Melbourne Storm proudly hosted the graduating students of the 2017 School to Work program on Thursday.
School to Work is an education and employment program aimed at supporting and encouraging young Indigenous Australians to stay in school, get a job, and be a role model for themselves, their families and their communities.
A total of 18 Year 12 kids graduated from the program this year.
To celebrate their incredible achievement, the students were invited to spend the day at Storm HQ where they had the opportunity to watch training as well as meet and listen to Melbourne winger Josh Addo-Carr tell his story.
Josh spoke to the kids about his own experience in stepping out of his comfort zone to leave home in order to pursue his rugby league dream and is now reaping the rewards that come from hard work.
Aboriginal elder Bootsy Thorpe also delivered a talk about the importance in taking the opportunities available for the students in today’s world.
The School to Work program, which is funded and supported by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, has a 98 per cent success rate of students transitioning from school into employment, or further tertiary education.
Many of these kids are the first in their families to graduate from high school and are now planning to attend university, TAFE or obtain employment that will enable them to begin their careers.
As part of the graduation day, three students still currently in the program were nominated to represent Melbourne Storm at the NRL Indigenous Youth Summit in February.
Addo-Carr presented the trio with their own Storm polos that will see them proud wear the purple colours at the summit.
Click here for more information about the NRL School to Work program.
