Rugby Victoria Teacher Ambassador Program is designed to provide best practice content, support and information for those advocating for Rugby Union within schools.
Without teachers who live and breathe rugby in our community it is far more challenging to get the sport in front of new participants to grow and develop our great game.
This year’s inaugural Teacher Ambassador Program launch saw teachers selected across Victoria who had previously, and continue, to run Rugby Victoria school-based programs and events. Through the program, Teacher Ambassadors are given a host of benefits for their hard work including guest coaching, player appearances and signed merchandise for fundraising. Along with this, those teachers selected will also receive an inner sanctum experience with the Melbourne Rebels.
Game Development Manager at Rugby Victoria, Samantha Homewood, says the program will play an important role in encouraging more teachers within schools (both primary and secondary) to become rugby coaches and help to promote the game through the creation of school-based events.
“This is a unique opportunity for teachers who are keen to advance rugby programs through their school education programs and might be unsure on how to.”
“Through engaging with Rugby Victoria and the Melbourne Rebels, we hope teachers can see the benefits of becoming a Teacher Ambassador via this program.” Homewood says.
One of this year’s 26 chosen Teacher Ambassador’s is Trish O’Neill, Head of the Physical Education Department and Learning Specialist for the Sport Science Program at The Grange P-12 College. O’Neill, who has been the school sports coordinator since 2015, says that having the ability to work with young athletes, is an extremely rewarding experience.
“We are able to help these young athletes develop not only their skills on the sporting field but also help them become well rounded individuals.”
“By being able to work with our students so closely within the Sport Science program, we are able to help them become stronger and more tactically advanced. Along with this we have ensured to keep them very humble and taught them to show pride in their teammates and the school.”
What O’Neill enjoys most though, is being able to show pride in each of the athletes the school fosters.
“What I love the most is that we are able to see a plethora of sides to our students within the program. We see them on the field achieving, we see them in the classroom achieving and we see them in leadership positions within the school achieving. We are very proud of all our students.”
For more information on the Teacher Ambassador Program being run through Rugby Victoria in partnership with the Melbourne Rebels, get in contact with Game Development Manager Samantha Homewood via email at samantha.homewood@rugbyvic.com.au or visit the Rugby Victoria website.
