Elissia Carnavas | Former Matildas' star kicks new goals

QUT alumnus, Elissia Carnavas (Class of 2010) has an inspiring story of resilience and reinvention. After a promising start as a young athlete playing football for Australia, a career-changing injury forced Elissia to reimagine her future. Drawing strength from her resilient nature and the enduring wisdom of her late grandparents, Elissia transitioned into a thriving dual career as a sports broadcaster and occupational rehabilitation consultant, where she helps others through her positive approach to professional and personal growth.

Elissia's diverse career is driven by her innate love of sport and passion for inclusion, which is apparent in the work she does to empower young girls throughout Africa, using football as the vessel for change. We gleaned from Elissia’s insights into the dynamic world of sports commentary and enjoyed hearing about her career highlights and future plans. Elissia’s exciting journey affirms the importance of seizing opportunities and valuing education as a vehicle for reinvention. Her continued contributions to the sports and health industries are a reminder to continually chase our dreams with determination and heart, even when the rules change…

Being a Sports Commentator sounds like a dream job… so what does a day in the life of a Sports Commentator and Broadcaster really entail?

It is honestly one of my favourite things to do and it is my dream job! I’ve been sports-mad from a young age and grew up in a sporting family so the progression from athlete to commentary felt very natural for me.

The working life of a commentator is completely variable dependent on the event, but most recently I covered the Matildas Olympic Farewell match in Sydney when they played China in June.

A typical day includes a few radio live interviews throughout the day to give some insight into what to expect between both teams, who’s playing and who’s not, opinions on the coaches’ game plans and what the public can expect to see. Following that, it’s all about preparation – reviewing player names, statistics, technical setups and logistics at the stadiums and working with the co-comms to ensure we’re ready to work in cohesion. Then we transfer to the stadium, head through security and upstairs to the commentary booth. We’re there 90 minutes before kick-off to get ready to go live with pre-match insights for the audience. We call the match, promote the sponsors and wrap up at full time, and sometimes host a post-match show. They’re long days but exhilarating at the same time!

You’ve had a very successful career already… what’s been a highlight for you so far?

That’s very kind – I still feel like there’s exciting things ahead and that keeps me motivated. A highlight for me was the first time I was selected into an Australian national team and represented our country in 2002 at the FIFA U19 World Cup in Canada. I was 17 years old and just finishing Year 12 and I had worked so hard to qualify for the World Cup team and complete high school in the same year. It taught me a lot about myself – my capacity as an individual but also what it feels like to achieve at the highest level – and in turn, probably shaped me the most as a person.

This selection also made me the first player in an Australian team of African descent, competing in a FIFA tournament. My parents left South Africa to come to Australia because of the Apartheid era in the 1980s and to be the first player in this category makes me incredibly proud – for myself, my family and my heritage.

In the competitive world of sports broadcasting, what’s the best advice you would give a QUT student or alumnus who is hoping to work in the industry?

Say yes to every opportunity no matter how small it may seem. The small roles lead to the bigger opportunities and exposure to your unique talent and craft is essential for networks and producers to get a feel for who you are in the space. Ask what opportunities are available and coming up, and always put your hat in the ring.

What motivated you to start studying?

I was ruled out of final selection for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, due to injury. It was that point in my career that made me realise I needed to do something beyond the sports field to have professional pathways and options for my future. While the injury was incredibly challenging for me, it motivated me to contemplate what my future could look like. It was a really difficult decision to walk away from a career in football after sacrificing so much over so many years to be able to achieve at the highest level, but it also felt right to be doing something that I had complete control of. If I applied myself and was consistent and methodical in my studies, I would end up with a qualification that could equip me for life. Whereas in sport, you can be just one injury or one coaching call away from missing out, despite your very best efforts and sacrifices. My late grandfather always used to remind me, ‘in life, many things can be taken from you but they can never take your education.’  That was a huge motivation.

Has your Bachelor of Heath Science at QUT helped you in your career?

My degree has helped me in many realms. I actually work and consult extensively throughout Australia in occupational rehabilitation and that industry that has grown enormously post the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s an industry that keeps me connected with the world of health and enables me to remain heavily involved in public health and legislative application, while being a part of the rehabilitation journey for people who are injured. I feel really lucky to be able to be able immerse myself in two very diverse roles in the area of health and sport, allowing myself growth opportunities in both.

Who inspires you the most as a person?

I draw inspiration from many people and I’m particularly encouraged by those doing things outside the norm and challenging the constructs of how we do things and why. My late grandmother probably inspired me the most as a person. She was forward thinking, visionary, stoic and never took ‘no’ for an answer. She always encouraged me to challenge the status quo and if I said ‘I can’t’ or ‘it’s not possible’ she would very quickly ask ‘why not?’ and tell me ‘you can do anything you put your mind to, let no one tell you otherwise.’ I often draw inspiration from these conversations throughout my life.

What is one skill you couldn’t live without, and why?

The skill of multitasking! I honestly do not know where I would be if I didn’t establish that skill early in my life. As a mother of two, this is critical for day-to-day survival. Additionally, for me, being able to tend to multiple tasks in a day, in an order of priority and then execute them is fundamental for the type of work I do in health and sport and is a key discipline in my life.

Looking ahead, what goals will you be kicking next (metaphorically speaking)?

The Paris Olympics Games is coming up and I am excited to have been invited to attend Angel City FC’s Equity Summit. I am also working closely on a project in South Africa to empower young girls throughout Africa using football as the vessel. The African continent continues to give the world such amazing talent in sport and our goal is to support and engage young girls to use their talents in sport through infrastructure, particularly in areas where no facilities exist. This is being driven in cohesion with local teams, government stakeholders and venture capital to empower girls and women of the future in Africa.

Elissia’s journey truly is one of determination and heart, showing how we can turn setbacks into opportunities and continually chase our goals, even after the game.

Elissia Carnavas
QUT Degree -  Bachelor of Health Science (2010) 
Have a question for Elissia? Connect with her on LinkedIn.