NRL Cowboys House for girls to open in Townsville

THE Queensland Government will “level the playing field” and fund a second NRL Cowboys House for indigenous girls to access schooling in Townsville.

Housing and Sport Minister Mick de Brenni will visit Townsville to announce a new NRL Cowboys House opening for girls.

THE Queensland Government will “level the playing field” and fund a second NRL Cowboys House for ­indigenous girls to access schooling in Townsville.

Housing and Sport Minister Mick de Brenni is scheduled to visit Townsville today to ­announce a $12 million girls’ NRL Cowboys House to be built next door to the successful boys’ facility, which opened last year.

Mr de Brenni said the State Government expected the first intake of 25 girls to be moved in and ready to start school at the beginning of 2019, with the number of students expected to double in 2020.

“When I visited NRL Cowboys House in March last year, the boys told me how awesome it was to be living in the house and going to school in Townsville, but there was one thing missing,” he said.

“Their sisters back home in community couldn’t join them at school in Townsville.”

The new student accommodation will include a common area, kitchen, sleeping and study spaces.

Mr de Brenni said the State Government would provide $2.5 million over four years to help the North Queensland Cowboys operate the facility.

“The Cowboys are an ­inspirational footy team on the field and now they’re inspiring North Queensland girls to succeed in the classroom,” he said.

“I want to thank the club, from the president and CEO, to the coach and players and every ticket holder with the Cowboys, because without you, this could never have been a reality.”

Mr de Brenni said the first NRL Cowboys House had been “incredibly successful” for the boys.

“These are kids who have immense potential, and with NRL Cowboys House we’ve seen just what can be achieved when you put the right supports around kids,” he said.

The boys’ house was funded by the State and Federal governments through the National Partnership on Remote Housing, but the girls’ house did not receive backing from the Commonwealth.

“The Turnbull Government refused to release further NPRH funds for a girls’ house, and now we’ve seen them cut the partnership agreement ­entirely,” Mr de Brenni said.

“We weren’t going to let that stand … It’s simply unfair that boys in remote communities should have these opportunities, but their sisters have to stay home and miss out – this is not the 1950s.”

Students for the 2019 ­intake will be selected in ­consultation with their families, community, local schools and Education Queensland’s Indigenous Schooling Support Unit.

Originally published as NRL Cowboys House for girls to open in Townsville