My name is Tyler Dent and I am an aspiring professional footballer who has proudly represented Queensland at the national level in 2023 and currently play for Brisbane City Football Club in the NPL. As captain of the U23s, I helped lead the team to win the league by 17 points where I played every single minute of every match up until my injury and also made my NPL first team debut for the club just a week before my injury.

Unfortunately, during my first university teaching placement two weeks ago, I was participating in a HPE class in a sports hall, and as I was running, my shoe got caught on the floor as I changed directions and I felt a few pops in my knee. After getting scans, I found out that I suffered a fully ruptured ACL and tears on both lateral and medial meniscus, which now requires urgent surgery. The cost of surgery and hospital fees is around $10,000, and despite seeking help through QUT’s insurance policy and WorkCover, I have been left without support.

This injury has taken away my ability to work, study, and play the game I love and has taken a big hit on my mental health, and the thought of waiting months or even years on a public surgery waitlist is heart breaking and just not an option. I have never asked for help like this before, but my family and I have exhausted all options.

Any donation, big or small, would mean the world to me so I can get back on my feet and back on the pitch. Thank you so much for your support.