The South Sydney Rabbitohs helped launch the ‘Learn. Earn. Legend!’ sponsorship on the front of the Indigenous All Stars jersey today (Sunday) at the Australian Technology Park Performance Centre at Redfern Oval, with Nathan Merritt having the honour of pulling on the jersey for the first time.

Merritt was joined by fellow South Sydney players Beau Champion, Chris Sandow, Issac Luke, Jason Clark, Kane Morgan, Dylan Farrell, Nathan Peats, Mal Webster, Blake Judd, Hayden O’Donnell, Barry McGrady, Jake Shearer and Brendan Barnes to help launch the jersey in the company of Senator Mark Arbib MP, William Smiley Johnstone (both pictured), NRL CEO David Gallop, Souths Juniors President Keith McCraw, NRL Communications Manager John Brady and NRL Marketing Manager Paul Kind.

Joining the senior Rabbitohs’ players were Tyrone Ranuku-Phillips, Matt Gordon and Kingsley Dennison, who have all been selected to play in the under 16s NSW Indigenous side.

Merritt spoke about the opportunity he has by representing his people in the Indigenous All Stars side.

“It’s a great honour. I’m really honoured to be playing in this jersey,” Merritt said.

“It’s good to see all the boys here today. These guys are the stars of the future and hopefully they get a chance to play in this game in the future.”

Merritt is one of 14 players currently in schools in the South Sydney district as part of Souths Cares’ Teachers Aide program.

“The Teachers Aide program is really important,” Merritt said.

“I get to go back to the school I went to as a kid which is Alexandria Park, and it’s good to be a positive role model for these kids.”

Champion spoke about the work he does as a mentor for people in search of work.

“I work as a mentor for Aboriginal Connections, and we do work from Kempsey on the north coast down to Mount Druitt here in Sydney,” Champion explained.

“Hopefully we can all set a positive example for these people and for kids to aspire to do better for themselves and their families.”

Mr McCraw spoke about his pride in seeing South Sydney juniors make it to the top.

“We enjoy a great relationship with Souths and when you see someone come through the system to reach the top, it’s really tremendous,” Mr McCraw said.

“A great number of the guys here today came through our junior league and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

The Rudd Government is teaming up with the National Rugby League in a new partnership to encourage Indigenous children to stay in school and aspire to good jobs.

Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib, today announced the $825,000 three-year partnership, which will begin with the upcoming Rugby League All Stars Match.

The NRL Indigenous All Stars will promote the message Learn. Earn. Legend! at the inaugural Rugby League All Stars Match at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on February 13.

“The Government’s goal, through the NRL Indigenous All Stars Team, is to encourage young Indigenous Australians to have a go, stay at school and ensure a pathway to employment,” Senator Arbib said.

“The best thing all kids can do is get a good education. We know that the more education you have, whether that be finishing year 12, completing a TAFE qualification, an apprenticeship or a tertiary qualification, the more likely you are to get a good job.

“Almost 60 per cent of Indigenous Australians live in NSW or Queensland – the heartland of rugby league. This is a great way for the Government to partner with the sporting heroes of young Indigenous children to send out an important positive message.

“This is an ongoing partnership which builds on the work being done by the Former Origin Greats (FOGS) with their careers expos and will include a FOGS Indigenous Employment and Careers Market at Skilled Park before the All Stars game.”

NRL Chief Executive David Gallop said the NRL had committed all money raised from the All Stars Match to community projects, with an emphasis on Indigenous communities.

“The Indigenous All Stars team has been handpicked by rugby league fans who have for the first time brought together stars like Preston Campbell, Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis, Scott Prince, Wendell Sailor and Nathan Merritt in the one team,” Mr Gallop said.

“The players provide a powerful voice for their community and can play a strong role in helping the Australian Government directly engage with young, Indigenous Australians.

“The players are committed to making a difference and this is an important partnership for all concerned.”

The game will be played between the Indigenous All Stars and the NRL All Stars and coincide with the second anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.

Senator Arbib said the Government funding was provided from the Indigenous Employment Program.

The Australian Government has committed $764 million over five years to the Indigenous Employment Program to strengthen Indigenous employment and business opportunities.

The NRL partnership will also include:

· One of the Indigenous All Stars becoming an ongoing ambassador to promote education and employment opportunities for the next three years;

· Publicising the Learn Earn Legend message at NRL All Stars matches through to 2012

· A careers market at the 2010 All Stars match

· An Indigenous Youth Summit in 2011 and 2012

· Access to the NRL “One Community” resources that concentrate on a healthy lifestyle, to complement the Australian Government’s Indigenous Education and Employment initiatives

· Developing Indigenous cultural events with an education and employment theme to be held in regional centres across NSW and Qld to coincide with future All Stars games in 2011 and 2012; and

· A commitment from the NRL to work with the Government to develop further Indigenous employment and education initiatives. “The NRL partnership is another example of the Australian Government working in innovative ways to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage in education and economic participation,” Senator Arbib said.