New training and recreational space for NRL Cowboys House

New training and recreational space will soon be provided for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from remote communities who are boarding at NRL Cowboys House while completing high school in Townsville.

Queensland Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman said TAFE Queensland’s Pimlico Campus will be converted into a green space for the students.

Minister Fentiman advised “NRL Cowboys House help to shape the lives of Indigenous youth in Townsville every day and this new training and recreational space will be a welcomed addition for the students.

“Providing green space and recreational areas is so valuable in making a home away from home for the young Queenslanders who call the NRL Cowboys House home.

“This new space will provide these students a space to play some touch footy and sports training or other activities.

Minister Fentiman went on to add “through our Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, the Cowboys have also received $1.2 million for their Dream Believe Achieve project to provide wrap around support and job ready training and skills for over 330 young Queenslanders.

“These partnerships are a great example of Government working with fantastic organisations like the Cowboys to assist young people to complete school and most importantly get into work.

 “Not only do we have 172 free tafe courses for all year 12 graduates, but just last month we built on this by adding free apprenticeships for under 21."

Cowboys Community Foundation Director Fiona Pelling said the Boys and Girls Campuses currently support 84 students and will reach their capacity of 104 students for the 2020 school year.

Pelling noted: "creating a park next to our two campuses will make it easier for students to take a break between their studies and help them build friendships between each other.

“We are focussed on lifting the number of Indigenous North Queenslanders who complete Year 12 and have set up the campuses with purpose designed and culturally respectful spaces. Thanks to this agreement they’ll have an outdoor space where we can run some bigger activities and young people can enjoy some fresh air.”

Image of NRL Cowboys House courtesy of NRL