The Brisbane Broncos have welcomed the Federal Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Beyond the Broncos Girls Academy – a program achieving outstanding results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls.
Federal Member for Brisbane Trevor Evans made the announcement this week at a function in Brisbane attended by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, high profile sporting ambassadors and Girls Academy students.
The two-year funding extension ensures the Broncos program will continue to deliver culturally appropriate support for girls and young women to graduate Year 12.
The Girls Academy has more than 2,000 young Indigenous students enrolled across Queensland and northern NSW.
![Trevor Evans and Scott Morrison alongside students from Mabel Park SHS](https://www.broncos.com.au/SysSiteAssets/2021/05/24/210518-govevent24.jpg?center=0.28%2C0.48&preset=photo-inline)
“The Brisbane Broncos are thrilled by the Federal Government’s ongoing commitment to the future of the program,” said Dave Donaghy, CEO at the Brisbane Broncos.
“The program provides girls with role models that teach our next generation of Indigenous leaders how to better connect with their culture, to be proud of their heritage and to place importance on their education,” Mr Donaghy said.
“In the past year, the program achieved some big milestones, demonstrating the Beyond the Broncos Girls Academy’s value in boosting school attendance and completion rates.
“We congratulate the Federal Government on recognising the huge role this program is playing in the lives of young Indigenous women and their communities by committing to another two years of funding.”
![Trevor Evans and Scott Morrison hold the Broncos Indigenous Jersey](https://www.broncos.com.au/SysSiteAssets/2021/05/24/210518-govevent32.jpg?center=0.26%2C0.53&preset=photo-inline)
Recent findings from the 2020 Closing the Gap Report and Education Queensland data showed the high success rate of the program, with a Year 12 attainment rate of Indigenous students at 93 per cent, compared with the national average of 66 per cent.
Attendance rates of students in the Girls Academy are consistently well above the Queensland state average. The Academy’s 2020 Year 10 average attendance rate was 83 per cent compared with the Queensland average of 76 per cent for all Indigenous students in the same year level.
Today’s announcement was attended by key ambassadors for the program, rugby league stars Ali Brigginshaw, Scott Prince and Justin Hodges, and Indigenous netball champion Beryl Friday.
Ali Brigginshaw said she was inspired by the Girls Academy students, with many program graduates going on to higher education or securing employment in their local communities.
“The Broncos are immensely proud of our young girls and very excited for what the future holds for this next generation of students,” she said. “Education is one of the most important things young women can have and to see our girls achieving above the state average for attendance is extremely pleasing.”
One recent graduate, Aimy Park, 21, previously struggled to connect with her Indigenous culture but is now thriving at university and looking forward to a career in professional communication.
Aimy is from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and completed Year 12 at Cleveland State High School before being accepted into a Bachelor of Professional Communication degree, majoring in Journalism, online at Central Queensland University.
“As a shy island girl who had trouble connecting to my culture, while at a predominately white school off my home island, the Beyond the Broncos Girls Academy was a huge deal for me,” she said.
“It provided the encouragement I needed to reconnect with my culture and other Indigenous girls in my school and region. I was taught skills that are not in the school curriculum – valuable life lessons taught in a fun and culturally appropriate way, surrounded by other Indigenous kids who understand you.”
The Beyond the Broncos Girls Academy has supported more than 4,000 students since it was established in 2016, recognising the vital role that young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women play in influencing the next generation.
The academy holds regular workshops in participating schools each year to help maintain attendance, increase confidence and foster leadership.