Seven students representing the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys will be taught life skills by some of rugby league’s most influential players, including three-time Dally M Medal winner Johnathan Thurston, when they gather in camp on the Gold Coast next week for the 2015 NRL All Stars Indigenous Youth Summit.
Selected from a group of over 10,000 students who are currently participating in NRL club community programs, the summit participants will also get to share in the excitement of 2015 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars Week as well as participate in workshops that will focus on cultural knowledge and success at school and post-school.
Heading south from the Cowboys’ Learn Earn Legend! program, supported by the Australian Government, are Alex Musu, Jonte Kennedy, Shaleece Johnstone, Mershayla Skelton, George Reuben, Meggan Priest and Donovan Chong.
Highlights of their week will include cultural sessions with both the Indigenous and NRL All Stars squads, participation in a 'job application' workshop, vying for the title of All Stars Youth Ambassador, and attending a session at Griffith University, where they will explore tertiary study options and meet a number of current Indigenous university students.
NRL ambassadors Preston Campbell, Jharal Yow Yeh and Nathan Merritt will also spend time with the students throughout the week.
The four-day camp will then finish with attendance at the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars match, where they will take part in the on-ground activities at Cbus Super Stadium.
Head of NRL One Community Adam Check said, “The Youth Summit brings together students from all walks of life.”
“This is a great opportunity for the group to get to know their peers from other areas across Australia and New Zealand and to learn from our Indigenous and NRL All Stars players and coaches as well as program mentors and their own peers.
“All workshops are hands on and interactive, ensuring a fun and engaging method for learning such important concepts and they are skills which they can continue to develop as they enter the final stages of their schooling and tertiary education.”
