NASCA at the 2025 NRL Indigenous Round Newcastle Knights

NASCA was the charity partner for the NRL Indigenous round 2025 celebrating Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their profound influence on the game of rugby league

NRL Indigenous Round

We were incredibly proud to be a part of this significant occasion, with activities spanning the NRL and NRLW games on Friday, 8th of August and Saturday 9th August 2025.

O

ur partnership with the Newcastle Knights provided an incredible platform to showcase our mission and connect with the community. One of the highlights was our NASCA speaker, Renee MacDonald, who addressed the crowd both on the field and in a corporate box. She shared the impact of our work in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and how the public can get involved.

A key element of our involvement in the Indigenous Round was the 50:50 raffle, for which we received an incredible 50% of the proceeds, totalling nearly $7,000 over the two nights. 

We’re also thrilled to have received a jersey signed by all the players, which we plan to use as a prize for an upcoming raffle to continue our fundraising efforts.

The weekend was made even more special by the presence of our students from various schools. Students and staff members from Orara, Wellington, Singleton, Kempsey, Muswellbrook, Alexandria Park Community School were all in attendance, along with staff members from the Dubbo office and other locations. Eboni, a NASCA student from Singleton High School had the honour of performing the coin toss before the NRLW game.

We also had a NASCA tent at the event, where the public could learn more about our work and the schools we support in the area.

Career Connect Pathways trip to Newcastle

While in Newcastle for the games, twelve students from Wellington, Orara, and Kempsey High Schools took part in a Career Connect Pathways trip to Newcastle. They explored meaningful post-school career opportunities with NASCA’s valued partners UGL and QUBE. The students participated in engaging information sessions, gaining insights into what a typical day looks like at both organisations. They also had the unique opportunity to take guided tours of the work sites, offering a first-hand look at potential career pathways in action.

It was especially inspiring to see our young women actively participating, asking questions, and thriving in a new and unfamiliar environment. The trip also included a visit to the University of Newcastle, where the Wollotuka Institute hosted NASCA students from Wellington, Orara, Kempsey, and Singleton High Schools. The session highlighted the mentoring, support, and scholarship opportunities available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students considering university study.

We are so grateful to our community of supporters

Thank you to the Newcastle Knights for this incredible opportunity and for their commitment to celebrating Indigenous culture. A special thank you also goes to our dedicated volunteers, particularly Dan, who sold the winning ticket. We are also grateful for the enthusiasm of our students and the hard work of our staff members, who made sure the students had a great time while also selling raffle tickets. And another special thanks to our corporate partners, UGL and Qube, who made the trip even more special for our students.

This weekend was a good reminder of the importance of community, partnership, and celebrating our rich heritage.