If you have a high degree of care for the health and wellbeing of people at your local rugby league club, you could be the ideal person for the Queensland Rugby League’s Support Squad.
We’re looking for registrations for people interested in becoming mental health-literate Support Squad volunteers at clubs throughout Queensland in 2023 so they can be a vital liaison to guide people toward critical services should they need.
Most of all, Support Squad members are there as someone to talk to, to help people who might be struggling.
For example, if someone has approached that person and say they’re having a lot of trouble at school, or trouble concentrating, or maybe issues at home they can have a chat to them about it and refer them on to a relevant service.
Support Squad members are also our eyes and ears on the ground to facilitate action on antisocial behaviours and concerning health trends, such as vaping, and can liaise with QRL wellbeing staff to visit and present education sessions.
The responsibility would suit someone who cares not so much about how many tries they or their team scores, it’s for someone who cares about people and what they’re going through and want to see them advance in every aspect of their life.
Having a person from a community service background is great, but mostly it just needs someone who wants to be there to support young people, using rugby league as the driver.
Everyone joining Support Squad receives training in mental health first aid, a nationally recognised qualification and unit standards that can go towards further community service qualifications.
Our five-year plan is to have at least one Support Squad person at each club, so the more people that put their hand up, the more opportunity there is for the program to grow and for more partners to come on board and support our goals.
More than 130 people rendered their assistance in 2022.
The first education intake for successful nominees is set to take place next month.
To apply to be a member of Support Squad, access the form here.
