True Blue Paul Langmack is broadening the base of his ‘Changing Rooms’ mental fitness program by working in conjunction with NSW Police to visit more high schools.
Designed initially to be delivered to Junior Rugby League clubs for players aged between 11 and 18, Langmack has been speaking with officers from the NSW Police Youth Command to begin working within the school environment with disengaged and troubled teenagers.
“People might ask, why are you doing schools? But I see it as a positive thing,” said Langmack, who won three Premierships with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs plus played for NSW and Australia.
“Rugby League is about the community and bringing Changing Rooms into schools might encourage kids to want to play footy and connect with a local club.”
Langmack gives each student a football at the end of the session, encouraging them to get outdoors and use sport as a way to lift their spirits.
He has taken his mental fitness message to other sporting codes as well as Rugby League over the past four years.
By the end of August, ‘Changing Rooms’ sessions would have been delivered to 4,500 youths in 2023.
Langmack made a connection a couple of months ago with the Police Youth Command, who work in Canterbury-Bankstown and surrounding areas in south-western Sydney.
“We’ve got a template now. The police and I and social workers with me sit in a circle with up to 20 at-risk kids to talk to them about taking responsibility for their own mental fitness,” he said.
“Then we go back the next term and speak to all classes individually in Years Seven, Eight, Nine and 10 – go through the whole school basically.
“Many schools are struggling to help kids deal with all the pressures of life, with bullying and social media harassment and those kinds of things.
“Social media and the internet have ruined communication and common sense because everything is on their phone.
“The world has changed so I want to give kids ways of reaching out to talk to others and help them feel better about themselves.”
Langmack is delivering his sessions at Sir Joseph Banks, Marrickville and Bass High Schools in Sydney and will be travelling to Griffith in NSW’s Riverina district to chat with Marian Catholic College students as well as members of the Griffith Black & Whites football club.
He is also speaking with St George’s Basin JRLFC players, after also visiting junior clubs in Kempsey, Nambucca Heads, Grafton, Moree, Armidale, Kiama and Wollongong.
Those interested in booking ‘Changing Rooms’ for their school, club or community group should email: plangmack@nswrl.com.au
