Community Programs

Our programs include:

Teachers' Aide program

Our entire NRL Squad are involved in the delivery of the Teacher’s Aide program which will begin early Term 1, 2013. The schools currently involved in the program are: La Perouse Primary School, Alexandria Park Community School, Green Square School and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Waterloo. All members of the NRL squad are split up into groups and schools are visited weekly, with players attending their designated school on a rolling roster.

Each group has a team captain who is responsible for managing the group in coordination with the South’s Cares Programs Coordinator. The captain liaises with players, the Souths Cares Programs Coordinator and with school staff, to ensure that the sessions run smoothly and student engagement is maximised.

An achievement program has been established to recognise and reward positive behaviour and successful learning outcomes for the students. This reward program was initiated by our members and provides students with a “Bunny Buddy” pack which includes a Rabbitohs back pack, poster, cap and a child’s membership to all home games at ANZ Stadium.

The Teachers’ Aide program is assessed on an ongoing basis to ensure relevant outcomes are achieved. Reviews conducted by Regional Directors of the Department of Education and Training have shown strong and positive feedback from school principals, staff, community elders, parents and pupils. There has also been marked improvement in Numeracy and Literacy levels within these schools as displayed by the recent National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results.

The players are happy to build and maintain relationships with their allocated schools and they provide positive feedback for the program, acknowledging their power to engage students and the positive change that can come from this.

Healthy and Active Lifestyle program

With assistance from the Indigenous All Stars Game, Souths Cares is in partnership with Life Education to roll out a holistic program for Years 5 & 6 students in the South Sydney catchment area. This program combines the NRL initiative, ‘Eat Well, Play Well, Stay Well’ along with a range of Life Education programs, to offer the students a fun educational excursion outside of the school environment. Where possible, South Sydney players will contribute and share their own healthy lifestyle choices with the students. Sessions are held at the Souths Cares Classroom located in the Sydney Corporate Park in Alexandria.

Souths Cares identified a growing need amongst students in the South Sydney corridor after consultation with schools staff. Many schools had discontinued their link with Life Education due to costs. Parents were not able to afford this type of extracurricular activity on top of growing sport and school commitments which placed a strain on family finances. Souths Cares saw this as a further opportunity to engage with our community while providing students with a unique educational experience that can form the basis of a long-term relationship between participating schools and Souths Cares.

This program has been offered to over 35 primary schools in the South Sydney region. In 2011-2012, more than 1,600 students and teachers were able to take part in the program of which approximately 30% came from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background. To complement these visits, teaching staff are given resources to continue the lessons and positive messages back at their respective school.

Indigenous Leadership Program - Schools to Work Transition program

“Nanga Mai Marri” (Dream Big)

This program focuses on Year 11 and 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island pupils and works alongside them to identify and develop their own education and employment outcomes. The program is underpinned by a greater understanding of culture as a way of building self esteem. Once this cultural base has been established, sessions will include employability skills training such as career exploration, resume building, goal setting, interview technique, grooming and etiquette. This will lead to either employment or continuing education outcomes through a range of corporate networks or education institutions with which Souths Cares has built strong relationships. The uniqueness of this program is that it will bring together students, parents, corporate partners, education institutions, community groups and Rabbitohs NRL players in collaboration to support students on their journey

The primary aim is to encourage and support students to stay at school and complete their HSC. Mentoring and a case management strategy are key components of the program and will continue well beyond the school gate. The Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) have provided the funding to support and resource this program. There are currently five high schools in the South Sydney region taking part in the program: Alexandria Park Community School, Matraville Sports High School, Tempe High School, South Sydney High School and Marist Pagewood.

SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS

Charities and organisations Souths Cares has had involvement with throughout the 2012 season include:

The Sydney Children’s Hospital
Australian Cancer Research Foundation
Ovarian Cancer Foundation
Create Foundation
Lymphoma Australia
Kidney Health Australia
McGrath Foundation
The Loyal Foundation
The Australian Children’s Music Foundation
Australian Technology Park
Randwick City Council
All Sorts Fitness and Wellbeing Centre
One Community
Indigenous All Stars
Sydney Corporate Park
NSW Corrective Services
Coffs Harbour City Council
Enterprise Training Company
Close the Gap Campaign
NASCA
Oxfam
Rockhampton Hospital
Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council
NAIDOC week 2012
Redfern Community Centre
South Sydney PCYC