Cowboys help students get their head in the game

The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys are giving high school students the tools and confidence they need to speak up and tackle mental health challenges through ‘Head in the Game’, the latest module of the Try Time! education program to be released for schools.

Presented by Sun Metals, Head in the Game is the third of four modules delivered under the club’s Try Time! program influencing secondary school students to make positive individual choices.

Head in the Game supports students in years 10, 11 and 12 across the region to help them understand, identify and prevent mental health challenges by building and strengthening their capacity to withstand or recover from adversity.

The program content is written in alignment with the Australian curriculum for health and physical education, and empowers students to change the way they understand, perceive and interpret mental health.

Program participants Northern Beaches State High School recently welcomed Cowboys community ambassador Ray Thompson to deliver the module to more than 120 year-11 students ahead of their end-of-year exams.

Northern Beaches State High School year 10 and 11 coordinator Rebekah Fontana said the presentation contains real takeaway points that students can implement in their everyday lives.

“Our students are faced with many difficult times in Year 11 and 12, especially with the pressure of their studies, where they need to be equipped with skills to deal with their mental health challenges,” she said.

“The Head in the Game presentation provides the students with actual tools to be able to take away and use to manage their resilience levels and enables a safe space to be able to reflect on times that they might’ve needed to show resilience and how they dealt with it at the time.

“The Cowboys connection is something they are often really interested in and therefore they feel like it has more importance, and having people they look up to deliver the presentation engages them.”

The Head in the Game workshop invites open discussion among students in small groups to talk about mental wellbeing and help break the stigma associated with mental health challenges.

Students also engage in whole group learning about what mental health is, how it affects young people and how to help others using stories from current and former rugby league players.

Sun Metals Chief Executive Officer Ron Lee said younger generations face different challenges in today’s world when it comes to tackling mental wellbeing, aligning with their organisation’s most important value of safety.

“We believe that programs like this that empower anyone to improve and strengthen their own mental wellbeing, are an excellent way to combat negative influences,” he said.

“Building your personal resilience is like doing exercise – it makes you stronger and increases your capacity to withstand challenges.

“We hope that the students have increased confidence in managing their own performance under pressure and how they can help others.”

The Cowboys Try Time! program uses the game of rugby league and Cowboys ambassadors to deliver interactive and dynamic presentations influencing students to make positive individual choices.

Designed for students in years 10,11 and 12, modules include age-appropriate information and practical sessions around enrolling to vote, driver safety, building resilience and healthy relationships.

Schools taking part in Try Time! can choose to complete all four modules or take part in those most relevant to their student cohort.

Cowboys Chief Community and Government Relations Officer Fiona Pelling said their Community team is passionate about delivering the high school program and educating young people on key social issues.

“Having already had a number of schools reach out to us to deliver the program to their students, we can see there is a real demand for school programs tackling mental wellbeing in our region,” she said.

“The game of rugby league unites us all, and it’s amazing to see the impact NRL and NRLW players, past and present can have in supporting and reinforcing important issues facing our youth today.

“It’s great to see schools already jumping on board with the program and we’re looking forward to welcoming even more.”

For more information about the program and to register your school for the Try Time! modules, visit cowboys.com.au/community/try-time/.