succeed.”
As a QUT-AIS Scholarship holder and member of QUT’s Elite Athlete Program, Elle was supported with a range of services that enabled academic flexibility, personal and professional development, scholarships, and bursaries
Applications for QUT Sport Scholarships are now open.