St George Illawarra Dragons NRL School 2 Work (S2W) Project Officer and former NRL player Daniel Holdsworth were accompanied by two student involved in the program at WIN Stadium, Wollongong recently.
Shakeela Willliams and Jayden Stynes from Vincentia High School were interviewed by Dragons TV to speak about the program and discuss how it has impacted their academic endeavours and aspirations.
They also mentioned the importance and relevance of NRL Indigenous Round.
Dragons second-rower and Indigenous All Star Joel Thompson spent time talking to the students about the S2W program and shared stories about his time at school and his current academic pursuits at The University of Wollongong.
What is the School to Work Program?
The School 2 Work program is an education and employment program that utilises the positive profile of the game of Rugby League to support and encourage young Indigenous Australians to stay at school, get a job, and be a legend for themselves, their families and their communities.
A combined initiative of the 10 NRL clubs including the St George Illawarra Dragons, the Australian Government’s Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the National Rugby League;
S2W provides young Indigenous Australians with work experience, mentoring and leadership opportunities to ensure they successfully complete school and transition into further study, training or meaningful employment.
The S2W Program is backed by an exceptional team of NRL players, staff, community, government and business supporters.
Why was the School to Work Program formed?
In 2012 four NRL Clubs joined forces to deliver the S2W Program to address the Australian Government’s key ‘Closing the Gap’ targets for Indigenous students in Western Sydney.
They are:
• To halve the gap for Indigenous students in year 12 equivalent attainment by 2020; and
•To halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade.
The Dragons became involved in the program for the first time in 2015.
