Founding Friend of NRL Cowboys House, Veolia Australia and New Zealand, are taking their partnership to the next level, hosting two Cowboys Learn, Earn, Legend! high school students for work experience at their Townsville depot.
Friends of the House
Cowboys Community Foundation
Cowboys Learn, Earn Legend! collaborates with members of an expansive corporate network, including partners like Veolia, to assist Indigenous students enrolled in years 11 and 12 to complete their secondary education and move into further study, training or employment.
Currently enrolled in a five-week work experience program, year 12 students Sarkeitha Williams and Mesui Penninson are attending Veolia’s site in Bohle each Wednesday, learning about all aspects of their operations, including sales, customer communications and safety.
As an active contributor in the corporate social responsibility space, Veolia saw the opportunity to onboard the Northern Beaches State High School students as the perfect way to give back to their community.
Veolia (Aus/NZ) North Queensland Regional Manager Damien Quinn said the company has a number of corporate charters that aim to make the organisation a better member of the community through engagement, with the Learn, Earn, Legend! program a key part of that process.
“Our first priority is working to support our community in everything that we do – it’s more than a business decision,” Mr Quinn said.
“There’s also the philanthropic component where we’re working with and helping the Indigenous community; it has been an opportunity to build from our connection to NRL Cowboys House.”
Partnering with the Cowboys Community Foundation’s flagship program – NRL Cowboys House – earlier this year, Veolia were keen to show their support of the newly-established education facility.
“We continually look for opportunities that add value through social responsibility and community engagement, and felt that our involvement in the House met both of those,” Mr Quinn said.
“It’s a great way to connect to the community through NRL Cowboys House; offering the social benefit to not only the students there and those directly involved, but also as an organisation and for our employees to see the benefits of what our company is doing in the community.”
