Deputy Premier James Merlino announces successful results of school program

AFL SportsReady is celebrating the success of our school support traineeship program, with 98% of participants continuing full-time work or study after graduating in 2014. 

More than 1000 school support trainees have taken part across Australia since 1994. Victoria is a stand-out when it comes to traineeships with 16 secondary colleges taking on multiple trainees, including Mount Lilydale Mercy College.

Victorian Education Minister and Deputy Premier James Merlino met with AFL SportsReady CEO James Montgomery to announce the results of AFL SportsReady’s traineeship success in schools.

Minister Merlino, a former student of Mount Lilydale Mercy College said ‘it was great to return to my old school and meet the graduate trainees. This partnership between AFL SportsReady and Mt Lilydale College provides important employment opportunities for young people in our community.’

The program’s success with PE Departments has also seen traineeships in schools become popular in visual arts and IT departments through the ArtsReady program, an initiative of AFL SportsReady and supported by the Australian Government.

ArtsReady currently has 12 trainees working in school visual arts and IT departments around the nation. Host schools are enjoying the benefits of the program, while taking advantage of our flexible full-time, part-time and school-based traineeship models to find the right fit for their needs and budget.

‘We are extremely proud of our schools program which continues to grow across the country,’ said AFL SportsReady CEO James Montgomery.

‘As a company, we are driven to provide opportunities to help young people find their pathway to a fulfilling career and this program is certainly achieving this,’ he explained. 

Our trainees are equipped with unique skills, receive invaluable on-the-job work experience and have the opportunity of undertaking further study through AFL SportsReady’s national university partners.

For more about what out trainees can do for your school and the benefits of becoming a host employer, please visit our website aflsportsready.com.au

Media Contacts: 
Minister’s Office, David McNamara 0437 167 221 [email protected]
AFL SportsReady: Fiona Hawes 0433 903 761 [email protected]

DATE: 15 December 2015
IMAGE: AFL SportsReady CEO, James Montgomery and Deputy Premier James Merlino.