Tackling stereotypes, one lesson at a time: Meet Nikkita Cox

“Education has been a life-altering opportunity for me. Knowledge truly is power.”

University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Education graduate Nikkita Cox’s story is a testament to the power of combining passion with purpose.

She’s a formidable presence on the rugby league field for the Ipswich Jets and just as impactful off the field in her classrooms and communities at Ipswich State High School.

Her roots are firmly laid in Ipswich – playing the game she loves, teaching at the school she loves, and inspiring young female athletes to dream big.

We recently spoke to Nikkita about her journey and how she balances the demands of professional sport, her young family, and her dream career.

You’re currently playing for the Ipswich Jets BMD Premiership team in their inaugural season. How special is it to be a part of this history?

Honestly, representing the Ipswich Jets in the inaugural BMD season means so much to me because I’m a local Ipswich girl who has been waiting a very long time for this opportunity. This team is so much more than just a ‘rugby league team’. Our BMD team represents a pathway for all our local junior girls to have something to aspire to work towards. ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’ – and now we have an opportunity to show our juniors just what hard work can get you.

We now have a legitimate pathway for girls to pursue a career in rugby league. For too long, we have lost our local talent to Brisbane. This team means we can keep our local talent and build something really special here at the Ipswich Jets.

Tell us a bit about your love for sport – how did you get into rugby league?

I first showed an interest in rugby league back in Year 8 at school when I used to muck around with the boys at lunch. I was a bit of a misfit as a kid. There weren’t a lot of girls who were into sport or liked to play sport at lunch time. Playing football at lunch time with the boys was one of the few times that I actually felt ‘accepted’ or that sense of belonging that we all yearn for as a kid. I never had opportunities to play ‘proper’ rugby league as a teenager and so I diverted to soccer upon leaving school. I enjoyed playing it for a while but the novelty wore of pretty quickly.

By 27, my husband and I decided to start a family and had our first child. Six weeks after she was born, I decided to trial for the local representative team (which is now BMD). I’d never really played, didn’t know positions/plays… and had literally just given birth. I had my first trial/training session and immediately fell in love. The girls who played, the contact, the fitness, the connection of the players, the power it took to run the ball and make tackles.

As an anxious person who was recovering from quite severe social anxiety, playing football was the only place where all my problems disappeared. Even just for a short time, nothing else mattered except the job at hand, the girls beside me and protecting my teammates. I think finding rugby league was a huge turning point in my life where I was able to feel empowered, draw confidence and develop some very important life skills. This is why I’m so passionate about girls playing footy and why I work where I do in the Ipswich State High School Girls Rugby League Program.

What have been some of the most memorable moments in your rugby league career so far?

The most memorable moment for me was playing in the Women’s Diggers Team last year. I was selected as a lock (forward) weighing in at a whopping 55kgs at the time! I was proud to have played every minute of the tournament and be selected in the Queensland City Women’s team.

The reason I’m so proud of this moment is because after my last game, a girl from my school came up to congratulate me and told me “My Dad’s always told me I’m too small to play lock. But he watched you out there today and was impressed. He told me maybe I could be a lock if I wanted to”. That moment has stuck with me because it proves that you can be anything you want to be as long as you work hard and give it everything you’ve got. This has become the reason that I still play at my age. I love to defy the odds, inspire young girls and prove people wrong.

Speaking of careers, you’re a UniSQ alumnus! Was there a particular moment that drew you to study Education?

I think I was always destined to become a teacher. I always felt connected to my own teachers in high school. I loved spending time with them and really admired what they did. I was very lucky to have had some of the most amazing teachers in my time and they inspired me to become one myself. I have always loved helping my peers. All through high school, I would help tutor my classmates and explain questions to people who didn’t understand. Even back then, it was those ‘lightbulb’ moments that people had which gave me so much joy. When someone realised they were capable of doing something or learning something new because of something I had said or explained, my desire to become a teacher and do this for a living became even stronger.

What was the highlight of your time at UniSQ?

The highlight of my time at UniSQ was studying in a place that understood me as a person. I had a very difficult life during my time at university and to be honest I’m not sure I would have made it out the other side without the support of UniSQ. I was lucky enough to be granted the Vice Chancellor’s Principal’s Recommendation Scholarship.

I moved out of home at 18 and was renting a house, working full time, trying to study fulltime, and juggling my rapidly declining mental health. Being able to study both online and face to face across both Toowoomba and Springfield campuses made it much easier to balance my hectic schedule. I was also able to apply for bursaries which helped me to be able to afford textbooks that I had no chance of being able to pay for. During a very difficult time of my life, UniSQ had my back and made it possible for me to graduate and build a much better life for myself. Against all odds, I graduated with first class honours and was accepted into the Golden Key International Honour Society.

You’re currently working as a teacher at Ipswich State High School – what does your role involve?

I am incredibly blessed to have been able to land my dream job working back at my old school – Ipswich State High School – in the Girls Rugby League Excellence Program. I teach mostly rugby league (which is my biggest passion) as well as a HPE and recreation classes. Funnily enough, I actually work alongside some of my own high school teachers –my old Year 8 HPE teacher is now my Year 8 HPE teaching partner! I absolutely love the staff, the students, my job, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I take part in a lot of representative football with coaching and trainer roles. I regularly go away with our Metropolitan West girls rugby league teams, work with the Queensland School girls team, and this year will be going away with the Australian School girls team as their trainer. Working in the Girls Rugby League Excellence Program allows me to work with girls who love playing footy while teaching them life-skills, supporting them as a holistic athlete, and being a mentor/role model for our students. My role is so much more than ‘just a teacher’ – we’re a family and we look after each other. My favourite thing in the world is seeing our students succeed and achieving their dreams. I’m not sure there is a better feeling.

What’s the secret to balancing your playing career with your teaching responsibilities?

To be honest, it can be very tricky. I’m not very good at this yet! I’m often burnt out, exhausted and wonder how I’m going to make it through my training sessions. As a mum of three children aged five and under, I need to make sure I’m very good with my time management. I’m incredibly organised and save time wherever I can. I have all our lunches prepped on the weekend, I make sure I have bags packed the night before, and dinners prepped ready for training nights.

I have an incredible support network around me with family and friends regularly stepping up to help out with babysitting. My husband works shift work, so most days are pretty rough. My day starts at 5-5.30am when my little ones wake up and it’s game on!

I think having a very strong sense of gratitude for what I ‘get’ to do helps me reframe my thinking into being excited for every session. Having overcome several injuries, missed seasons for my pregnancies, and spent a lot of my life wishing I had the chance to play, I’ve developed a strong sense of gratitude for every opportunity I have to train and play. I’ll never take a session for granted, so even on my toughest days when I’m exhausted beyond belief, I’ll always find something in me to step up and make the most of every training session.

What goals are you currently chasing – both personally and professionally?

I feel like I’ve been very lucky to land my dream job at such a young age. I’m very happy where I am at Ipswich State High School and will be hoping to stay here as long as possible. My goal is to keep refining my craft and keep learning with every opportunity I can get my hands on. I’d like to become the best coach possible to prepare our local girls for a bright future as both a player and a student. I love getting to experience the elite pathways, such as working with the Gold Coast Titans in their Girls Academies and going away with the Queensland and Australian Schoolgirls. But I also have a passion for grassroots and player development at all levels, which is why I love working at Ipswich State High School so much.

Personally, I’d love to be part of the change that is continuing for female football. We are growing and evolving in our game and I would love to be able to contribute to the positive changes that are occurring. I am really looking forward to working with Ipswich Jets to make some incredible changes and improvements for our female athletes for now and the future.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Education has been a life-altering opportunity for me. Without my Education degree, I would not be where I am. Education has opened so many doors for me and allowed me to build a much better life for myself and my family. Knowledge truly is power. Without the support and flexibility I received from UniSQ, I would not have been able to finish my degree and end up in the position I am today. I will always be incredibly grateful for the scholarship I received and the flexibility with my study arrangements.

Learn more about UniSQ’s partnership with the Ipswich Jets.

Fun fact: The Ipswich Jets will be attending the upcoming UniSQ Ipswich Open Day on Saturday 9 August.