Crown Resorts today announced a partnership with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, reinforcing its commitment to Sydney ahead of the launch of Crown Sydney in December 2020.
In addition to being the sleeve sponsor of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Crown Resorts will be an official Employment Supporter of all Rabbitohs, and Souths Cares Indigenous Employment Programs – facilitating pathways for Indigenous employees into Crown’s decade-old, award-winning Indigenous Employment Program.
An integral part of the partnership was the close integration facilitated with the Club’s Souths Cares program – an independent, not-for-profit institution which supports the local community across the South Sydney region, as well as nationwide. Working with disadvantaged and marginalised youth and their families, the initiative builds education, training, health and employment programs to make a positive impact on the community.
The partnership will see Crown, Souths Cares and South Sydney Rabbitohs come together to create new pathways for these youth and their families to provide employment from school, as well as exploring a new initiative around creating RTO (registered training organisation) level training and industry recognised qualification access for South Sydney Rabbitohs players who are over 18 years of age and require retraining off the football field. This will stand in addition to Crown’s standalone program which provides pathways for employment for Indigenous candidates.
Crown has an already established an award-winning Indigenous Employment Program which aims to make a positive impact on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. Already operating across its two other Australian properties, Crown Resorts’ Indigenous Employment Program recently clocked up its tenth anniversary. In that time Crown has provided over 900 Indigenous employment opportunities across both Melbourne and Perth.
To also support junior sport, Crown will also sponsor three Western Sydney Rugby League Clinics every season. The Rabbitohs will run these clinics in Western Sydney regional communities.
Peter Crinis, chief operating officer, Crown Sydney, commented: “Sydney’s Western Suburbs, have some of the highest Indigenous populations in the country. Programs that help those living in these communities are important, and through this partnership, we aim to provide opportunities it is for people to enrich theirs and their family’s lives. A strong relationship between our two organisations makes sense. We already have a well-established Indigenous Employment Program. In partnering with the Rabbitohs we can make a meaningful impact and help improve employment pathways for Indigenous communities.”
Blake Solly, CEO, South Sydney Rabbitohs, added: “We welcome Crown as a partner that shares many of the same values as the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Through their award-winning Indigenous Employment Program Crown have displayed a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. The Rabbitohs, in partnership with Souths Cares, are also committed to providing opportunities for the community across sport, education, training and employment. This partnership will enhance the work that Crown and the Rabbitohs already perform, and allow us to work on new initiatives to make a greater impact in our community.”
As activity continues to ramp up ahead of the launch of Crown Sydney in December 2020, Crown has committed to 50 permanent placements for Indigenous trainees at launch. This will be in addition to more than 60 employment opportunities for Indigenous men and women delivered during the construction phase of the project.
Crown Sydney is set to become a globally recognised landmark that will attract thousands of international tourists, helping Sydney to better compete with other global major tourism hubs, creating over 2,000 local jobs and contributing almost half a billion to the economy. With the travel and hospitality sector such an important part of the Sydney economic landscape, facilitating jobs and training opportunities in this sector for Indigenous people is vital.
