A new partnership between Cowboys Community Foundation and Training and Personnel Australia (TPA) will support young people from NRL Cowboys House as future leaders in remote communities.
An investment in the future of remote communities is at the heart of a new partnership between the Cowboys Community Foundation and Training and Personnel Australia (TPA), supporting young people to access education and employment pathways as the next generation of community leaders.
As a Supporting Partner of NRL Cowboys House, TPA will support programs that empower students from remote North and Far North Queensland to explore and pursue meaningful career pathways, while staying connected to culture, community and Country.
Training and Personnel Australia is a nationally recognised training organisation delivering industry-aligned training and assessment across sectors including mining, maritime, civil construction and transport. Based in North Queensland, TPA provides flexible, on-site and community-based training solutions, working with individuals, employers and regional communities to build practical skills and support workforce readiness.
At the centre of the new partnership is a shared commitment to creating practical, accessible pathways from education into employment.
With TPA already delivering training across many of the same regions NRL Cowboys House students call home – including the Torres Strait, Cape York and remote Far North Queensland – the partnership strengthens the link between education, training and employment while increasing early exposure to industries where opportunities exist locally.
By aligning the support provided through NRL Cowboys House with TPA’s vocational training expertise, the partnership will help students better understand and access opportunities across sectors such as mining, maritime and civil construction.
Since opening in 2017, NRL Cowboys House has celebrated 101 secondary school graduates who have taken their next steps to economic independence through employment, further education and training in diverse locations, including a return home to community for some.
TPA General Manager John Reeves said the partnership reflects a shared vision for ensuring young people can build futures within their own communities.
“The partnership with the Cowboys Community Foundation and NRL Cowboys House reflects a shared commitment to empowering the voices and future of our young Indigenous people,” Mr Reeves said.
“At TPA, we’re co-designing training linked to local and seasonal work, across the various communities, so young people can stay connected to home, family and Country while building skills, confidence and positive futures.
“Together with NRL Cowboys House, we’re focusing on creating real, practical pathways through accredited training and employment, which enables young people to succeed on Country, stay connected to culture and build strong futures in their own communities. Our goal is simple: ensure young people can live, work and lead at home and don’t have to leave to find opportunity.”
Cowboys Community Foundation Chief Executive Officer Fiona Pelling said the partnership will play a critical role in strengthening the transition from education to employment.
“By aligning the support of NRL Cowboys House with TPA’s vocational expertise, we’re ensuring that when students are ready to transition from education to employment, they have access to accessible and culturally safe pathways that help turn their individual goals into reality,” Ms Pelling said.
“Our partnership reflects TPA’s commitment to its strong cultural foundations and its ongoing work to build scalable workforce solutions across remote Australia.
“Importantly, this is about supporting self-determination, creating flexible, community-led training pathways that enable our young people to build skills within their own regions, strengthening local workforce capability and long-term community resilience.”
As part of the partnership, TPA will also feature as the 2026 shorts sponsor on the NRL Cowboys House kit, reinforcing its visible commitment to the program and the young people it supports.
For more information on TPA, visit TPA Australia.
