Jobsite Skills Fast-Tracked for NRL Cowboys House Students
NRL Cowboys House students have gained hands-on jobsite experience and explored career pathways across North Queensland’s rail and export industries during a visit to Bowen Rail Company and Abbot Point Operations.
Delivered through the Cowboys Community Foundation's partnership with Bravus Australia, the excursion took students behind the scenes to learn about workplace safety, freight operations and export logistics, while meeting some of the people who keep these major regional operations moving.
For many students, it was an opportunity to see careers they may have known little about brought to life.
Bowen Rail Company employees began the visit by sharing their industry knowledge and introducing students to the strong safety culture underpinning the operation.
Students then entered the railyard, where they experienced the scale of the worksite firsthand and stepped inside a locomotive.
Through these experiences, students were encouraged to consider how different skills, qualifications and career pathways contribute to the business.
NRL Cowboys House General Manager Rochelle Jones said opportunities like this play an important role in shaping how young people view their futures.
“Career exploration becomes much more meaningful when students can step into a workplace, speak with the people who work there and see for themselves what a particular industry has to offer,” Ms Jones said.
“For some of our students, this was their first look at railway operations. Entering the rail yard and stepping inside a locomotive helped make those career possibilities feel real and within reach.
“At NRL Cowboys House, we want our students to leave school with confidence in their abilities and a strong understanding of the opportunities available to them.”
Managed by the Cowboys Community Foundation, NRL Cowboys House provides wraparound support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students living away from home and attending secondary school in Townsville.
Its award-winning model of care combines education, wellbeing, cultural connection, career transition and Year 13 support with experiences that help students recognise their strengths and prepare for life beyond school.
The excursion also reflected a shared commitment between Bravus Australia and the Cowboys Community Foundation to creating meaningful education and employment pathways for young people from regional communities.
A Bravus spokesperson said welcoming students to Bowen Rail Company gives them insight into the industry that can't be replicated in the classroom.
“There is enormous value in giving young people the opportunity to see a workplace up close and hear directly from those who have built careers within it,” the spokesperson said.
“Bowen Rail Company offers pathways for people with different strengths and interests. By introducing students to the operation, we hope they can recognise where their own skills might fit and see that rewarding careers are available here in regional Queensland."
The experience later continued at Abbot Point Operations, where students learned about the safety, logistics and day-to-day requirements involved in running one of Queensland’s largest export terminals.
Through its partnership with Bravus Australia, the Cowboys Community Foundation continues to create opportunities that give NRL Cowboys House students practical knowledge and industry exposure as they consider their pathways beyond school.
For more information on how to support Cowboys Community Foundation initiatives, visit the Cowboys Community Foundation website.