Green deal supports NRL Cowboys House

Published Wednesday, 04 September, 2019 at 08:55 AM

Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development
The Honourable Shannon Fentiman

Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from remote communities who are boarding at NRL Cowboys House while completing high school in Townsville will soon have a new training and recreational space to enjoy their downtime.

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

“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,” Ms Fentiman said.

“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.

“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.

"And I’m proud to say that once these students finish school, the Palaszczuk Government has so many opportunities on offer for them to get the skills and training they need to get a job and build a career.

“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.

“These initiatives are opening doors to exciting careers in the industries where we know there will be jobs such as aviation, engineering, health, hospitality and much more.”

Member for Mundingburra Coralee O’Rourke welcomed the new training and recreation space to the Pimlico site.

“This project is in addition to the works underway at the Pimlico TAFE site to revitalise the campus and just last week it was announced that Pimlico would be home to the new Youth Foyer,” Ms O’Rourke said.

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.

“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,” Ms Pelling said.

“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.”

For further information visit www.desbt.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 935.

 

ENDS

 

Media Contact:          Inga Williams              0439 949 719 (Minister Fentiman)

                                 Cynthia Cormack         0433 165 870 (Cowboys Community Foundation)