The NRL’s School to Work program, run on behalf of the Sharks by Project Officer Tayla Kafoa, continues to produce success stories in relation to those taking part, with Noah Coomas and Nikala Seiver two more shining examples.
The dedicated and hard-working pair are two more School to Work (S2W) graduates to have progressed through the program while taking the lessons learned and opportunities provided, to set a course towards successful and productive futures.
A program delivered by the NRL and delivered by project offers at the various clubs, the NRL’s S2W utilises the positive profile of the game of Rugby League to support young Indigenous Australians with work experience, mentoring and leadership opportunities to ensure they successfully complete school and transition into further study, training or meaningful employment.
And with Coomas and Seiver the program has produced two more impressive young people ready to make their mark in society.
“Noah is one of the most driven and self-motivated young men that I have worked with in the program,” Kafoa said. “His dream is to work in politics and hopefully reach a position where he is able to effect real change for his community.
“Noah worked extremely hard throughout his time as a High School Senior completing a work experience block with the NRL community and governance team to gain more experience and exposure to the workforce,” she added.
Coomas, who began with S2W in 2019, had dream was to attend The University of Sydney and that dream became a reality when he was accepted to study commence and a Bachelor of Arts and Law degree, starting in March.
In addition, he was also successful in securing a scholarship to attend St Johns College, which represents a housing scholarship that allows him to stay on campus and study.
And in emphasising his drive to succeed, Coomas recently completed a summer internship at the CDB branch of Wespac Bank, set up by Career Trackers, a national non-profit organisation with the goal of creating pathways and support systems for Indigenous students to attend and graduate from university with high marks, industry experience and bright professional futures.
While as busy and focused as her S2W colleague may have been, Seiver has displayed similar traits during her time in the program.
Having begun with S2W in 2018, Nikala was also dedicated to achieving the goal of earning entry into University, which she successfully achieved last year.
After completing her HSC at Beverly Hills Girls High School, during which time she completed a School Based Traineeship with LEA and Blufit, resulting in her attaining a Certificate II in Sport and Recreation, Nikala was accepted into UTS in 2020 to study a Bachelor of Secondary Teaching,
She is now currently in her second year of that course.
Certainly a busy young lady, since completing her traineeship in 2019, Seiver is now part time with BluFit at Hurstville and Bexley and is the Regional Traineeship consultant and Indigenous Mentor for all Indigenous trainees across the state, all while also tending to her studies at UTS.
“Nikala is very passionate about giving back to her community and doing all she can to support others in achieving their own goals,” Kafoa said.
S2W continues to kick goals in providing guidance and valuable assistance to local Indigenous students, with Coomas and Seiver two more examples of the outstanding work being done.
