The Higher School Certificate subject, provided by the Country Rugby League and Department of Education and Training and TAFE, designed a course to encourage students to continue their schooling beyond year ten.

Enrolments for the second year are pleasing with twenty first year students taking part in the course, while Cobar High School student Raymond Ebsworth has just started his second year in the business services course, held last week in Dubbo.

“The course has taken me from being shy to being more confident, which has also helped me make new friends as well, which is a great life skill to have,” Raymond told Country Rugby League development officer Kyle Myers.

From studying a course based on sports administration, Ebsworth also found a strong link to his development in the playing arena, which has seen the Cobar Roosters junior earn a place in the Western Region Academy Under-18s academy squad for 2010.

Country Rugby League development officer Kyle Myers, who mentors current and prospective business services students, explained the basic lure for participants.

“The most attractive part of the subject is it allows students to learn in a field where they have a genuine interest,” Ms Myers said.