Yancoal’s Yarrabee Coal Mine has renewed its partnership with Central Queensland (CQ) Life Education for three more years, ensuring students continue being educated about health and safety in an exciting and imaginative way.
The $23,000 donation each year for three years will enable the popular Life Education Mobile Learning Centre to continue to offer and expand its early learning and primary school programs to children across all the local CQ schools including Live Better Early Learning Centre, Blackwater State School, Blackwater North State School, Baralaba State School and Duaringa State School.
Emily Taylor, President for Life Education CQ was thrilled with the re-signing of the partnership.
“As a local not-for-profit organisation, Life Education CQ is deeply grateful for Yarrabee’s continued support of our community. Their generous sponsorship not only enables us to reach hundreds of children, empowering them with vital health and wellbeing education, but also ensures that our truck and van remain on the road, bringing these essential programs to schools across Central Queensland.
“We value this partnership immensely and look forward to continuing our shared mission of nurturing the well-being of our children.
“The sponsorship also means that we can double our support for the Blackwater community and deliver two programs to all students, from prep to year 6.
“In addition to our Healthy Harold visit in the iconic Life Education van we now also deliver our ‘Talk About It’ program on respectful relationships and protective behaviours and run information sessions on both programs for the broader community.
“We also support teachers and parents with pre and post online lessons, including on-demand videos and discussion guides to continue the conversation in and beyond the classroom,” said Emily.
Both Blackwater State and Blackwater North State Schools have welcomed the increased support with the principal recently arranging a spectacular aerial photo of the students with Healthy Harold to show mutual thanks and appreciation for the support the school receives.
Megan Slean, Principal of Blackwater North State School said, “We were lucky enough to have the Life Education van visit our school. The students are always very excited to see Healthy Harold. The experience is memorable so the skills they develop through the program help students to thrive now, and into their futures”.
Established in 1979, Life Education is Australia’s largest children’s charity and provides health, drug, and alcohol education to empower kids to make safe and healthy choices. They deliver specialised health education programs in a Mobile Learning Centre, using the iconic mascot Healthy Harold the giraffe, connecting with kids aged 3-17 years of age.
Yarrabee Coal Operations Manager Mike Priestly was proud to renew this partnership.
“The Healthy Harold team perform a vital service for the children in our region.
“Both our organisations have a shared mission to make a positive difference in the lives of the people in our local community so continuing to work together makes sense.
“Also, many of our people have children and teenagers at the local schools so we are pleased we can have a positive impact on them by funding a visit from Healthy Harold.
“We look forward to hearing about their success in rolling out the program across CQ schools in the coming years,” said Mike.
Image caption: L-R: Healthy Harold, Justin Vohland (Yarrabee Coal) and Emily Taylor (President for Life Education CQ).
