Students from Souths Cares’ Nanga Mai Marri ‘Dream Big’ Program, spent Thursday morning touring the Simply Energy High Performance Centre, Redfern Oval, as part of their learning.
The program focuses on Years 10, 11 and 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students, and is underpinned by a greater understanding of Indigenous culture as a way of building self-esteem.
Once this cultural base has been established, sessions include employability skills training such as career exploration, resume building, goal setting, interview technique, grooming and etiquette. This leads to either employment or continuing education outcomes through a range of corporate networks or education institutions with which Souths Cares has built strong relationships.
Rabbitohs Strength and Conditioner, Scott Johnson, as well as Souths Cares Mentor, Beau Champion spent time with the group to impart their knowledge about both High Performance, as well as nutrition.
“This term was about visiting the High Performance staff at the Rabbitohs – finding out about nutrition and the way the High Performance unit works,” said former Rabbitoh, Champion.
“There’s a big issue in schools around children not eating before they get to school and therefore being too tired to learn, so that made up part of what we spoke about.
“But it also gives the chance to students to see how you can have a career in sport that doesn’t involve playing. That’s particularly relevant to a lot of our students.”
“At the end of the day, this program will help kids set and achieve their goals. We are changing lives’.
In addition to routine mentoring visits, each Nanga Mai Marri Student is invited to a range of industry visits, career days and social/networking events.
The industry visit seeks to complement the education curriculum, as well as being designed to provide insight into career pathways.
The program brings together students, parents, corporate partners, education institutions, community groups and Rabbitohs NRL players in a collaborative partnership to support students achieve their education and employment goals after leaving High School.
The Nanga Mai Marri program is funded to support 72 students per annum with Souths Care frequently expanding components of the Program to other needy members of the community.
The Program is supported by the Australian Government through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy.
