For Creative Enterprise student Tracy Bell, a good work project ends with up to 3000 people running down a street or diving into the ocean..

Tracy Bell

It's a typical culmination of one of the major sporting events she organises - including triathlons, marathons, bike races and endurance swims. 

And it makes the months of behind-the-scenes office administration worthwile.

Tracy, from the Sunshine Coast, still has 4 subjects to go with her Bachelor of Creative Enterprise degree - and is not due to finish until 2009 - but her study has already helped her find a dream job.

"Towards the latter part of my degree I sat down and put some serious thought as to where this was all taking me," she said.

"I analysed what my strengths/weaknesses/loves were and decided that (A) I loved sport; (B) I was good at organising things; and (C) I loved diversity in a job."

Tracy said she researched what businesses were on the Sunshine Coast that could satisfy her needs.

Tracy Bell - a new career cycle

"I came across USM Events.  There it was!  Everything I wanted in a job.

"As part of my BCE degree I had 2 prac placements left to complete so I approached USM Events .

"They were so supportive and welcomed me on board.  My first event with them was the 25th Anniversary of the Noosa Triathlon Festival in 2007.  I was exhausted but I loved it.  I'd found the best job ever.

"I finished my 12 weeks with them at which point in time (lucky for me) one of their event co-ordinators resigned.  I applied for the job and they hired me.

"I've now been there for near on 4 months and haven't looked back.  I love the company, the job and the people.  Things can get pretty busy at times but everyone supports each other to ensure that all our events are an outstanding success."

Some of USM major events include:

Noosa and Mooloolaba Triathlons;

Noosa Half Marathon;

Noosa Blue Water Swim;

Portfolio Partners Century: Brisbane to Noosa 100 Mile (160km) Bike Ride;

Noosa Enduro.

Tracy was originaly born in Victoria in a small country town in East Gippsland call Orbost (population of 3000!). She finished Year 11 but was not interested at that point in time in going any further with her studies.

"I moved to Melbourne and did a 1-year business studies course which lead me into a secretarial position with a law firm.  I basically spent the next 10 years of my life working within the legal industry, starting out as a secretary and moving over to the marketing side, still within a law firm, towards the end of that 10 years.

"It was my taste back then of marketing/event co-ordination that has probably put in motion the reason for me completing my BCE degree.

"After leaving the legal industry I pretty much took time out and travelled the world for the next 4 years.  This was the best time of my life but at some point I decided I couldn't do it forever (unfortunately) and I needed to find something that would see me into my old age.

"I originally began studying a teaching degree with CQU however decided after the first year that - although I loved kids - spending all day locked up in a room with them just wasn't my idea of fun.

"It was at this point in time that CQU introduced the BCE program, so I quickly jumped on board.   It looked the kind of degree that was exactly what I was after.

"I broadened my studies (which the BCE allowed me to do) and studied elements of public relations, journalism, creative writing, photography and tourism.  It was fantastic as it gave me an overview of how each of these fields worked together and supported each other."