Build Something Real Before You Graduate
Most students leave university with theory but no practical experience managing actual money. We think that's backwards. Our programme puts real event budgets in your hands so you learn by doing.
Apply for September 2025How It Works
This isn't a simulation or a hypothetical case study. You'll work with actual community events across Sydney and surrounding areas that need budget coordination.
- Partner with local festivals, charity functions, and university events
- Manage budgets ranging from three thousand to fifteen thousand dollars
- Work alongside experienced financial coordinators who mentor you
- Present findings to real stakeholders who depend on your accuracy
The programme runs for twelve weeks during autumn semester 2025. You'll spend about eight hours weekly on your project, which fits around most class schedules.
What You Actually Learn
Spreadsheets are fine, but they don't teach you what happens when a vendor invoice arrives late or when weather forces last-minute changes.
You'll handle vendor negotiations, unexpected cost overruns, and the kind of pressure that comes when real people are counting on you. That's the bit universities usually skip.
Past participants have worked on everything from food truck festivals to university orientation weeks. One group managed the budget for a three-day music event with seventeen different vendors and fluctuating attendance projections.
Recent Project Spotlight
In March 2025, a team of four commerce students coordinated the budget for Auburn's Spring Fair. They dealt with seventeen vendors, last-minute stage equipment changes, and a rainy forecast that required contingency planning.
The event served about two thousand attendees and stayed within budget despite weather challenges. More importantly, those students now understand financial planning in a way no textbook could teach them.
Who You'll Work With
Each project team works directly with an experienced financial coordinator who's managed dozens of real events. They're there when things get complicated, which they always do.
Ingrid Solberg
Senior Financial Coordinator
Spent nine years coordinating budgets for corporate events and community festivals. She doesn't sugarcoat the messy bits, which students appreciate when they're stuck.
Tamsin Kavanagh
Event Budget Specialist
Worked with councils across New South Wales managing public event finances. She's particularly good at helping students navigate unexpected vendor issues and contract complications.
Bronte Llewellyn
Programme Coordinator
Coordinates all student placements and handles the logistics behind matching teams with appropriate events. Previously managed budgets for university departments and knows the academic side well.
