The Kicking Goals Program continued this week as further visits to the Pilbara community took place on Wednesday with Eagles stars Adam Cockie and Tony Notte visiting the students of Hedland and Newman Senior High Schools.

The day got of to a shaky start for Notte and Eagles Schools and Community Program Officer David Hynes with their aircraft making the long trip up to Newman only to be forced to turn around and head all the way back to Perth after cloudy conditions made it impossible for the pilot to complete a safe landing. After waiting it out at Perth Airport, their second attempt at the trip proved to be more successful with both finally arriving in Newman- a little late, but in one piece.

Luckily, for Cockie and Schools and Community Program Coordinator Kim Hannah, the trip to Hedland was a smooth ride and after arriving at Hedland Senior High School, Kicking Goals students were put through their paces by a very enthusiastic Cockie.

‘The kids have been great fun today and it’s been really good to get up here and teach them a bit of what we know. You can tell that they really appreciate the opportunity,’ Cockie said.

Aimed at students in years 9-10, Kicking Goals is a curriculum-based initiative that utilises a reward and incentive system, where students are required to maintain certain key performance indicators to stay in the program and be eligible for various incentives.

The program focuses on improving life skills, school attendance, academic achievement and the health and wellbeing of young children in the Pilbara region. This is achieved through coaching clinics, videoconference sessions as well as email and telephone exchanges between players and students throughout the year.

Kicking Goals is a joint initiative by the West Coast Eagles, the Swan Districts Football Club and BHP Billiton Iron Ore and involves 10 visits to the Pilbara every year by players and coaching staff.

Since the program’s inception in 2005, Kicking Goals has seen some dramatic improvement in behavioural issues and school attendance records including a 53% decrease in criminal activity in Port Hedland and a 64% improvement in literacy and numeracy for Indigenous students at Newman Senior High School.