NRL Cowboys House will soon have a new recreational space for their young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to enjoy in their downtime.

Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman today announced that a vacant block, adjacent to the Boys and Girls Campuses and part of TAFE Queensland’s Pimlico Campus, will be converted into a green space for the students.

“NRL Cowboys House helps to shape the lives of Indigenous youth in Townsville every day and this new training and recreational space will be a welcome addition for the students,” Ms Fentiman said.

“This new space will provide these students with a space to play some touch footy and sports training or other activities.

“Providing green space and recreational areas is so valuable in making a home away from home for the young Queenslanders who call NRL Cowboys House home.”

Cowboys Community Foundation Director Fiona Pelling said the Boys and Girls Campuses currently support 85 students and will reach their capacity of 105 students for the 2020 school year.

Creating a park next to our two campuses will make it easier for students to take a break between their studies and help them relax and build friendships. Fiona Pelling, Cowboys Community Foundation Director

“We are focused on lifting the number of Indigenous North Queenslanders who complete Year 12 and have set up the campuses with purpose-designed and culturally-respectful spaces.

"Thanks to this agreement they’ll have an outdoor space where we can run some bigger activities and our young people can enjoy some fresh air.”

NRL Cowboys House General Manager Rochelle Jones said the students will benefit in many ways from having access to the new area.

"Coming to live in Townsville is a big change for our students, who come from very remote areas with lots of space.

"At the moment they have to get in a bus to enjoy this kind of open space together.

"The more recreational space we can give them, the better their learning journey away from home will be."

NRL Cowboys House provides supported accommodation for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from some of North Queensland’s most remote and educationally disadvantaged communities, enabling them to access quality secondary education opportunities in Townsville.

Managed by the Cowboys Community Foundation, the charity arm of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys, NRL Cowboys House is a joint initiative between the National Rugby League, North Queensland Cowboys, the Queensland Government and the Australian Government.