Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) Peter V’landys has said rugby is the key to fixing the youth crime crisis in New South Wales.
Mr V’landys made the comments at the launch of the Project Pathfinder initiative in Moree, NSW on Wednesday, April 4.
Project Pathfinder is a partnership between the NSW Police Force, National Rugby League (NRL) and Youth Justice NSW, and will provide at risk teenagers from regional areas with mentorships and opportunities to reach their potential.
The program will see young people provided with unique access to the NRL environment and an NRL mentor to support and engage with their families.
The NRL has helped launch the NSW Government's Project Pathfinder today in Moree as it continues to work to provide diversionary pathways for ‘at risk’ young people across NSW.
— NRL (@NRL) April 3, 2024
Learn more: https://t.co/FBhlYsaKhW pic.twitter.com/4fdmhUzYrh
At the press conference, V’landys said that from a young age football saved him from ending up “on the wrong side of the law.”
“I heard someone say, this program needs to be successful’,” Mr V’landys said.
“Well, I’m a walking example of how it’s successful, because I was in a similar situation as a youth, a migrant kid who found it hard to assimilate.
“It was rugby league that made me assimilate. It was rugby league, through a role model that came and spoke to me, that gave me that inspiration to want to succeed.
“I could have gone down a complete different path, I could be on the wrong side of the law if it wasn’t for the game of rugby league and that’s why I’m so passionate about it – because I know it works.”
Source: The Daily Telegraph.
