Samara Camilleri may be a proficient hammer thrower, but it’s not her sporting prowess that has taken her a step closer to the Commonwealth Games.

The Griffith Business School student and former Queensland representative at multiple Australian Athletics Championships is among the growing number of interns to join the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) under a new program that prepares undergraduates for employment.

Samara, who is in her last semester of a Bachelor of Business with a double major in Sport Management and Event Management, has joined GOLDOC’s growing venue management team.

The 12-week internship, worth 40 credit points towards a degree, is the first of its kind for Griffith University and builds on its commitment to the Games as an official sponsor.

Samara hopes the internship will lead to a full-time position with GOLDOC.

“I will be doing my absolute best during the internship; I am big on doing things wholeheartedly,” said Samara, who has also indicated a strong interest in sport development as another pathway.

Samara, who started in competitive sports as an 11-year-old at Little Athletics, said she has one driving ambition for her career.

“When I was 16, I set my ambition to make a difference in as many lives as possible, and I feel I can really do that by using my personality and this degree,” she said.

Sport development

“I want to make sport a part of my life every day. I love sport development and it is likely to be a big part of my career.”

The hammer thrower is a dynamo at the club level. Her diminutive frame cuts a formidable figure as she winds up a throw from the hammer cage, and her competitive streak has even extended to participating in past Gold Coast Marathon events over the 10km route, ‘just to prove that throwers can run’.

However, it is in the field of sports development where she truly shines, according to Olympian Glynis Nunn-Cearns.

Samara is a member of Ignition Athletics on the Gold Coast, working closely with club coaches Leanne Hines-Smith and Mrs Nunn-Cearns.

“Samara is extremely supportive of others in the club and always willing to help the younger athletes hone their skills” said Mrs Nunn-Cearns, the club’s coaching co-ordinator.

“She actively seeks out help with her coaching development, asking to come and watch while other more experienced coaches are working. This is a great quality and one that is going to help her become the best coach and professional person she can be.”

Samara has already thrown herself into the new role at GOLDOC.

“I’m loving the time I spend working and learning with the Commonwealth Games venue management team because it is such an important aspect of any event, playing a large role in the overall event atmosphere and experience,” she said.

“It’s a fantastic work environment at GOLDOC, communicating across multiple functional areas which will go a long way to contributing to the best Games we can possibly deliver.”

The GOLDOC internship will see Samara join eight other Griffith University students working full time at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games headquarters until early October.