A group of 35 Indigenous students from local area schools, many who are involved in the NRL's School to Work program, recently attended an Australian Defence Force recruitment workshop hosted by the Sharks.
Held in the Sharks Leagues Club, the event included a Sharks NRL squad training experience at Southern Cross Group Stadium, with the workshop showcasing to those students leaving school and entering the workforce, what the ADF has to offer.
Luke Griffis from the ADF recruitment team led the seminar, which was highlighted by an address from guest speaker Shane Smith, a retired member of the Infantry division of the ADF and now Sharks Football Operations Manager.
Smith engaged with the students in speaking of his pathway and how his experiences and training with the ADF had benefitted him personally and led him to where he is now at the Sharks.
Smith was joined during the luncheon break by Indigenous Sharks NRL squad members Jesse Ramien, Edrick Lee and William Kennedy, with the trio easily able to relate to the group in chatting and interacting with the students.
In addition, the students watched a Sharks NRL training session, Wade Graham and Andrew Fifita took time out to show off the Indigenous jersey the Sharks will play in for the next two weeks, while the entire NRL team posed for photos and signed autographs.
Afterwards the students took to the field at Southern Cross Group Stadium for a game of touch football.
The Sharks worked closely with ADF staff to plan and manage the day, with the event highlighting the relationship which exists between the two organisations, with the club looking to hold similar events and to build their association into the future.
This ADF recruitment seminar reinforced the work the Sharks already do in the Indigenous space, which includes the School 2 Work program, Reconciliation Action Plan and in supporting the NRL's Indigenous round.
School 2 Work is funded by the Federal Government and the Sharks help them for their continued support in helping us achieve some great outcomes in the community.
