Rabbitohs Wellbeing wrap up 2025 regional tours, Inspiring over 13000 students!
The Rabbitohs Wellbeing Team, in partnership with Deadly Choices hosted the final regional tour of 2025 inspiring more than 2,000 students during a four day wellbeing tour across regional New South Wales. Closing out the regional program for 2025, the team has successfully engaged 13480 students across Australia in health and wellbeing workshops.
Across six schools in Tweed Heads, Casino, Grafton and Taree, a total of 2,083 students took part in a three part program designed to empower young people with the knowledge and confidence to take charge of their health.
The first component was the Rabbitohs Wellbeing Your Health: OWN IT! Workshop - an interactive session focusing on nutrition, exercise, and sleep, supported by club ambassadors Rhys Wesser and Yileen Gordon. Students then took to the field for a mini skills clinic led by local NRL Game Development officers, honing fundamentals such as passing, catching, change of direction, and field positioning. Finally the local Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) team - Bulgarr Ngaru - on behalf of Deadly Choices, facilitated group discussions on healthy living, supported by Bulgarr Ngaru ambassadors Willie Tonga, Tyrone Roberts, and Jamie Soward, who shared personal stories of resilience and growth.
For AMS ambassador Tyrone Roberts, the tour was as much about connection as education:
Tyrone Roberts, AMS Ambassador“Tours like these have a massive impact, being able to share our stories, the sacrifices and choices we had to make it in the NRL, but also being a role model in our communities. For me it’s been a great opportunity to go back into my own community and let them know that it doesn’t matter what we aspire to if we make smart choices, take opportunities when we can, and work hard, you can be whatever you want to be.”
Former Kangaroo and State of Origin star Willie Tonga agreed:
Former Kangaroo and State of Origin star Willie Tonga“Tours like these are very important to come into community and talk about healthy living. It’s something that’s definitely needed within our communities to help do our part in closing the gap.”
Research shows improving literacy and health understanding in childhood significantly reduces the risk of chronic illness, increases health care engagement, and lowers long-term health costs. Having professional athletes deliver theses proactive health messages further enhances the impact of the messaging.
Banora Point Primary School Principal echoed the impact of our visit:
Banora Point Primary School Principal“Visits like these are really important – to have elite athletes visit our school and impart positive messages on the importance of health and wellbeing is wonderful. You could see the excitement from the kids today and the engagement in the messaging. As a regional area, it’s brilliant to have access to these programs backed by such a recognisable sporting organisation.”
The Rabbitohs Wellbeing regional tours are not just brief events, they’re preventive investments. By equipping young people with the tools to understand nutrition, sleep, exercise, and emotional wellbeing, we’re setting them up for better physical health, mental resilience, and wiser life choices down the line.
