“Getting even one or two students back to school can be a challenge, so you can imagine the planning, coordination and effort that our staff and volunteers put into this time of year,” Rochelle said.

“Our students have the added element of being a long way from their families and homes,” she said.

“It surprises many people to know there are many communities in Queensland where children can’t access education to year 12 and they are faced with leaving home at 11 years of age to access equitable education, which can be quite daunting for them,” she said.

“Our young people board at the House attend our 11 partner schools in Townsville which are amazing with our students, and we have a dedicated team here to support them to graduate high school and progress to further education or employment, reach their potential and inspire future generations.”

NRL Cowboys House is managed by the Cowboys Community Foundation and is a joint initiative between the NRL, North Queensland Toyota Cowboys, Queensland Government and the Australian Government.

It provides a culturally-safe boarding environment and a lifeline to quality secondary education for Indigenous students from some of Australia’s most geographically disadvantaged communities and was recently recognised with a National Award for Excellence in Indigenous Boarding at the 2024 Australian Boarding School Association (ABSA) annual conference.

Cowboys Community Foundation CEO Fiona Pelling said the ground-breaking model would not be possible without the ongoing support of the community.

“It’s truly inspiring to see the enthusiasm with which these young people approach the new school year and the gratitude they display with every opportunity that comes their way. It reinforces what NRL Cowboys House is all about,” Fiona said.

“It really is a huge community effort which makes this a great place for young people to thrive.”