Earlier this year the TFH Gold Coast Titans sent a unique cohort of students to Sydney to participate in the 2018 NRL Indigenous Youth Summit as part of the Festival of Indigenous Rugby League. The four local Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander high school students completed the Titans Deadly Futures program run in partnership with the Preston Campbell Foundation and are participants of the NRL School to Work program.
The NRL School to Work Program is an international award winning education and employment program supported by the Australian Federal Government and the TFH Gold Coast Titans. The program utilises the positive profile of the game of Rugby League to support and encourage Year 11 & 12 Indigenous students to complete their schooling and prepare them for the transition into employment or further education.
Holly Summers, Zayden Thompson, Zoe McConville and Ngapuarata Matoe were nominated and selected to represent the TFH Gold Coast Titans at the summit based on their demonstration in leadership and involvement within their schools and communities, commitment to their studies and achieving high school attendance. Before their departure, the students were invited to watch a training session and afterwards were presented with a club polo from the players and Preston Campbell.
The Indigenous Youth Summit run by Mirri Mirri in partnership with the Australian Federal Government and NRL saw 68 students from Australia and New Zealand come together and participate in a series of cultural and leadership workshops, activities and discussions which helps them develop skills and techniques that allows them to become stronger leaders within their respective schools and communities.
Each year summit participants apply for the role of Youth Ambassador. Students write their application demonstrating their communication and leadership skills and how they positively represent Indigenous people, communities and culture. After being shortlisted in the top 20, being interviewed by corporates, making top 4, delivering their own speeches to fellow participants and corporates, Zayden was voted Male Youth Ambassador and Holly Female Youth Ambassador runner-up.
The Gold Coast Titans are proud supporters of the NRL School to Work Program, its participants and their achievements. If you would like your school to be involved, please contact Melissa Lightburn at Gold Coast Titans.