The nib Newcastle Knights are proud to confirm they have joined forces with leading Indigenous health and family services organisation Awabakal ahead of the start of the 2020 National Rugby League season.
The new community and kit partnership will see the Knights and Awabakal work together to improve Indigenous health outcomes whilst also seeing the Awabakal brand take its place on the Knights shorts for the season ahead.
Awabakal are dedicated to advancing the wellbeing of our community.
Established in 1977, Awabakal have been providing imperative health care, aged care and family services to Aboriginal people in the wider Newcastle region.
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As well as being an important step forward for the Club and its connection to the Indigenous community, the partnership represents a new milestone for Awabakal, as it continues to grow and have positive impact on the Awabakal community.
“Our community are passionate about NRL and the Knights, so it seemed a perfect fit for Awabakal,” said Raylene Gordon, CEO of Awabakal.
“We’re hoping to reach more of our community through our sponsorship and can’t wait to see our mob at the Knights home games.
“Newcastle Knights have a long history of successful indigenous players, and these positive role models are integral in our community, particularly for our youth. We are excited to see what the partnership brings in 2020.”
Knights Chief Executive Officer Philip Gardner said the innovative partnership is a sign of the Club’s commitment to working with and for the Indigenous community.
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“Collectively, our area is home to one of the largest Indigenous populations in the state and I thank the Board and Management of Awabakal for showing such faith in the Knights organisation,” Mr. Gardner said.
“This is just one of a number of initiatives we are putting in place at the Knights, and it’s a responsibility we take very seriously. We are working with community to establish our first ever Reconciliation Action Plan and this partnership is a sign of the importance we place on working with our first nations people, from a community and a football perspective.
“2020 will see a number of developments in this space and we are looking forward to these rolling out over the course of the year.”
