Eighteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are now equipped to embark on exciting and successful futures after completing their secondary education while boarding at NRL Cowboys House in Townsville.
The latest cohort means a total of 101 students have now graduated high school while boarding at the award-winning, culturally-safe facility, marking a significant milestone in removing distance as a barrier to education for students from some of Australia’s most remote communities.
Last night the entire House community including students, families, partners, teachers and staff gathered to celebrate the students’ collective and individual achievements this year.
This year’s celebration also saw equal numbers of male and female graduates for the first time since the Girls Campus opened.
Among the graduates are Tahliyah “TJ” Jawai from Napranum and Kentaro Sabatino from Thursday Island, who each received the most prestigious awards of the evening, named Senior Girls’ and Boys’ Boarder of the Year respectively.
“The feeling of graduating is very surreal, I’m very nervous now but I’m also really excited to see what’s out there for me,” TJ said.
“My goals after school are to become a boilermaker and to travel. Stepping out of my comfort zone and moving away from my family was a big step for me, and if I didn’t come to the House I don’t think I would have had opportunities and goals like this.”
“It’s great for us to provide a strong example for the younger ones coming through, so they can see that they can do it, grab every opportunity with both hands and home will always be there.”
Kentaro said the support from the House was like having a second family and home-away-from-home.
“The first time I came here I was pretty quiet and in my own bubble, but the House helped me gain confidence.
“They pushed me when things got hard and helped me become who I am today.”
NRL Cowboys House is managed by the Cowboys Community Foundation and is a joint initiative between the National Rugby League, North Queensland Cowboys, the Queensland Government and the Australian Government.
The Boys Campus was established in 2017, the Girls Campus in 2019, with the first cohort of year 12 graduates emerging in 2020 and an average of 15 - 20 graduating every year since.
Earlier this year the Foundation opened a self-funded Graduate Campus to provide a semi-supported, affordable accommodation option for House alumni to continue their journeys and transition into tertiary education, training, and employment.
“These young people had to leave their families and communities to receive equitable education opportunities hundreds of kilometres away in Townsville,” said NRL Cowboys House General Manager Rochelle Jones.
“It’s been our responsibility and great privilege to see them grow into confident, kind and capable adults.
“And now, with our Graduate Campus up and running, we can ensure they have a safe, supportive environment as they take on new challenges beyond school.”
2025 Graduates
| Peter Bob |
Warraber Island |
Kirwan State High School |
| Tshak Daniels-Misi |
Thursday Island |
Pimlico State High School |
| Jonathan Dau |
Saibai Island |
Ignatius Park College |
| Narzaliah Doolah |
Old Mapoon |
St Margaret Mary’s College |
| Lhere Forester |
Coen |
Calvary Christian College |
| Ty Gibson |
Hope Vale |
Heatley Secondary College |
| Tahliyah Jawai |
Napranum |
Kirwan State High School |
| Jaqlyn Kepa |
Yam Island |
St Margaret Mary’s College |
| Louish Mari |
Warraber Island |
Heatley Secondary College |
| Aleeah Michael |
Cooktown |
Kirwan State High School |
| Hezekiah Nona |
Thursday Island |
Ignatius Park College |
| Kudjarli-J Marie Nuggins |
Palm Island |
Calvary Christian College |
| Aydah-Maree Ross-Kelly |
Hope Vale |
Kirwan State High School |
| Kentaro Sabatino |
Thursday Island |
Pimlico State High School |
| Sincere Sibley |
Palm Island |
Kirwan State High School |
| Carleesha Tayley |
Wujal Wujal |
Queensland Pathways State College |
| Mungu Toby |
Mornington Island |
Heatley Secondary College |
| Kalina Zaro |
Mer Island (Murray) |
Kirwan State High School |
For more information on Cowboys Community Foundation programs visit cowboysfoundation.org.au
