Johnathan Thurston to visit Quilpie to deliver motivational workshops to locals

JT Speaker

Australian rugby league legend Johnathan Thurston will bring his Johnathan Thurston Academy to Quilpie at the end of October to present a series of workshops to the local community to help inspire and prepare them for the future. He will also attend the official opening of the refurbished Quilpie Football Grounds.

Areas covered by Quilpie Shire Council have been particularly hard hit by the drought crisis. Thurston’s visit to the region is being funded by the Western Queensland PHN under the Empowering Our Communities Initiative and Quilpie Shire Council.

It is hoped the workshops will help lift the spirits of locals bringing them together to celebrate as a community.

Thurston will arrive in Quilpie on October 28 where he will host junior rugby league workshops at the footy grounds. The following day Thurston and his team from the Johnathan Thurston Academy will deliver the JTSucceed workshop to local students, which has been designed to encourage youth to stay in school – and attend – until they have finished their education.

The team will then deliver the JTFutureLeaders Workshop to a selected group of 18 to 35-year-olds from the region who hold, or are moving into, leadership positions. It has been developed to help build their confidence and understanding of the importance of their roles in being good role models placing the community firmly at the centre of their decision-making.

Rural landholders and staff from Quilpie Shire Council will also benefit from a motivational session from Thurston to boost morale.

The three day visit has been made possible thanks to Quilipie Shire Council and the Western Queensland PHN a not-for-profit organisation formed by South West Hospital and Health Service, Central West Hospital and Health Service and North West Hospital and Health Services. The group’s charter is to provide a strong foundational platform to improve primary health care services throughout the Western Queensland region which has been badly affected by drought.

Quilpie Shire Council Mayor, Stuart Mackenzie said the visit is sure to boost the spirits of the small outback communities of the shire. 

“Rural property owners and local business operators have been particularly hard hit by the impacts of the prolonged drought conditions,” Cr Mackenzie said.

“The impacts resonate throughout the entire community including our youth whose families are often struggling financially.”

Thurston, who is the Managing Director of the JT Academy, has spent much of his time since retiring from rugby league promoting programs which encourage and support Australian youth into meaningful employment and education.

“The JT Academy was developed to inspire, support and to set our nation’s youth up to succeed across all areas of their life: employment, education and wellbeing. It’s our absolute pleasure when we get the opportunity to extend our reach to youth living in remote and regional communities,” Thurston explained.

“With the support of our corporate partners and invitations such as this from local councils, we are able to get into some of these communities and deliver programs which make a tangible difference to the lives of local kids and, as a result, the whole community benefits.

“The more we can encourage and support our young people to find a strong sense of self-belief, confidence, courage and purpose, the better prepared they will be to lead future generations. It is a small investment but a worthy one.”

Thanks Lendlease for joining us on this journey

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More than four years ago we commenced the planning and development of the Johnathan Thurston Academy with a clear vision of supporting young people to succeed in employment, education, health and wellbeing.

When having conversations with various corporates, it was always our goal to partner with companies and organisations who share the same values and are like-minded in caring for their people and their community.

At our very first meeting with Lendlease, we knew immediately that we were two like-minded organisations and shared values of respect, integrity, collaboration and trust. What we didn’t realise at that meeting was that Lendlease would soon become our Major Employment Partner – and more so treat us and look after us like family.

Lendlease is a property and construction company with global expertise in shaping cities and creating strong and connected communities. Chief Executive Officer for Lendlease Building, Dale Connor, recognised an opportunity to partner with the JTAcademy to help influence the training and employment outcomes for young jobseekers across Australia.

“When we met with Johnathan, Academy Director Sam Ayoub and General Manager Samantha Johnson, we immediately recognised a clear alignment of objectives,” Connor said of the partnership.

“Both the Academy and Lendlease are committed to supporting the local communities in which we operate whether it is through employment, training or engagement with small to medium enterprise.

“We shook hands on it at the time agreeing Lendlease would be there for the Academy and we have been true to our word. We are proud of the work we have done together and the opportunities it has created.”

JT said the Academy was very much a start-up when the first meeting with Lendlease took place.

“The support and trust from Lendlease meant the world to myself and my team. It is a partnership that will forever remain as our very first.  Lendlease backing us was a pivotal point in our journey.  Forever grateful.

“We knew exactly what we wanted to achieve, but we also recognised that to achieve it, we needed strategic corporate partners who could help us walk-the-walk and not just talk-the-talk,” Thurston said.

“Samantha literally drew a mud map of the partnership using stick figures at our first brainstorming meeting with Lendlease. We have kept those drawings because they remind us of our humble beginnings and what we set out to achieve – to make a meaningful and very real difference in the lives of young Australians. 

“We have achieved a lot in just a couple of years and we could not have done that without the support of Lendlease.”

JT said the partnership with Lendlease had opened several doors to additional employment partners which would not have been accessible otherwise and they have also facilitated introductions to organisations which have become sponsors, supporters and partners.

When Lendlease added a link to its website to the JTAcademy’s job board, visitor numbers to the site went through the roof opening doors for new generations of youth to access opportunities to learn and work.

“The solid foundation we have been able to build is thanks to the generosity and support of Lendlease, and means we are now looking to launch an ambitious new youth and diversity employment program at the end of 2019 – JT2020, which I know will be a game-changer for employment,” Thurston said.

“We are excited about what we have already achieved and even more excited about our plans for the future to help more youth in more communities.”

 

Visit our website and read more here.

 

What’s on JT’s bucket list?

Super Bowl LinkedIn Post

When JTAcademy Managing Director, Johnathan Thurston, got a call from Major Events Company (MEC) earlier this year he knew he was in for a treat. Something exciting always happens when JT’s phone rings and this time was no different, with MEC offering JT the opportunity to achieve one big tick on his bucket list. A three day trip to the NFL Super Bowl in Miami in 2020.

“I’ve been able to do some amazing things in my life and 2019 has certainly been a time of big achievements, with a new addition to my family and some really great projects happening at the JTAcademy” Thurston said.

“I’m always telling the kids I meet to dream big and follow their passions, because with enough effort and self-belief they can achieve anything.”

Now JT gets the chance to fulfil one of his own dreams by travelling with MEC, and a select few lucky ticket holders, to host a three day NFL Super Bowl extravaganza. It’s the biggest event on the US sporting calendar and some of the hardest tickets in the world to access.

MEC is laying on an exclusive tour that would tick every box of even the most ardent sports fan. Throughout the trip there are a variety of pre-game activities, concerts, celebrity events, memorabilia and a welcome dinner hosted by JT.

“The Super Bowl definitely has a wow factor and I can’t wait to kick off 2020 by ticking this awesome event off my bucket list alongside the group of MEC Miami tour sports fans.” Thurston said.

Thurston will be hosting the three day exclusive private tour which promises to be the trip of a lifetime.

To find out more and to join JT in ticking the 2020 NFL Super Bowl off your bucket list visit MEC here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnathan Thurston runs workshops at Mount Isa schools and takes part in Isa Street Festival

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As part of the Isa Street Festival, Mount Isa City Council partnered with the Johnathan Thurston Academy to deliver workshops to hundreds of local students and Indigenous leaders at two local high schools, August 6 and 7, as part of a celebration of local youth.

Australian footy legend Johnathan Thurston visited Mount Isa with staff from the JTAcademy as they deliver the JTSucceed workshop over two days at Spinifex High School and Good Shepherd High School.

The JTSucceed workshop helped to build confidence, courage, self-belief, well-being and good mental health, with cyber bullying a focus for this workshop.

The JTAcademy was founded in 2018 to help Australian youth have access to education and training to help them secure meaningful employment, and this starts with building their self-confidence, self-believe and motivation.

JT Academy’s Managing Director Johnathan Thurston said he was really thrilled about how the visit went.

“I was really excited to bring the JT Academy and our JTSucceed workshop to Mount Isa and be part of the local festivities in partnership with Mount Isa City Council,” Thurston said. “We had been really looking forward to the visit and it was great to be so warmly welcomed by the Mt Isa community and be able to talk directly with the kids about issues which impact them.”

Mount Isa City Council Mayor Joyce McCulloch said valuable lessons were shared by the JT Academy to 160 students at Spinifex Junior campus, including 20 Indigenous leaders, 118 Year 8 and Year 9 students at Good Shepherd Catholic College and 25 Flexible Learning Centre students.

“It is more important in a remote city such as Mount Isa that we talk about these issues so we can increase awareness of appropriate actions that this community can take and the support available, particularly for parents.”

JT also personally presented a signed Maroons jersey to the winner of a Facebook competition run by Mt Isa City Council.

“We are headed to Balonne in late August to deliver programs to students there at the invitation of Balonne Shire Council,” Thurston added.

“And I can’t wait!”

 

Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/2KwnyLoMtIsa

If you are interested in having the JTAcademy deliver tailored programs to your school, community or staff, register your interest at the Academy here: http://jtacademy.com.au/jt-community/

 

 

Kids from remote Yarrabah and Kowanyama communities join the JTBelieve camp

JT Academy Cairns

Education Today ran a story in July about a group of students from Yarrabah and Kowanyama who successfully applied to attend the JTBelieve camp in Cairns with Johnathan Thurston.

The 20 students were chosen from those who successfully completed the JTBelieve program during the school semester, which meant have a great attendance at school and being respectful of the community both in and outside of school.

“The JTBelieve program was designed to help kids improve their self-belief, confidence and courage in their future abilities and opportunities,” Thurston said in the story.

“We believe that by providing programs which help build up the self-belief, confidence, courage and skillsets of youth, they are being given the chance to make decisions about their future based on what they want and what they believe they can achieve.”

 To read the full story click here.

JT recieves his most prestigious award yet with an Appointment to the Order of Australia

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Johnathan Thurston will forever be remembered as one of the greatest league players of our time, but for him, being named a recipient of the Order of Australia during the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List will remain one of his greatest achievements.

Speaking with Townsville Bulletin journalist Kate Banville, Thurston said the award for his services to rugby league and as a role model through the JTAcademy was a huge honour.

I now understand the impact that rugby league has and I started having that impact on people, especially young kids, and I dont take that for granted,Thurston told Banville.

Especially with the indigenous kids and being a role model to them, I really try to show them that they can do anything; my focus is on education and getting kids educated because that can open up their future.”

To read the full story click here.

JT tackles the boardroom

Johnathan Thurston

Talking with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) in November 2018, Thurston admitted he now felt very much like “a small fish in a big pond” as he navigates his new career in the corporate world.

Thurston speaks about being offered a role on the Board of Queensland Tourism and Events and why he was seen keen to embrace the opportunity.

I didnt take much convincing. I thought it was a good opportunity for me to take on and learn how boards operate,” he told AICD. “And I can learn about the industry as well – because I like travel and so does my wife.

He also spoke about the work he is doing as Managing Director of the JTAcademy: This is something I am extremely proud of,he says.Education is the key and thats what I am passionate about.

To read the full story click here.