Chris Young, The Border Mail
Former international basketballer and three-time Olympic silver medallist, Lauren Jackson, has joined the Richmond Institute of Sports Leadership as the club looks to expand into the Albury-Wodonga region next year.
The football club, which owns subsidiary business Aligned Leisure, offer a duel Diploma of Sport Development and Leadership Management in conjunction with the Swinburne University of Technology.
There were 180 students taking the course at the Richmond-based centre in 2018, and the club is looking to bolster that number when they open a new centre on the Border next year.
Jackson said she was excited to be an ambassador for the program, adding she was keen to pass on knowledge from her experience going from a top regional athlete to one of the world’s best basketball players.
“I really like what Richmond are doing, how they’re expanding,” Jackson said.
“For me, education is paramount, for young people in particular.
“This program is going to cater to a lot people’s needs in this community and I’m really proud to be a part of it.
“I keep going back to my childhood – I failed high school, in terms of education I had no idea what I wanted to do.
“A program like this would have been ideal for me to step into.”
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said he was keen for the program to reach the Border.
“We’ve already seen some encouraging outcomes and success from our RISL program, it’s a quality and unique course and partnered with a respected university in Swinburne, so we’re really excited to bring it to Albury-Wodonga,” he said.
Students in the Albury-Wodonga course will study the Diploma of Sports Development.
To learn more about RISL’s new Albury-Wodonga Course for 2019, register your interest for the open information evening at: https://richmondinst.wpengine.com/albury-wodonga/
RISL Albury-Wodonga Open Day
Tuesday, November 20 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Catholic College Wodonga