The Brisbane Broncos have pledged their state-wide school support program to three South Burnett institutions, choosing Cherbourg and Murgon schools as the staging ground for a new arm of the initiative.
Broncos staff and representatives of the Queensland Department of Education launched the Burnett offshoot of the ‘Beyond the Broncos’ program at Cherbourg State School in late August.
The program, which has already seen success at 50 other schools across Queensland and northern New South Wales over the past 10 years, is intended to boost the confidence and leadership abilities of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through offers of targeted support.
The Burnett arm of the program will benefit female students at the Cherbourg and Murgon State Schools as well as Murgon State High School.
The Beyond the Broncos program recognises and rewards participating students for attending school, acting respectfully and performing academically.
Each student can access an individual plan featuring tailored workshops and mentoring aimed at enabling their successful transition to life after school.
In a first for the decade-long initiative, entry into the program will also be open to students from Years 4 to 6 on top of the Year 7-12 eligibility the scheme had focused on in the past.
Broncos staff explained the program’s shift to primary-aged students was intended to foster the participants’ safe transition to Murgon State High School, with one of the pillars of the initiative being Year 12 completion.
Cherbourg elders attending the Beyond the Broncos launch praised the football team’s commitment to the region.
“It was a long time coming for us to have this support and program for the girls,” said Cherbourg State School teacher Frank Malone.
“Being able to get girls to understand their identity, who they are and how to build confidence and strength to keep them going forward.
“It’s about looking at the future; having strong women alongside strong young men means our future in Cherbourg will be in great hands,” he added.
His colleague at the school Wy-Larra Duncan, who has committed to working as a student support officer for the Beyond the Broncos program, similarly praised the initiative.
“There used to be nothing for the girls and now there’s something that we can do to help them stop dropping out of school and keep pushing forward,” Ms Duncan said.
“It helps them build their confidence and helps them look for a good role model in the community and outside the community.
“I hope I can bring more exciting things and amazing things that can help them be successful in life.”
