James Hardie and Parramatta Eels support young athletes through Boots for a Better Future

Hundreds of young athletes and their families came together at the James Hardie Centre of Excellence for the Boots for a Better Future Gala Day. The event brought the community together in a supportive, uplifting setting.

At the heart of the day was the distribution of 1,000 pairs of co‑branded James Hardie × Parramatta Eels boots, created to help remove one of the biggest financial barriers to particpation in junior sport.

Hosting the boot collection at the Gala Day meant children could pick up their new, high‑quality boots, meet their favourite Eels players and feel part of a shared community moment. The initiative was designed to help reduce the financial pressure facing families and ensure more young people could take part in the sport they love.

By giving children access to new boots at no cost, we reinforced our commitment to Building a Better Future For All™ and delivered a meaningful, community‑focused activation where families felt supported, valued and connected.

“We take pride in being part of the communities where we live, work and play, and we’re committed to delivering initiatives that strengthen those connections,” said John Arneil, APAC President, James Hardie.

“Through our partnership with the Parramatta Eels, we’re proud to support the next generation by helping remove one barrier that prevents kids from staying active and connected. Sport plays such an important role in shaping confidence, teamwork and belonging - all values that align closely with who we are as a brand."

Why This Support Matters

The need for this support was clear. The initiative followed new data from Lonergan Research, revealing 43% of Australian children who stop playing sport do so due to the cost of participation. The study found that rising living costs were putting pressure on families, with one in three surveyed parents (34%) admitting they had to choose between essential household expenses and their children’s sporting activities.

Research also identified that parents spent a combined average of $1,910 on their children’s participation in sport, with an average $575 annual spend on uniforms and equipment alone. Despite this, the benefits of sport were clear, with eight in ten (78%) surveyed parents saying participation boosted their children’s confidence, three quarters (73%) saying it allowed them to engage with their friends and communities, and seven in ten (70%) agreeing it helped them meet new people and expand their social circle.

These findings reinforced the importance of providing practical support to help families keep their children active, confident and connected.

A Community Celebration at the Centre of Excellence

The Gala Day was a celebration of community, optimism and opportunity. More than 600 registrations were received to collect the free boots, showing how strongly families embraced the initiative.

Families arrived at the James Hardie Centre of Excellence where they were welcomed by Eels representatives and James Hardie volunteers. Children eligible for the program collected their new boots, took part in activities, and enjoyed meeting players and staff from the Parramatta Eels.

The event was attended by Dr Michelle Byrne, Mayor of The Hills Shire Council, who showed their support for the initiative’s impact.

“Programs like this made a real difference for local families by helping to reduce the cost of participating in sport, while ensuring young people have access to the games they love and the opportunity to stay active, social and connected within their community,” said Dr Byrne.

“Council is a strong supporter of grassroots sport and was proud to work closely with the Eels and other local organisations to deliver free sporting opportunities through our school holiday and after school programs, including Youth on Track. I would like to congratulate the Parramatta Eels and James Hardie on delivering this fantastic initiative.”

Building a Better Future For All™

At James Hardie, we believe strong communities take shape when people feel supported, connected and united by a shared commitment to helping one another thrive. Boots for a Better Future reflected this approach by helping remove a common barrier to participation and helping create a more inclusive sporting environment where children could step confidently into the season ahead.

Player Sam Tuivati spoke about the meaning of community footy for young people and families:

“Coming through the Eels pathways, I have seen how much community footy meant to young players and their families. It gave kids a place to belong and to believe in themselves. But I also knew that the cost of gear could put real pressure on parents. That is why this initiative was important. Something as simple as a new pair of boots could be the difference between a kid staying in the game or missing out.”

David Gower, Head of Education and Wellbeing at the Parramatta Eels, highlighted the ongoing benefits of participation:

“Getting involved in community sport from a young age is really beneficial for children. By keeping kids engaged in sport, we were giving them the chance to build life skills like resilience and confidence during their most formative years.”

By investing in young athletes and helping ease financial pressure on families, we helped strengthen community ties and supported the wellbeing of families across Western Sydney.