Cowboys House launches Graduate Campus to tackle regional housing crisis
In response to the critical housing shortages facing regional Queensland, Suncorp's partner the Cowboys Community Foundation has unveiled its Graduate Campus, a new initiative designed to help Indigenous students transition from education into their careers.
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Peter Daniels, Naraira Bann, North Queensland Cowboys player Reuben Cotter, Zazward Banu and Thelrina Akene outside Cowboys House
NRL Cowboys House (NRLCH) provides a culturally supportive home for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from remote North and Far North Queensland, helping to remove the geographic disadvantage they face.
Many of these young people come from communities where secondary schooling options are limited, particularly for Years 10 to 12.
At NRLCH, they are given the opportunity to access a full education while remaining strongly connected to culture, family, and community.
Cowboys Community Foundation CEO Fiona Pelling said NRL Cowboys House was established to remove distance as a disadvantage and ensure young people from remote communities have the same opportunities to complete their schooling as any other student.
“NRLCH provides equity in education, giving our young people the chance to achieve their Year 12 certificates and pursue meaningful career or study pathways,” she said.
“For many of our students, access to senior secondary schooling in their home communities is extremely limited.
"Cowboys House offers them a culturally supportive home in Townsville so they can focus on their learning and their future.
“However, a continuing challenge for our graduates is the lack of affordable and suitable accommodation in Townsville.
"Without access to housing, some risk being forced to return home earlier than planned, making it harder to continue their career or study journey.
“This is why we remain committed to supporting our young people beyond Year 12 — so that the hard work and determination they have already shown can translate into long-term success.”
To help address this challenge, NRL Cowboys House recently self-funded a three-year lease on a facility to establish a Graduate Campus.
This gives House high school graduates an affordable place to live while they continue to follow their career and education dreams, all while gaining valuable life skills such as paying rent and managing a household.
“The Graduate Campus is a game-changer,” Ms Pelling said.
“Instead of losing these bright young minds, we’re giving them the stability they need to shine and thrive.”
Suncorp Chief Executive Consumer Insurance Lisa Harrison said the Insurer was a proud partner of the Cowboys Community Foundation as a ‘Friend of the House’, and a huge supporter of the Graduate Campus.
Suncorp Chief Executive Consumer Insurance, Lisa Harrison
Giving young people from regional or disadvantaged communities the opportunity to thrive is something we are proud to support and be a part of.
“When and where education is not available, Cowboys House is providing the solution, and it’s changing the lives of hundreds of students from regional communities.
“It’s so important that we keep empowering these young people and help them meaningfully contribute to the local economy, as well as keep vital talent in our regions.”
In December last year, Suncorp announced a new two-year partnership agreement with the North Queensland Cowboys, making Suncorp a major partner.
