Wests Tigers 'Learn, Earn, Legend'
Wests Tigers ‘Learn, Earn, Legend’ has been launched to create pathways to successful careers for Aboriginal High school students from the South West Sydney region.

The program is a combined initiative of Wests Tigers, Canterbury Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, National Rugby League, and Supported by the Australian Government.

The program aims to have 100% of students that are involved in the program complete their senior schooling and move into further study, training or meaningful employment.

The program will provide Indigenous students from the Campbelltown area with the opportunity to become a leader in their community inspiring their peers to strive for their goals and work hard to reach them.

Read with Wests Tigers

Wests Tigers players act as mentors for students at the Exodus Foundation Intensive reading centre where they attend weekly to help the kids with their reading.

Currently Exodus Foundation takes in around 30 kids every semester into their intensive reading program. The children involved are in years 5 & 6 and have fallen behind in reading skills, some by up to three years and are at risk of dropping out of school due to troublesome behaviour and poor results. The children are picked up from their schools and taken to Exodus everyday for two terms of intensive reading. At the end of the semester they are up to speed with reading and back in their normal classes with many gaining substantially improved grades.

The focus of the Wests Tigers visits is to be used as a reward for the struggling kids to be able to read with one of the players. The visit is used as a chance for the students to practice their reading skills and the players sit one on one with the kids for 15 minutes at a time. During this time the kids read some of their book aloud with the players helping them with their mistakes.

For more information on the Exodus Foundation Intensive Reading School click here

Click here to read about Wests Tigers involvement in the centre.

Rugby League Reads

Wests Tigers reading captain Chris Lawrence writes a piece in the quarterly produced One community magazine, Rugby League Reads. The resources were developed by Suzan Hirsch, a Professor in Boys Education at the Australian Catholic University with the aim of engaging students in reading by using their interest in Rugby League.

Each article has a piece written by Chris, specifically about what he likes to read and why reading is important to him. The resources also help to breakdown common stereotypes that sport stars, especially Rugby League men, do not need or like to read.

Click here for more information and to get your school involved in the program.

Wests Tigers Learning Centre ‘The Lair’
Wests Tigers, in conjunction with the NSW Department of Education and Training have just opened a Learning with League Centre in its South West Sydney heartland of Campbelltown.

‘The Lair’ is a place where students can come afterschool to develop their skills and complete their homework under the guidance of a qualified tutor and mentors. The set up of the centre makes it a place where the students can relax and learn in a comfortable environment while not feeling like they are in a classroom.

Wests Tigers players attend the centre to encourage the students to strive for the best and work hard for their goals.

To read about the opening of the lair and see pictures click here.