Reds Foundation Launched to Support the Development of Inclusive Rugby Programs in Queensland

Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) today launched the Reds Foundation with a charter to continue to deliver a number of education and Rugby programs that create opportunities for all Queensland communities.

The first three major beneficiaries of the work of the Reds Foundation will be the QRU’s Women’s Rugby Program, QRU’s Disability Inclusion Programs and the Queensland Reds Indigenous Program.

QRU CEO Jim Carmichael said: “It’s important for QRU to consolidate the important work of the past number of years in providing access to educational and Rugby programs for Queenslanders who are unlikely to have experienced a traditional introduction to the sport. Our programs are much more than finding the next Rugby superstars, they are also about developing young people who can aspire to be future leaders in their communities, on and off the field.

“Our Future Indigenous Leaders Program is regarded as industry best practise and our women’s Rugby program is continuing to deliver over 50% of the athletes to the Australian women’s sevens squad ahead of the Rio Olympic Games. The Modified Rugby Program, which was developed and launched by QRU, GingerCloud and Brothers Junior Rugby Club in Queensland in 2014, is a world first and has expanded beyond Brisbane for the first time in 2016.

“Our fundraising efforts through today’s launch of the Reds Foundation will sustain and grow these important programs. We are the leading state for Rugby participation in Australia and this initiative will assist us to maintain that position as we continue to aspire to be a sport for all Queenslanders.”

The Three Pillars of the Reds Foundation

GENDER: Earlier this year, Queensland Rugby Union launched “They Said”, a bold campaign celebrating women in Rugby and challenging the traditional stereotype that Rugby is a man’s sport.

Queensland Rugby Union is improving pathways for female players, whether it be as a XVs or a Sevens player - with clear pathways in place to take players to a professional level.

Since its inception, the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Women’s Sevens Academy at Ballymore has seen five players earn contracts with the Australian squad. Demi Hayes, who is currently on a development contract with the Australian squad, was also one of three QAS graduates who made their debuts for the Australian side last weekend at the Canada Sevens event in Langford, where the Australian Women finished third. Of the current group of 21 contracted Australian Women Seven’s players, 11 originate from Queensland.

Girls and young women are also boosting participation figures and joining sevens programs across Queensland in big numbers with 21 new women’s sevens teams, 65 new club teams from the ages of 9 – 18, and 73 new secondary school teams springing up in Queensland in 2015 alone. The new recruits are recognising the opportunities Rugby offers with Sevens now part of the 2016 Rio Olympic program and also part of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games program.

ALL ABILITIES RUGBY: Introduced in 2014 at Brothers Rugby Club, the Modified Rugby Program (MRP) has expanded in 2016 to include six clubs, including a new MRP program in Toowoomba. The MRP provides children with learning and perceptual difficulties the chance to learn and play competitive Rugby.

Megan Elliott, founder and Managing Director of GingerCloud Foundation, developed the MRP program with Brothers Rugby Club, QRU, ARU and Allied Health professionals to build a program that supported the specific needs of these children.

The program is structured with necessary modifications to the game, providing participants on-field support through a Player Mentor system, whilst still remaining aligned with the Rugby laws.

In recent years, Queensland Rugby Union and St.George Foundation have joined forces with GingerCloud to further expand the program within Clubs.

As well as Toowoomba Junior Rugby Club - University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Brisbane clubs GPS, Easts, Wests and Redlands also offer the program.

Queensland Rugby recently implemented the Disability Inclusion Policy that allows junior Rugby players with a disability to play in the age group below their actual year group.

CULTURE: The Queensland Reds Indigenous Program (QRIP) was established in 2010, closely aligned to Closing the Gap, working to provide a better future for Indigenous children in Queensland.

Initially working with the Mornington Island and Doomadgee communities, the program has continued to expand now delivering State-wide including the Yarrabah, Woorabinda, Cherbourg, Lockhart River and Pormpuraaw communities.

The QRIP charter is “to support and encourage young Indigenous Queenslanders to stay in school, seek employment and further training and as a result become a leader within their community”.

With a strategic approach to community education, the QRIP is structured as follows:

Community Development Program: Delivered through the communities of Cherbourg, Woorabinda, Yarrabah, Lockhart River and Pormpuraaw to encourage school attendance, education and healthy and active lifestyles.

Reds Future Indigenous Leaders Program: Aims to encourage and support students from the communities of Cherbourg, Yarrabah and Woorabinda, who have demonstrated consistency in attendance, showed improvement in learning and achieved excellence in performance both inside and outside the classroom .

Reds Generation Next Program: Working with year 11 and year 12 students across South and Central Queensland to assist and support them the transition from school to work or further education.

Employment Strategy: Commitment to identify and support employment initiatives for indigenous Australians.

Queensland Reds Indigenous Program Scholarship: Awarded to selected participants of the Reds Future Indigenous Leaders Program, the Queensland Reds Indigenous Program Scholarship supports our commitment to a brighter future for young Indigenous Queenslanders. The scholarship focuses on providing a world-class education and career opportunities while developing the core values of Leadership, Teamwork, Commitment, Pride, Culture and Community in our leaders of tomorrow.

Queensland Reds Indigenous Round: In 2012 the QRU became the first State Union in Australia to celebrate our indigenous culture and heritage with a nominated match during the season.

QRU also works closely with the Pacific Island Communities within Queensland, providing pathways and nurturing talent in the important growth corridors in and around Brisbane.

The Reds Foundation will conduct a range of fundraising initiatives in 2016 with the centrepiece being a fundraising function on Thursday, 7 July, at Victoria Park Golf Club in Brisbane. For more information on the Reds Foundation visit www.redsrugby.com.au/RedsFoundation and to book tickets to the function CLICK HERE.