David Peachey was on his way home from training at Erskineville Oval recently when he drove past the giant mural featuring the Aboriginal flag on a wall in King Street, Newtown.

"It got me thinking," Peachey said. "We've got about 10 Aboriginal men here at South Sydney, and I thought it would be a great concept to get a snap of us all at the club together in the black bunny jersey with that flag in the background.

"We could use that image to send a positive message to the kids through our medical centres and land councils and the Department of Sport and Recreation and those sort of organisations. We haven't come up with a message yet but we will, and it might be something as simple as: 'Be cool, stay at school.' That's still a pretty strong message.

"I've approached a couple of Aboriginal organisations, and they've all said they'd love to be involved, especially with a proud club like South Sydney that has been associated with the Aboriginal community in Redfern for years and years."

It's the latest example of the work Peachey has been doing since a friend of his aunt's got him to speak at the school she taught near his home town of Dubbo in 1993, the year before he broke into first grade at Cronulla.

Realising the influence his status as an NRL star gave him, Peachey embraced the opportunity to be a role model to Aboriginal children, in particular. Other indigenous players, who this season make up 11 per cent of the talent in the NRL, have followed suit.

North Queensland winger Brenton Bowen is managing an indigenous sporting academy launched in Townsville yesterday.

Through the academy, 100 male and female students will be selected for scholarships each year, with the aim of the program being to use sport to motivate them to achieve at school.

Gold Coast playmaker Preston Campbell will be the face of a similar program to be launched in South-East Queensland, while Cowboys stars Rod Jensen, Matt Bowen and Carl Webb are also heavily involved in work with the indigenous community, as is Brisbane international Sam Thaiday.

"I think with our job, kids look up to you, and it's great to have the opportunity to be able to give something back. It helps keep your feet on the ground," Peachey said. "I know some people shy away from it and say, 'I'm not a role model,' but whether they like it or not they are.

"If you don't want to be a role model, go and work in a bank or something - and some people still look up to bankers, so you can't escape it. I don't feel it's a burden, it's something I look forward to … knowing that the spotlight is always on you."

Peachey's Souths teammate Dean Widders, who was awarded the Ken Stephen medal by the NRL in 2005 for his work in establishing the Books in Homes program that promotes reading among indigenous children in isolated communities, is on the National Indigenous Council that advises the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough.

Widders attributes a stint in the "fat club" at Parramatta with former St George and Canberra prop Paul Osbourne, who had a stint in politics after retiring, for his appointment, and regularly travels to Canberra for meetings.

He recently missed the Rabbitohs season launch because he was having lunch with the Governor-General, Sir William Deane, and on another occasion has dined with the Prime Minister, John Howard.

"There are a lot of people with backgrounds in health, housing and a lot of expertise in different areas," Widders said. "Me and [Sydney Swan] Adam Goodes are mainly there to talk about youth and sport and even things like the importance of education. You learn a lot about the problems Aboriginal people face and what we can do to help them."

Peachey spent his off-season promoting Aboriginal health with former Olympic runner Nova Peris in North Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, travelling to Port Augusta, Swan Hill, Moree and Kempsey as part of Croc Fest, an annual celebration of youth and indigenous culture, and doing his own work with the David Peachey Foundation.

Widders schedule was just as hectic, going to the Tiwi Islands for a week to promote health and sport, touring North Queensland with a similar message and visiting Cherbourg with Bulldogs pair Willie Tonga and Reni Maitua and Parramatta's Timana Tahu.

"My parents were really supportive when I grew up. They pushed me really hard to strive to be as good as I could at things. They always made sure I trained, made sure I prepared, helped me with schoolwork," Widders said.

"But when I looked around, I noticed that a lot of other blokes who were talented didn't have that support, and that's why their lives became totally different to mine, so I just thought I had to try and make a difference and do something to help these people out … They're not being taught these things at home, so maybe I can teach them through a role model sort of way. Being an NRL player, people listen to you so I wanted to use that to be a good voice and help kids out as much as I can.

"A real satisfying thing for me has been coming to Souths and playing with a lot of the indigenous boys and islander boys here. It's something that really connects us all and it's really strong. I think if we use it the right way we will do some powerful things on and off the field."