Titans Community Collaboration Day
School to Work host Community Collaboration Day in the Gold Coast
The Titans NRL School to Work team held its inaugural Community Collaboration event. The day was an opportunity to showcase the NRL School to Work program to the wider community, create relationships, explore opportunities and come together to support and inspire the next generation of our First Nations youth.
Aunty Linda Buimaiwai opened the event with a beautiful Welcome to Country, sharing her connection to country and dedication to working with mob and how important it is for community to come together to learn from each other, share ideas and experiences and support each other.
The event was hosted by Dean Widders with special guests Dennis Watt, Gold Coast Titans Executive Chairman, Alex Wells, Gold Coast Titans Community Inclusion Officer, Preston Campbell, Gold Coast Titans players Brian Kelly & Jacob Alick and S2W participants Hayley Lyons, Sarah Lyons & Lakeeta McGrath.
Dennis & Alex spoke about the positive impact and outcomes of the program that’s enriched so many First Nations youth and their families across the Gold Coast & Northern Rivers regions over the last 7 years and continues to do so.
The whole program's just uplifting in terms of the lives it's changed, the confidence young people gain out of the program, the opportunities that come their way. The way it not only enriches their lives but the lives of their families and community.
Dennis Watt Executive Chairman of the Gold Coast Titans
Brian & Jacob took time from their busy schedule to come and share their experiences of meeting and working with the students from the program and shared their personal journeys and what it means for mob to have access to opportunities like the NRL School to Work program.
The day was a huge success with more than 21 community organisations, current & new, networking and coming together to learn about and share their experiences of the program that for over 10 years has been using the positive profile of Rugby League to support Year 11 & 12 First Nations students with their career aspirations.
Thank you to everyone who attended. We're looking forward to building further connections and continuing to work with you all more to create amazing opportunities for our First Nations youth.
A special thank you to the Gold Coast Titans for their continued support of the program and its participants.
National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.