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A successful Indigenous education and employment initiative is going from strength to strength, achieving a staggering 95% attendance rate in NSW.
The NRL’s School to Work (S2W) program, which was launched in 2012 by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, and Wests Tigers NRL Clubs, aims to address the Federal Government’s ‘Closing the Gap’ targets.
The goals of the program are to halve the gap for Indigenous students in year 12 equivalent attainment by 2020 and halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade.
To date, S2W has helped 308 of the state’s Year 12 students graduate in 2018 – its biggest cohort to date – while an extra 500 students are expected to be supported through the program in 2019.
Over the past five years more than 900 students have successfully participated in the initiative, which has been funded by the Federal Government. A new round of funding has been provided from 2017 to 2020 for the program.
“For more than half a decade the program has successfully utilised the positive profile of rugby league to support and encourage young Indigenous Australians to complete their schooling and transition into further education or employment,” Shaun Humphries, School to Work Program manager, said.
“Eleven of the premier clubs are taking part in the program.”
Humphries added that S2W are constantly seeking ways to expand its reach and have been approached by contractors to facilities management companies and project managers to become involved in the program.
“These industries employ thousands of people across a wide range of building sites including stadiums, power facilities and commercial office towers,” he said.
Next year, four of the largest facilities management and project management companies in Australia including BGIS, Cushman Wakefield, Evolve FM and Hutchison Builders will participate in the program.
Humphries said the involvement of the facilities management and project management industries provides the “ideal platform” to reach new audiences.
Gaven Sheehan, Director at Bennelong Energy Services, a contractor business to the facilities management industry, is one of the first to employ students participating in the NRL School to Work program.
“Obtaining a good quality education provides a foundation to succeed in life and contribute to society in a meaningful way,” Sheehan said.
“As a junior NRL rugby league coach and former player, I have watched the success of this initiative and was very keen to become part of it. In 2018 I employed two apprentices and will employ an administration trainee in 2019.”
Sheehan said the relationship has been mutually beneficial.
“The boys have enjoyed a hands-on apprenticeship and our 30 plus workforce has embraced the opportunity to further explore and understand Indigenous culture,” he said.
On the 29 November the NRL School to Work team in collaboration with Bennelong Energy Services will host two events to celebrate the success of the School to Work program in 2018 and raise funds for three Indigenous charities – Cowboys House, Souths Cares and Tribal Warrior.
A number of former and current NRL players including Cliff Lyons and Matt Bowen will lead 12 touch football teams at Redfern Oval (8.30am) vying for the Bennelong Cup, followed by lunch at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, George Street Sydney (1pm). Participants in the program will share their personal stories at the event with attendees.