Tiktok on screen

Tiktok and the music industry – could it be a match made in heaven?

Our PR Director, Michelle Smytheman, is passionate about helping emerging professionals in the communications industry and teaches at the University of the Sunshine Coast. As part of an assessment task this year, there have been some excellent blogs written by first-year students about emerging business trends. We are proud to share their work.

By Georgia Lundie-Jenkins

How do you find new music? Do you listen to different radio stations on your morning commute or maybe scour the endless “Made For You” playlists on Spotify? On average, a person listens to approximately 961 hours and 10 minutes of music per year. As a staple of life in the 21st century, individuals are embracing new ways of finding new music, sometimes without even realising it. Let me explain.

Young athletes

Are You Ready Brisbane?

Our PR Director, Michelle Smytheman, is passionate about helping emerging professionals in the communications industry and teaches at the University of the Sunshine Coast. As part of an assessment task this year, there have been some excellent blogs written by first-year students about emerging business trends. We are proud to share their work.

How to Motivate Young Athletes for the upcoming 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. 

By Eva Timmermans & Isabel Rowan 

Did you know that 41% of Australians who are aged 15+ are participating in sport-related activities at least once a week (Clearing House for Sport 2022). However, approximately 30% of teenagers drop out of sports (Vella, Schweickle & Sutcliffe 2020).

For me I have definitely seen this statistic relevant in sports I’ve participated in and especially for girls, it is a lot more common. As teenagers get older and especially as the end of their schooling life draws nearer, it becomes a lot more challenging to find the time to still participate in sport while balancing socialising and studies! Personally, I tended to prioritise sport and social life over studies and as a result of that I found myself extremely stressed the night before an assessment was due. I’m assuming a lot of you can relate to that!

 

“From experience I know that finding the motivation to continue competing in a sport that you love and are passionate about can be difficult.”

 Sport-Life Balance

Are you an athlete? Do you find yourself struggling to juggle between sport, work, study, social and family commitments? Well, this is a space for you! As a young athlete I know that it can be challenging to find that sport-life balance. From experience I know that finding the motivation to continue competing in a sport that you love and are passionate about can be difficult. Personally, I struggled so much trying to navigate my final year of high-school studies with work, life and sport that I gave up sport for a whole year and I hated it! I needed that source of fitness and social interaction for my wellbeing. We are here to help young athletes to stay motivated and to get ready for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games!

 

QAS – You For 2032

The Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) has created a new program designed for young and aspiring athletes in their search for the next generation of sports men and women to compete at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This program is called the YouFor2032 Talent Identification Program and involves QAS identifying and then developing and nurturing young Queensland talents that have the potential to win on the world Olympic stage. It is designed for athletes aged between 13 and 23 years old as of 2023. This program helps in motivating young athletes to aim big to achieve their goals and continue to work hard in order to reach these goals.

“To be motivated means to be moved into action” (Sounders, B, 2019)

 

Self-Determination Theory

“To be motivated means to be moved into action,” (Sounders, B 2019) . Which is easier said than done. Setting your alarm for 4.45 am for training is one thing, but actually getting up and out of bed when it sounds is another. How can we motivate ourselves as athletes and nurture those with athletic potential around us? Now more than ever, with the opportunity of the 2032 Olympic Games approaching, it is essential that we motivate young athletes in order for them to have the chance to compete and represent Australia on a world stage. This is where the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) comes into play.

So, what is the Self-Determination Theory anyway? Well, the Self-Determination Theory is actually comprised of four theories, but we will just be focusing on the two most important theories for athletes. This includes the CET (Cognitive Evaluation Theory) which refers to the social development in motivational findings, emphasising the athlete’s value on sport, based on the external rewards and positive feedback they receive. This also includes BNT (Basic Needs Theory) which focusses on three psychological needs: competence, relatedness and autonomy. These basic needs include the need for athletes to feel effective in their environment, have quality connections with their peers and fellow athletes and the need to feel that they are initiating their actions (Keegan, R et al 2011). Click here to read more on the self-determination theory!

 

Athlete Motivation Checklist

Based on the research conducted on SDT, it has been deduced that in order to keep athletes motivated as a community we must…

  1. Provide Encouragement and Positive Feedback. Use positive feedback as a reward to inspire athletes to reach their full potential. Ara Parseghian (American Footballer) said that “A good coach will make his [or her] players see what they can be rather than what they are.”
  2. Welcome Mistakes! Reducing athletes’ critical thinking and negative, destructive thoughts on their performance is crucial to keep athletes motivated.
  3. Create a positive sport environment for athletes to feel safe and supported in order for them to create quality connections with their fellow athletes.
  4. Don’t put too much pressure on them! It is good to encourage, but when athletes start to question who is initiating their actions, sport starts to feel like a chore and can lead to negative performance outcomes (Donohue, B et al 2007).

 

What Can We Do?

To reduce the significant percentage of teenagers who drop out of sports, it is essential that we nurture and motivate them by integrating the Athlete Motivation Checklist into their everyday lives. By providing encouragement, welcoming mistakes, creating positive sporting communities and not putting too much pressure on young athletes, we can witness a growth in sport participation and interest in the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games through government run programs.

 

 

Electric Car

The Future of Cars is Electric – Is this the end of the ICE age?

Our PR Director, Michelle Smytheman, is passionate about helping emerging professionals in the communications industry and teaches at the University of the Sunshine Coast. As part of an assessment task this year, there have been some excellent blogs written by first-year students about emerging business trends. We are proud to share their work.

By Muskaan Singh

Electric vehicles are transforming the global automotive market. With new car-tech innovations allowing reduced energy costs, lower emissions and convenient home charging, it is no surprise major automakers are racing to bring electric cars to the market. However, what does this mean for the future of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles? Currently at 51.5% market share, ICE vehicles that rely on petrol or diesel fuels are in sharp decline. As a result of the pressures from government incentives, consumer buyer behaviour and technological advancements, ICE vehicles will be rendered obsolete by more sustainable alternatives.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT and Academics – a competitive advantage?

Our PR Director, Michelle Smytheman, is passionate about helping emerging professionals in the communications industry and teaches at the University of the Sunshine Coast. As part of an assessment task this year, there have been some excellent blogs written by first-year students about emerging business trends. We are proud to share their work.

By Zax Cox

ChatGPT, a man’s best friend. Well. It seems that way, doesn’t it. This new and emerging piece of AI has quickly changed the way all of society, but specifically, how academics see their way of learning. For those who may not be aware,  ChatGPT is essentially an advanced chat bot which has adaptive capabilities, in order to give the user the most efficient experience. This piece of AI has created an issue, and not an issue that can be fixed either.

Music Girl

Resurrecting music culture: Tik Tok’s Impact on Reviving the music industry

Our PR Director, Michelle Smytheman, is passionate about helping emerging professionals in the communications industry and teaches at the University of the Sunshine Coast. As part of an assessment task this year, there have been some excellent blogs written by first-year students about emerging business trends. We are proud to share their work.

By Natalie Sayed

Well, well, well, look who decided to grace us with their presence again!  Yes, it’s me, I’m back.

Now I know it’s been a while since I graced your screens with my witty banter so you’ve probably been wondering where I disappeared to, and why the world has been so dull without my blog posts. Well, don’t worry. I’m back and better than ever.

SCBA Business Awrds Launch Brekky

Business community gather to celebrate success and launch 2023 Business Awards

The Sunshine Coast is seen as the ‘entrepreneurial capital’ of Australia, and it is the reputation for hard work and dedication that the Sunshine Coast business community celebrated at the annual Small Business Month Breakfast in May, which was a huge success with a sell-out crowd of over 260 people present, with 50 at the information session that followed.

SCBA Small Bus Month Breaky panelists Darren McClenaghan (RACV Noosa Resort), Rachel Downie (Stymie), Thiago Perrone (Aussie Tiny Houses) with Sunshine Coast Business Awards chair Jennifer Swaine – photo by Barry Alsop

The event on Thursday 4th May, presented by the Sunshine Coast Business Awards, Sunshine Coast Council and Regional Development Australia (RDA), Sunshine Coast, also saw the 2023 Sunshine Coast Business Awards launched.

“With more than 40,500 small businesses, contributing to more than 50% of all employment for the region, it is no wonder that we are the envy of other regions,” Sunshine Coast Business Awards chair Jennifer Swaine said.

The 2022 BF Grant Recipients

Grants of up to $10,000 available to local community organisations thanks to Buderim Foundation

The Buderim Foundation is opening applications for its annual Community Grants Program for 2023, with grants of up to $10,000 available for local organisations with initiatives that make a positive impact on the local Buderim community.

The 2022 Buderim Foundation Grant Recipients

Applications open on Monday, 8th May to organisations serving the local 4556 community, and eligible applicants will need to apply online before Monday 19th June.

Buderim Foundation Grants Committee chair Rebecca Ramsay said the application process was easily completed online and successful applicants will be announced at the Foundation’s 2023 annual Community Grants Celebration on Sunday 10th September.

“The projects need to directly benefit residents within the 4556-postcode area with a diverse range of areas of interest from protecting our natural environment to supporting youth in our community,” Mrs Ramsay said.

SCBA_2023_Small_Business_Month_Breakfast_FB_Cover_820x360

Sunshine Coast business community to come together to celebrate achievement

The Sunshine Coast is seen as the ‘entrepreneurial capital’ of Australia, and it is the reputation for hard work and dedication that the Sunshine Coast business community will celebrate at the annual Small Business Month Breakfast in May.

The event on Thursday 4th May, presented by the Sunshine Coast Business Awards, Sunshine Coast Council and Regional Development Australia (RDA), Sunshine Coast, will also see the 2023 Sunshine Coast Business Awards launched.

“With more than 40,500 small businesses, contributing to more than 50% of all employment for the region, it is no wonder that we are the envy of other regions,” Sunshine Coast Business Awards chair Jennifer Swaine said.

“We have such a rich diversity of business and industries which is reflected by the business winners and finalists in our Awards year after year.”

RDA Sunshine Coast CEO Paul Fisher said the Queensland Small Business Month breakfast was the perfect forum to join fellow small business professionals in sharing stories of success, strategies for growth and to reflect on the past 12 months.

BWMCA Anzac Day Poster 2023-crop

Buderim community to come together to honour ANZAC veterans

The Buderim Community will come together for ANZAC Day (25th April) to honour veterans with a Dawn Service, March and Morning Service.

As part of a long-standing tradition a long-standing Buderim tradition, a local hero will be honoured as part of the ANZAC Day services, with a tribute by Buderim Mountain State School students.

This year’s hero is Lieutenant Commander David Chatfield Edwards RANR (deceased) who in his later life was known as Mr Buderim and was heavily involved in the community through his roles with the BWMCA and Buderim Foundation.

Guest speaker at Buderim Foundation breakfast Scott Foote 1

Deep Sea Adventure Diver to speak at Buderim Foundation breakfast

Deep sea diver and adventurer Scott Foote will be the special guest speaker at the next Buderim Foundation breakfast on Wednesday 29th March.

Mr Foote has lived a life of adventure, having travelled to over 74 countries throughout his life and will share just some of his extraordinary experiences.

Born in Mitchell before moving to Brisbane, Scott set off overseas with a backpack, aged 24, for 6 months and was gone for 21 years.

For 16 years, he worked in a very hostile environment as a Saturation Diver, living in a hyperbaric chamber for 28 days at a time, in seas and oceans around the world.

Buderim Foundation chair Rod McKinnon said Mr Foote’s presentation would give the audience a look beneath the oceans’ surface.

“Even recreational divers will be amazed by some of the environments that Scott has worked in and what he has done during his career,” Mr McKinnon said.

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