Guiding Young People To Discover Their Potential JOHNATHAN THURSTON ACADEMY
By Daniel Heggie
When North Queensland NRL legend Johnathan Thurston (JT) hung up his boots in 2018, many wondered what his next venture would be. But JT had been working on something for years — the Johnathan Thurston Academy.
The Academy was born in the lead-up to the NRL’s first Indigenous vs NRL All Stars Match. During preparations, JT realised he didn’t know much about his family history, which inspired him to learn. After a weekend visit to Mitchell, Gunggari Country, he began to think about life after rugby league. Considering his options, JT became an ambassador for different programs with the North Queensland Cowboys.
“I got a real big kick out of seeing the success stories of kids who were completing school, improving their grades, and improving their attendance,” JT said.
“So, I thought I could go out on my own and do it.”
The Johnathan Thurston Academy is based on three characteristics: confidence, courage, and self-belief, traits JT knew he had to display to further his own education. The Academy works with young people, many from disadvantaged or disengaged backgrounds, helping them discover who they are, what they stand for, and where they can go with the right guidance.
Programs focus on values, goal-setting, and role models, and include initiatives such as JTLeadLikeAGirl (women’s empowerment), JTBelieve (school attendance), JTSucceed (employment), and JTYouGotThis (early intervention). Drawing on the teamwork lessons of rugby league, the Academy relies on trusted staff who build rapport with youth and their families, leading to positive behavioural changes and meaningful opportunities.
But trust isn’t built overnight. JT emphasises that his staff go the extra mile.
“Our staff, first and foremost, go out to families, and we take care packages out to those families.
“We engage with the guardians, grandparents, mum and dad, aunties and uncles, whoever is caring for them, and that happens about a month before the program starts.
“Then we have weekly touch points with the guardians leading into the start of the program.
“We have a month of built trust and that rapport before the program starts.”
Above all, JT says the reason he loves to see disengaged and disadvantaged youth succeed is because he was the same.
“I was one of these kids.
“I was disengaged from school and going down the wrong path,” JT said.
“I always loved rugby league, but I started to fall out of love with the game, and I was a little bit lost.
“But I had a great family support network around me to help me get back on track.
“I know the history of our nation and what our culture has endured. A lot of the kids that we work with are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander kids, and I've been in their shoes.
“I want the Academy to be that support network, and I want the Academy to open doors for them.”
JT and the Johnathan Thurston Academy’s message is clear: no one is more responsible for achieving your dreams than yourself — you are the difference.
“The Academy is there to support and guide these young people, but I always say to them, you be the difference in achieving your dreams.
“You're gonna get knocked down sometimes, but it's about getting back up and still having those blinkers on and achieving the goals that you set.
“Put the blinkers on, and with a little bit of guidance, sacrifice, dedication, and work ethic, you can achieve your dreams.”
