Match days and medical care drive cricketer’s aspirations
Fans have watched Sam Bates take wickets and make match-winning plays on the cricket field, but behind the scenes the CQUniversity student spent her time preparing for frontline emergency work.
The Sydney Thunder bowler and Women's Big Bash League star recently graduated from a Bachelor of Paramedic Science, proving that elite sport and higher education can go hand in hand.
Sam said CQU’s flexible study model allowed her to pursue both her education and her cricket career without compromise.
“I always wanted to pursue paramedicine but balancing it with my cricket commitments made it difficult.
“When I finished high school, I spoke with a few universities, but none were able to offer the flexibility I needed. At that stage of my life cricket had to come first,” Sam said.
“When I found out that CQU’s Bachelor of Paramedic Science could be studied online I applied that same night!
“It turned out to be the perfect fit especially as, over the past six years of study, I have lived in three different states and travelled internationally to play.”
Despite the demands of elite sport, Sam said she was determined to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a paramedic.
“When I was five my grandfather had a fall at home. The paramedics who came to help him made such an impact that I told my mum that day I wanted to be a paramedic.
“One of the biggest challenges was managing the workload, especially during peak cricket season or around exams and placement.
“There were times when I travelled constantly. I fitted assessments into hotel rooms or studied between training sessions,” she said.
“But in many ways, they became the perfect distraction from each other. When cricket was intense, study gave me something productive to focus on. And when uni felt overwhelming, training helped clear my head.”
She credited the support of CQU staff who she said were understanding of her cricket commitments.
“They’ve helped me navigate some challenging situations from allowing me to complete residential school while in a moon boot with a stress fracture, to working with me to structure placement in a way that still allowed me to play matches,” Sam said.
“Placement was a major highlight. I found it extremely rewarding and it gave me a huge appreciation for the fact that I get to play the game I love full-time and be paid for it.”
With her degree now complete, Sam’s long-term goal is to transition into full-time paramedic work.
“Seeing the demands, pressures and impact of frontline paramedic work made me even more grateful for my cricket career while also reinforcing my desire to step into paramedicine,” she said.
“I hope to continue developing my clinical skills, gain experience in different environments and eventually work towards a full-time position once my cricket career is finished.”
