Sharks finalists in the 2019 ClubsNSW Community Awards

Following on from last year’s win for their support of the Make Bullying History Foundation and its outstanding schools program, the Cronulla Sharks Leagues Club is again amongst the finalists in the 2019 ClubsNSW Community Awards.

The ClubsNSW Community Awards recognise clubs who have invested in programs that create long term benefits for their communities, with the Sharks nominated for their support of the Love Bites and Deadly Choices programs.

A finalist in the education category, Love Bites aims to prevent domestic, family and sexual violence by educating the next generation on respectful relationships.

Love Bites is targeted to 15-17-year-old high school students, with the aim of impacting cultural change in the community, with 5,000 Sutherland Shire students have undertaken the program since 2011.

The program was originally developed by NAPCAN (National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect)

Sharks Have Heart, in partnership with Capital Bluestone provides the essential funding for Love Bites to run in the Sutherland Shire, including financing a part time co-ordinator for the program.

Sharks Have Heart also provides complimentary room hire and catering to Love Bites for events and Sutherland Shire Family Services facilitator training. Sharks co-captain Wade Graham serves as the club ambassador for the program.

In the Disability, Welfare and Social Inclusion category the Sharks are finalists for their partnership with Deadly Choices, a behaviour change campaign aimed at closing the health outcomes and life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian’s.

Sharks Have Heart reached out to the Institute for Indigenous Urban Health, the creators of Deadly Choices after seeing the success of the program in Queensland, helping to establish the program in the Sutherland Shire by connecting Deadly Choices with Sharks key partners Clontarf Academy at Endeavour High School and the PCYC Sutherland.

The Sharks have helped to deliver two eight-week wellbeing workshops, followed by a 715-health check for local Indigenous students.

The workshops empower local Indigenous students to take control of their physical and mental health, by promoting healthy eating and active participation in sport while emphasising the importance of a good education.

The Sharks also provide a dedicated home game where Deadly Choices are the community partner.

In 2019 the Sharks created the annual ‘Deadly Choices Cup’ for participants of the wellbeing program, an event which see the Sutherland Shire region play the Katungal Clinic before the Sharks round 16 match against the Broncos.

In deciding the 2019 finalists, the judging panel considered how much of an impact club’s contributions had on the success of their programs. Other judging criteria included how well a program addressed the needs of the community and how well program objectives were achieved.

The 2019 ClubsNSW community awards night will take place at ICC Sydney on Saturday, November 2.

To support the Sharks in continuing to implement award winning community programs, donate here: https://asf.org.au/projects/cronulla-sharks-football-club/sharks-have-heart-inclusivity-and-diversity/

For more information on Love Bites, click here: https://www.napcan.org.au/Programs/love-bites/

To read more about Deadly Choices, click here: https://deadlychoices.com.au/