Several past and present NRL Indigenous players including former Rabbitoh Greg Inglis will join graduates from the Souths Cares Nanga Mai Marri (Dream Big) Program for two events (Bennelong Cup touch football game and luncheon) to celebrate the program’s 2019 achievements and help identify employment opportunities.
Twenty students finished their HSC in 2019 via the program with more than 250 students participating in the program since it was first launched. The initiative is about supporting Aboriginal high school students develop aspirations for their education and employment in addition to providing mentoring assistance.
Alisha Parker-Elrez, General Manager of South Cares comments, “For the second year running we are participating in the Bennelong Cup events to identify employment opportunities in the facilities and project management areas for students. These sectors provide a wide choice of jobs to choose from with plenty of opportunities for our students to secure a well-paying and rewarding career.
“Souths Cares is thrilled to be part of the Bennelong Cup in 2020 and the growth of this initiative is testament to the sponsors who support it. Social events provide a relaxed atmosphere for students and potential employers to interact. Sporting events such as touch football are an ideal platform to build relationships from.”
This year, five of the largest facilities and project management companies in Australia including CBRE, BGIS, Cushman Wakefield, Evolve FM and Hutchinson Builders will again participate in the program as well as smaller contractors such as Bennelong Energy Services.
Gaven Sheehan, Director at Bennelong Energy Services, a contractor business to the facilities management industry has employed several students participating in Indigenous school to work programs. He comments, “It is important to grow our next generation of tradespeople and facilities management staff. The facilities management industry is one of the fastest growing and provides numerous employment opportunities for students.
“My company is very proud of what we have achieved by guiding three Indigenous students into their third and fourth-year apprenticeships. It has been a mutually beneficial relationship that has been embraced by our 30 plus workplace who have enjoyed the opportunity to explore and understand Indigenous culture.”
Bennelong Energy Services has hosted for the Bennelong Cup events for the past three years. In 2020 they will be held on 14 February. A number of former NRL stars some including Cliff Lyons, Preston Campbell, Matt Bowen and Steve Menzies will lead 12 touch football teams at Randwick Barracks (8.30am) vying for the Bennelong Cup, followed by lunch at Souths Juniors main auditorium in Kingsford (1pm).
Participants in the 2019 South Cares Nanga Mai Marri (Dream Big) Program will be participating in both the touch football games and luncheon. Funds will also be raised for two Indigenous charities –Cowboys House and Souths Cares.
Media contact: Natasha McGuire, Red Leopard PR, Phone: 04000 90553.
