NSW Rugby is the Governing Body for rugby in NSW, including the Waratahs mens and women’s Super Rugby teams, coaching, community participation and the Positive Rugby Foundation, which was established in 2017 as the official charity and social impact program of the NSW Rugby Union.
The PRF and Creating Chances’ shared values saw a unique partnership evolve, championing the qualities and characteristics of rugby to make a positive difference to people and communities. Creating Chances’ strong relationship and commitment to school partners in Penrith, Campbelltown, Blacktown & Liverpool allowed an exciting new co-designed program, Rugby Tackle Life.
Schools in the Greater Western Sydney were experiencing issues with attendance, engagement in class, and connection to school. During the co-design phase, Positive Rugby Foundation and Creating Chances developed a unique blend of on-field, workshop and rugby coaching activities that would resonate with young people, and address the current issues that they’re facing.
Key outcomes included:
– Participation: to improve access to Rugby Union and increase participation rates Western Sydney.
– Leadership: To develop the capacity of young people in Western Sydney to lead positive change in their community through Rugby Union and social and emotional learning.
– Community: To promote community cohesion and social connectedness by bringing communities together from multicultural and marginalised backgrounds in an inclusive way.
Rugby Tackle Life rolled out into schools in 2020. In the first year it was successfully implemented in 5 High Schools & 2 Primary schools in the Greater Western Sydney region, where over 300 students participated in programs in those first few months, including a strong cohort of youth leaders who also jumped at the chance to coach in community programs at Western Raptors and Southern District RC.
Existing Creating Chances partner schools chose to participate in the Rugby Tackle Life program after positive experiences with the Creating Chances Youth Development Pathway, and were looking to leverage a love of rugby towards a specific cohort of students. Castle Hill High School, Chifley College Dunheved Campus, Chifley College Shalvey Campus, Doonside Technology High School, Elderslie High School, Punchbowl Boys High School. East Hills Girls High School and Wiley Park Girls High School were eager to jump on board to expose their students to a new sport in a safe and inclusive environment.
“Rugby is a truly global game and has the ability to be a powerful tool for inclusion and development within our multicultural society. Not only do we have strong links to the Pacific, but with rugby growing at an amazing pace in Asia, it is exciting to use the social skills and sense of belonging that rugby provides to bring communities together,” Peter Murphy, Head of Positive Rugby Foundation said.
In 2021, Expansion.
After a successful year of Rugby Tackle Life, Rugby NSW looked beyond Metropolitan Sydney to the regions. Creating Chances delivered Social & Emotional Learning through Sport training to the Rugby NSW team, who themselves delivered co-designed programs in Narromine HS and Coonamble HS, including rugby-themed Champions, Coach and Future Pathways programs that would culminate in coaching opportunities for students in a Rugby in the Park community program.
The partnership also facilitated the employment of 3 School-based Trainees from Narromine and Coonamble, who support the delivery of Creating Chances and NSW Rugby programs throughout the year.
Creating Chances’ Operations and People teams provided support throughout the growth period, establishing strong local connections and providing face to face, mentoring and online training.
Callum is a vibrant 16-year-old Year 11 student at Narromine High School and proud Wiradjuri man. He was selected to join the Creating Chances-led Australian delegation for the International ‘Sport for Good’ Festival24 held in Paris and Lyon during the Olympic Games, Callum brought strong leadership skills to the festival delegation, developed from his time mentoring primary students during the Rugby Tackle Life program in Narromine.
“I love meeting, working with, and learning from new people and my peers. Participating in Festival24 in Lyon,France, was an incredible opportunity I had because of my traineeship and work with the Positive Rugby Foundation. It’s good to recognise the projects that Narromine High School offer through Creating Chances and Rugby NSW, and to continue offering young people in the community an opportunity and a pathway.”
We see a measurable impact in our Rugby Tackle Life programs, noting improvements in optimism & sense of belonging (+10.4%) resilience (+12.5%), and in self-efficacy (17.6%) in program participants between when they started and when they finished.
Max from Doonside Technology High School has noticed the impact the program has had on his perspective and ability to take on responsibility and leadership opportunities.
“The Program has given us opportunities to see things differently, for example no one would trust us enough to take us to the primary school to run activities with the students and Creating Chances & Rugby Tackle Life did, so it made us appreciate the program.”
Head Welfare Teacher at Elderslie High School, Christina Needham, is an avid supporter of the program and has seen the impact it has had on the students due to the enthusiastic feedback her students give her.
“The program is awesome and we are so grateful to have the opportunity to participate in it, especially as the students are super keen to take part.”
Cooper is a student at Chifley College Shalvey Campus, and became re-engaged with school and felt a shift in attitude towards his education because of taking part in the program.
“I enjoy school more and want to attend because of the program. We have stopped jigging, we’re trying more, we have fun, and learn a lot.”
At Creating Chances, we connect ideas, inspire growth, and empower young people to build confidence, resilience, and optimism for a brighter future.
