Rugby League star empowers young leaders

More than 60 Year 11 and 12 students from 13 academies came together in Sydney to strengthen their leadership skills and hear from NRL superstar and Goanna Academy Ambassador Cody Walker. Supporting the Clontarf Foundation is part of the Inland Rail Skills Academy’s mission to help communities along the alignment to train for and secure future rail industry jobs. Since the partnership began, more than 1,200 students have been enrolled in training courses.

As part of the 2026 Clontarf Academy Leadership Camp, students from across the Riverina and South Coast regions arrived in Sydney last month for a three‑day experience designed to support young First Nations men as they prepare for their final years of schooling and life beyond graduation.

Students travelled to the New South Wales Rugby League headquarters at Sydney Olympic Park to participate in the Goanna Academy resilience and mindfulness workshop with Rabbitohs star Cody Walker, who shared his story of resilience, overcoming challenges, and setting goals.

Throughout the camp, students also took part in sessions focused on setting expectations for a strong finish to their schooling, graduation, employment pathways, and end‑of‑year milestones.

Between December 2018 and December 2025, 5,528 people worked on the Inland Rail project in New South Wales, of whom 1,872 were local residents and 857 were First Nations people, with Inland Rail spending $406.3 million with 543 local businesses over that period.

A spokesperson for Inland Rail said:

“Inland Rail is proud to partner with the Clontarf Foundation, which plays such an important role in helping young First Nations men build confidence and a clear vision for their future.

“The energy and commitment shown by the young men across the three-day camp was inspiring, and we’re honoured to contribute to programs that keep students engaged in school and focused on life after Year 12.

“These young men are our future workforce, future leaders and future community role models. Through our partnership with the Clontarf Foundation, Inland Rail is committed to creating pathways into training, education and long‑term employment.”

 Mitchell Fennessy, Employment Officer, Clontarf Foundation, said: 

“This camp is a really important one on the calendar for our senior boys, it’s about coming together, goal setting, and finishing their senior years off strong.

“On behalf of the Riverina and South Coast Clontarf Academies, we would like to thank the team at Inland Rail for their continued support of the Clontarf Foundation, the partnership keeps going from strength to strength in the Riverina.”

For more information on opportunities available with the Inland Rail Skills Academy, visit our Education and Scholarships page at https://inlandrail.com.au/opportunities/education-and-scholarships/ or email irskillsacademy@artc.com.au.