Diversity is the hallmark of the 2023 recipients with medal winning athletes from Olympic and Paralympic sports including rowing, sailing, Para athletics and Para swimming, looking to join internship industries and sectors such as sustainability, youth development, education, change management, sport science and sport management.
The Prime Minister’s Scholarship Internship Pilot provides paid internship opportunities for athletes as they look to gain valuable work experience in their chosen field while continuing their sporting career.
The 2023 recipients and their chosen industry sector are:
- Kristen Froude (rowing) – Environmental Sustainability and Animal Welfare
- Ben Tuimaseve (Para athletics) – Youth Development and Education
- Danielle Aitchison (Para athletics) – Sport, Youth Development and Education
- Alexandra Maloney (sailing) – Health, Organisational Psychology and Change Management
- Kobe Miller (rowing) – Sport Science and Management
- Sionann Murphy (Para athletics and Para swimming) – Special Needs Education
Each athlete will undertake their paid internship with a partner organisation or business aligned to their chosen area of career interest and tertiary education.
HPSNZ PM’s Scholarship Internship programme lead, Hannah McLean, says the success of the 2022 programme has paved the way for this second group of recipients.
“The feedback from athlete interns and employers has been fantastic this year. For athletes, being able to take up a flexible internship has ‘demystified’ the workplace and given them the confidence they will be able to transition into a post sports career when the time comes.
“Employers have been impressed with the values and skills that high performance athletes can bring to their workplaces and appreciate the financial support from HPSNZ to make internships possible.”
Two of the 2023 recipients, sailor Alexandra Maloney and Para athletics competitor Danielle Aitchison, are both excited and privileged to have received an internship.
“I hope to gain confidence, knowledge and skills in the next two years that will help set me up for my career post-Olympic campaigning,” says Alexandra.
“I am really excited for this opportunity. It feels empowering to be making proactive steps towards my future career while still pursuing my sporting dreams. I also think learnings across both pursuits will complement each other and provide me with transferable skills.”
Danielle says she is very happy to receive the internship and the opportunity it provides to extend her learning into a workplace of interest while training towards a pinnacle event.
“I am excited to get into a work environment and learn new things that will contribute towards my career in the future. It is a real privilege to have received this opportunity to work alongside HPSNZ with an organisation to gain more understanding of a work/training balance to help me prepare for the future.”
Read what athlete interns from the 2022 cohort have to say about the HPSNZ Prime Minister’s Scholarship Internship Pilot.
