TALS Heads North: Academy to Expand into Launceston in 2026

The Tasmania Football Club is proud to announce that the Tasmania Academy of Leadership and Sport (TALS) will expand to Launceston in 2026, marking a major step forward for the state’s next generation of sports professionals.

Launched in Hobart earlier this year, TALS has already made a huge impact. The program is built off a strong partnership between the Club and TasTAFE, backed by AFL Tasmania, the JackJumpers, Cricket Tasmania and Netball Tasmania, combining classroom learning with real-world experience in the sporting industry. In its first year alone, it’s welcomed 55 students and created real career pathways, like that of current student Lily Mills, who now works as an Operations Assistant with the Devils.

Now, with demand growing across the state, the Academy is heading north.

“Expanding to Launceston means more young Tasmanians can access high-quality, career-focused education right here at home,” said Tasmania Football Club’s Jesse O’Hara.

TALS students will study nationally recognised diplomas of Leadership & Management and  Sport, complete over 100 hours of industry placement, and gain direct exposure to some of Tasmania’s top sporting organisations, all while staying grounded in their local community.

For The Devils, this move is about more than education, it’s about building a stronger, more sustainable ecosystem and community for the entire state.