While Cox hit the road to Hedland Senior High School, Embley paid a visit to the students at Newman Senior High School.
The veterans each went through training sessions with students, giving footy tips and advice, as well as chatting about the importance of goal-setting, dedication and team work.
“It was great getting back to basics, doing drills and training sessions with the Kicking Goals kids,” Cox said.
“This program is pretty unique, and I can see why it’s received the results it has.”
Kicking Goals, which is one of Australia’s largest regional mentoring programs, is a joint initiative between BHP Billiton, the West Coast Eagles and Swan Districts football clubs, with the aim to improve attendance levels, encourage healthy choices and improve antisocial behaviour among students in the remote Pilbara region of WA.
Combining sport-based initiatives to help students in the Pilbara achieve better educational and employment outcomes, Kicking Goals utilises a reward system, whereby students are required to maintain certain key standards to be eligible for various incentives.
Since its inception in 2005, the Kicking Goals program continues to deliver impressive academic and social results for the Pilbara, including improvement in attendance records and literary and numeracy, as well as assist BHP Billiton’s commitment to better education in Port Hedland, Newman and Indigenous communities across the Pilbara.
In 2011, the Kicking Goals program also received an award of excellence from the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
