What is Wests Tigers ‘Learn, Earn, Legend’?Wests Tigers ‘Learn, Earn, Legend’ has been launched to create pathways to successful careers for Aboriginal High school students from the South West Sydney region.

The program is a combined initiative of Wests Tigers, Canterbury Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, National Rugby League, and Supported by the Australian Government.

The program aims to have 100% of students that are involved in the program complete their senior schooling and move into further study, training or meaningful employment.

The program will draw from a strong pool of resources and mentors which will include the Wests Tigers and its broad range of corporate partners along with local community groups to provide the students with the best chance of realising their goals.

How does it work?In 2012 around 50 Year 11 and 12 students will take part in the Wests Tigers ‘Learn, Earn, Legend’ program.The program will be run by a qualified Project Officer who will take charge of shaping the students future in a positive direction.

Each student will be profiled by the Project Officer to develop a Career Development Plan (CDP) to track their studies and stay on course to reach their goals. The Project Officer will work closely with participating schools to ensure there is minimal impact on school commitments and build on existing Aboriginal career/educational programs.

The program will be based in the newly established Wests Tigers Learning Centre, ‘The Lair’ located in Leumeah.

Why was the program developed?The establishment of the Wests Tigers ‘Learn, Earn, Legend’ program was inspired by the Federal Government ‘Close the Gap’ campaign focusing on the disparity in Education & Employment rates between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians.

The development of the program also sits in line with the Australian Government Priorities for 2009-2012 which outlines the need to close this Education Gap. According to the targets that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) set down, the Australian Government is determined to halve the gap for Indigenous Students completing year 12 by 2020. Currently the retention rates for Indigenous High School students in Years 10-12 is 43.1% compared to 72.2% for their Non-Indigenous counterparts.

Along with this it has been prioritised to halve the gap

in employment outcomes

between Indigenous and Non Indigenous Australians within the next decade. The current Indigenous unemployment rate sits at 21% compared to 4% for Non-Indigenous.

Research has also demonstrated that Aboriginal Youth who had not found an employment pathway six months after leaving school, had a 75% chance of being long term unemployed. Hence, the students will be tracked for an extra 6 months post school to make sure they have made a smooth transition into the next stage of their life.

The students will be able to utilise the resources in the Lair to spend time with the Project Officer and also receive help with their homework and assignments.

After reviewing each students goals and aspirations, the Project Officer will work alongside Wests Tigers Community and Sponsorship staff to facilitate work experience and internship opportunities with the Club’s various Sponsorship and corporate partner database. This will also include industry based mentoring and field trips to give the students further insight and knowledge into their identified career pathway.

The Project Officer will work closely with each student to develop a post school pathway, incorporating relevant contacts for their transition into further education, training or employment. This identified post school pathway will maximise the potential of each student to reach their career goals.

Throughout the course of the program, the students will be involved in culturally specific leadership workshops so that they can become influential members of their community by teaching others to make positive choices.

The student will then be supported and tracked for six months after they finish school to help them make a smooth transition into the workforce.

• Personalised Learning Plans• Individual training needs

assessment• Industry based mentoring• Culturally specific

leadership workshops

• Parent/guardian engagement and interaction

• Engaging Wests Tigers players and officials to support the program

Key Program Components Include:

Partnership and Sponsorship OpportunitiesThere are many benefits to being part of this great initiative, none more important than the social value of your business playing a major role in helping ‘Close the Gap’ in the South West Sydney region.

If you think you or your organisation are able to offer opportunities to participating students in helping them to achieve their goals, we encourage you to contact the Wests Tigers Aboriginal Project Officer.

For more information about Wests Tigers ‘Learn, Earn, Legend’ or how you can get involved please contact:

Shannon WilliamsAboriginal Project Officer

M: 0415 129 236 F: (02) 9715 6574 E: swilliams@weststigers.com.au

How to get involved in the programTo be an eligible student you must:• Identify as Aboriginal or

Torres Strait Islander• Currently attend a participating school

If you fulfill all of these requirements, talk to your school careers officer who will notify the program manager about your interest.

About ShannonShannon has worked in the education sector for more than a decade at various schools throughout Sydney South Western region. Shannon worked as a mentor, in class tutor and at a regional level as Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer with the Sydney South Western Aboriginal Education Team. He has worked on a wide range of community projects with a strong emphasis on community participation and consultation. Shannon also has a long history in the performing arts as a Recording Artist & Actor. In 2006 he released his solo album “More Than a Feeling” which had success on local & national radio. He has toured nationally and internationally with the Urban Theatre Projects production “Back Home”.

“Working with young people in my local community is very important to me, advancement for the generations of Aboriginal people in our region for me,

is vital”.