The Sharks and the Australian Defence Force have combined to offer 20 School to Work students a careers seminar and a behind the scenes Sharks experience.
The students, who are currently in the NRL and Federal Government funded School to Work program for Indigenous students, took in an ADF seminar as a part of their day at the Sharks.
The ADF look to engage local indigenous students currently involved in the Sharks School to Work program and to provide them with information around the defence force career opportunities available.
The Sharks worked closely with the ADF staff on the day, which included a behind the scenes tour of the Club’s facilities, a player meet and greet at an NRL training session and a chance to mingle with and have lunch alongside the Sharks NRL playing group.
The ADF-Sharks day is an ongoing initiative and one which seen an outstanding response in past years from the indigenous students taking part.
With the Sharks experience an attraction, the main focus of the day is to provide information as to potential career pathways while aiming to further encourage more students to take up the ADF opportunities on offer.
A program which commenced in 2012 and utilises the positive profile of rugby league, School to Work looks to support and encourage young Indigenous Australians to complete high school and move into work or further education.
The NRL was officially recognised on the world stage in 2016, winning an award at the Beyond Sport Awards in London for School to Work, a program the Australian Government has supported since its inception and will continue to support until at least 2020.