After completing VCAL at Rutherglen High School, he was unable to move on to university to explore his passion for PE teaching.

But that all changed when the Richmond Institute of Sports Leadership set up a campus on the Border.

Holmes will commence university next year and believes he wouldn't have had the chance to do so if this course wasn't offered.

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"I worked in a high school last year as a PE trainee and anything to do with sport was what I wanted going into my future," he said.

"This course was ideal being one year, two days a week.

"We have to do 140 placement hours, so getting opportunities to volunteer and work in other places makes it very flexible.

"(Program manager) Jess (Harris) and (student mentor) Mikaela (Trethowan) give us a lot of help with where we want to go."

What sets the course apart is the range of pathways it can open up and Madison Murdoch's year is the perfect example.

The Baranduda student spent time working in Richmond's events team, helping out at home games, including the three-day AFL grand final program, while also undertaking a public relations traineeship with the Murray Bushrangers.

"The grand final weekend was pretty spectacular," Murdoch said.

"Obviously being part of events, there's things going on everywhere with open training and the club's live site at Punt Road Oval on grand final day, which was opened to more than 12,000 people.

"I was running the kids activities to keep the kids occupied and obviously the family day at Punt Road on Sunday as well.

"I was with the mascots and have done a bit of that on game day chaperoning the mascots around so people can get photos with them or if they're involved with an activity on the field."

Murdoch hopes to continue working in event management with the Tigers.

Limited spots are available for the course in 2020, with the final open day on November 13.

Visit http://www.richmondinstitute.com.au/albury-wodonga/ to register for the open day.