Bronco prop Ryan James has donated $77,000 to a local Aboriginal early childcare program.
The donation to Kalwun’s Early Learning Program, was provided through a partnership between the Ryan James Group’s business Minjungbal Hygiene and Hough Pharma — one of the nation’s largest suppliers of rapid antigen tests.
Kalwun's program is a school readiness program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children between 3-5 years. It operates in Burleigh Heads and Currumbin and supports young ones in their cultural journeys.
A proud father of two, both of James’ boys have experienced the Kawlun program.
“It’s really good what they do there, they help embed culture,” James told NITV News.
“Kids are taught about who they are, where they’re from and they teach them language. It really helps young Indigenous kids with that transition to school.”
For his eldest, Carter, Kawlun was the stepping stone to flourishing at school.
Ryan James Group and Hough Pharma donated $77,000 to the Kalwun Early Learning Program. Source: Instagram
“It was awesome for him to go to there,” said James.
"He did the program at school . . . he was around the school, he wore a uniform. It got him ready for that transition.
“We were moving down to Canberra at the time so it was a whole new environment, no friends, a new state and new school. His transition was so smooth, I was so thankful he was in that program.”
The decision to invest in the program came easy to James. The NRL star wrote on Instagram that it was one of his “biggest achievements to date”.
"I was literally dropping off my little one one day and asked them why it didn't run more frequently or why there wasn't more schools, and they said they needed more funding,” he told NITV News.
"It was an easy decision for me. I've seen the benefits of it in both of my kids.”
For James, the donation is a step towards expanding the valuable program.
Ryan James with students from Kalwun Early Learning Program. Source: Instagram
"I didn't realise that some Indigenous kids go straight from carers to school, there may be that financial factor that means they can't go to daycare. They don't get to socialise early and go straight from family to school,” he said.
"They're already behind because they don't have that social early learning that they need. We thought why not get behind this cause because it gets everyone on an even playing field for primary school.
"I honestly believe that this can be a nationwide thing. There's no reason why this can't be something that can't be greater and wider for our Indigenous kids.”
James runs the Ryan James Group with former teammate Greg Bird. The pair aim to ensure that it has an impact beyond business and into community.
Ryan James of the Broncos. Source: Getty Images AsiaPac
"For us Indigenous businesses, we go in and do great things for our communities, it's about giving back. If you get behind anything an Indigenous business does, there's usually a good social responsibility, it's hard for us to not do that,” said James.
With big things on the horizon, including finalising establishing the Ryan James Foundation, James hopes this is the first step to a long life of giving back.
