Through the NRL's School to Work program, 50 indigenous students attended the Australian Defence Force recruitment day, as well as the Sharks and Capital Bluestone Career Expo at the Sharks Leagues Club recently.
Arranged by Daniel Holdsworth, the Sharks School to Work Project Officer, the students took part in the careers expo, where 30 different organisations including Google and Qantas were amongst the stall holders, before making their way down to watch the Sharks at an NRL training session.
The students met the team for some photos and signatures, before joining the Sharks NRL players and staff for lunch to talk about education and work options post high school.
On the same day, an ADF seminar was conducted where information was given by Petty Officer Luke Griffis from the recruitment team, as to the range of defence force roles offered and the career opportunities available to them.
In addition, Sharks Football Operations Manager Shane Smith, himself a former member of the Australian Defence Force, spoke about his time in the military and how it provided the skills necessary to succeed in his current position with the Cronulla club.
The Sharks efforts in hosting and co-ordinating the day, in partnership with the ADF, is to support the pathways of indigenous students in the Sutherland Shire. Such initiatives are in alignment with the Reconciliation Action Plan that the Club currently has in place.
The Australian Federal Government has provided $6.3million in funding in supporting the School to Work initiative through until 2020.
