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Public Relations students rise to the fore
If there’s a major event happening on the Sunshine Coast in the next few weeks, it’s highly likely that Public Relations students from the University of the Sunshine Coast will be involved.
Teams of students are enthusiastically using the skills and knowledge they have developed at USC to stage a range of events and promote various organisations for assessment in the subject Public Relations Event Project.
The events include the promotion of Cystic Fibrosis Queensland at the Ladies’ Oaks Day Races at Corbould Park this Friday (28 May), and staging a new event called Operation Rescue at Stockland Park on Sunday (30 May) to honour and support the region’s emergency services personnel.
Other PR student projects have included helping Sunshine Coast Regional Council plan next month’s “GreenJune” activities to encourage eco-friendly living, collating an electronic book about an inspirational organisation called The Encouragement Foundation, and promoting the expansion of Noosa Longweekend Festival activities into Caloundra from 18-27 June.
The students involved in Friday’s race day fundraising – Karis Howard, Marlise O’Sullivan and Samantha Steele – aim to collect $10,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Queensland (CFQ).
Along with $2 from each entry ticket going to CFQ, the students also will raise funds at the racecourse through a “monster raffle”, a merchandise stand, and selling red roses to race day patrons.
A team of eight PR students have planned and organised Sunday’s Operation Rescue event to generate awareness about the Sunshine Coast’s emergency services.
The huge event will feature information and demonstrations by emergency services, live music, children’s entertainment and food stalls. Visitors will be encouraged to donate money or volunteer their time to assist the emergency organisations.
Public Relations academic Dr Amalia Matheson said the Public Relations Event Project subject provided students with invaluable work experience and connected them with potential employers.
She said many students this semester had been involved in developing projects from scratch, organising proposals, support and sponsorship, and in implementing plans for what will be very large community events.
— Terry Walsh