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FOOTBALL’S INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT: STATE OF PLAY A report by Professional Footballers Australia on behalf of John Moriarty Football
INTRODUCTION
Engagement between the major sports and Aborigi- opment Strategy: a five-year plan with ambitious objec-
nal and Torres Strait Islander Australians provides a tives across the three priority areas of participation, elite
significant opportunity for mutual benefit. For sports, talent and social development outcomes.
there is a pool of talent to be tapped, and a community
of potential supporters to be embraced. For Indigenous Momentum has been lost. The initiatives were barely
communities, sport has the power to enhance social, pursued and outcomes of these plans were never
education and health outcomes, and provide a pathway assessed, at least publicly. In FFA’s Whole of Football In the absence of a coordinated strategy, and in re-
to rewarding professional careers, in turn developing Plan, its 109-page 2015-2035 vision document, the sponse to the inertia within football towards Indigenous
inspirational role models. word “Indigenous” appears just twice, both times under participation, the void has been partly filled by indepen-
sections outlining challenges the game faces. In three dent organisations such as John Moriarty Football and
In addition, most national sport organisations have years, the FFA went from striving to make football the passionate individuals doing great work in isolation. But
embraced their responsibility as significant Australian “sport of first choice” for Aboriginal and Torres Strait that is not enough. Meanwhile, other sports have been
cultural institutions to promote inclusivity of Indigenous Islander people to releasing a 20-year strategy for making significant collective progress.
communities and cultures and contribute towards football in Australia which practically ignores Indigenous
reconciliation. Australians. The governing bodies of Rugby League, Rugby Union
and Cricket all have a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
Football has pursued this opportunity and duty in the This shift in focus coincides with a reduction in govern- in place. The AFL has completed a RAP and now every
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
past. In 2009, Football Federation Australia (FFA) ment funding for FFA’s Indigenous football development AFL club has its own RAP.
announced a 10-year Indigenous Football Development activities. The failure to secure this funding represents
Program including targets to have 5% Aboriginal and a failure to effectively tell the story of football’s power to The purpose of this document is to benchmark the
Torres Strait Islander representation in the national unite and uplift those from disadvantaged backgrounds progress being made by other sports to highlight foot-
teams. John Moriarty was announced as Patron. In in particular, and a failure by the custodians of our sport ball’s missed opportunity, and to call for a reignition of
2012, FFA launched its first Indigenous Football Devel- to fulfil its duty to activate that power. football’s Indigenous engagement.
2
RESEARCH
APPROACH
To compare engagement and investment in Indigenous A sport’s engagement includes many subjective quali-
Australia by different sports is not a straightforward ties that cannot be captured in a graph or chart, like the
task. Each sport is operating at a different scale, with breadth and authenticity of its approach, its attitudes
unique historic ‘starting points’ and structural differenc- and respect. So the intention of this document is to
es to consider. Different sports make different informa- provide a fair and accurate high-level summary of each
tion available regarding Indigenous participation and national sporting organisation’s strategies to engage
representation, staffing and financial commitments. with, include and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Each sport has differently structured elite teams and Islander people. The interpretation of the data will be
professional leagues. For these reasons, the scope for left to the reader.
a direct side-by-side comparison of quantitative metrics
is limited. In this spirit, the stories of Indigenous athletes have
been included throughout these pages to further illus-
It is also not in the scope of this document to provide an trate the benefits of engagement at a human level and
exhaustive account of every last program and initiative highlight the missed opportunities on both sides.
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
undertaken across each sport. It should be noted that
there is commendable work being done at a state and
regional level in the various sports, but from a cursory
analysis, this is not at a scale to act in place of a struc-
tured national approach.
3
WHAT IS A
RECONCILIATION
ACTION PLAN?
According to the Reconciliation Australia website, a the vision is crafted and lay out a detailed roadmap of
RAP “provides a framework for organisations to support desired outcomes and specific actions, timeframes and
the national reconciliation movement”. For workplac- responsibilities.
es, a RAP is “a strategic document that supports an
organisation’s business plan” which “includes practical RAPs focus on building relationships, respect and op-
actions that will drive an organisation’s contribution to portunities. In a sports context, that means looking be-
reconciliation both internally and in the communities in yond representation targets and considering structures
which it operates”. that include an Indigenous voice in decision-making, for
example, or cultural education for non-Indigenous staff
There are four types of RAP – Reflect, Innovate, and the broader fanbase.
Stretch, Elevate – to cater to organisations at different
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
stages of their reconciliation journey. More than 500 A RAP is not a prerequisite for an organisation to take
organisations across Australia have a RAP. a proactive and effective approach to Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander engagement. But since the other
RAPs are both visionary and practical. They articulate major national sporting bodies have used RAPs to un-
an organisation’s desire to engage with and contribute derpin their strategies, it makes to cover them in detail
to Indigenous Australia in an authentic and meaningful for the purpose of this cross-code comparison.
way. They illustrate the collaborative process by which
4
40,493 INDIGENOUS
IN 2017
PARTICIPANTS
3.3% 63.8%
FOOTBALL SNAPSHOT: OF TOTAL PARTICIPANTS
IDENTIFY AS ABORGINAL OR
OF CLUB-BASED
INDIGENOUS PARTICI-
TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PANTS PLAY IN NSW
426 REGISTERED IDENTIFY AS
COACHES INDIGENOUS
143
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
IDENTIFY AS
REFEREES INDIGENOUS
5
Indigenous Australians have made a long and by five, ten, or fifty times as many Charlies, Jades Reconciliation Action Plans, this was a good start.
storied contribution to Australian football, weaving a and Lydias.
thread through the game’s history from the pioneer- According to FFA, these commitments proved to be
ing efforts of Charlie Perkins, John Moriarty and FFA has stated that football can, should and will do financially challenging and ultimately unsustainable.
Harry Williams to the modern-day heroics of Lydia better. In a submission to this report, the national body said
Williams and Kyah Simon. Indigenous players such it shifted its strategic focus to growing revenues so
as Jade North and Travis Dodd have captained The recent history of football’s Indigenous journey that it can better fund these and other priorities, and
their A-League clubs to success and joined the could be described in three phases: emergence, that its revenues are a fraction of the likes of AFL
ranks of Aboriginal Socceroos. Emerging stars such stagnation, and renewal. and NRL, which are compared in these pages.
as Jada Whyman and Shay Evans promise to write
the next chapter. A structured, national approach first emerged a de- This diversion of focus has resulted in FFA being
cade ago, around the same time as other sports. In the only national sporting body of those analysed
These and other players embody the opportunity May 2011, FFA held an Indigenous Planning Forum without a dedicated Indigenous page on its website,
for mutual benefit between football and Indigenous to generate ideas which would underpin its 2012- and FFA’s 20-year strategic plan containing no
Australia. Their clubs and national teams have 2017 Indigenous Football Development Strategy, Indigenous component.
achieved greater things for their involvement, while titled Football Dreaming. This Strategy contained
football has been a gateway to new experiences specific targets for increased participation by Indig- FFA outlined recent activities which speak to the or-
and opportunities for each of them. In addition, foot- enous players (25% increase targeted), coaches ganisation’s positive intentions towards Indigenous
ball has enhanced these players’ standing as role (25%) and referees (5%), increased Indigenous engagement, despite the admitted relative lack of
models and activists in their communities. representation in elite pathway programs and youth investment, including:
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
national teams by 10% and senior national teams
Any admission that football can do better in its and professional leagues by 5%. • Partnering with JMF to advocate for federal
engagement with Indigenous Australia is not to funding to expand JMF’s activities and
ignore or diminish such heroes and their achieve- While the action items and timelines to achieve increase training opportunities with elite clubs
ments, but to imagine a sport and a nation enriched these targets were not as specific as those found in • Logistical support for activations during the
6
•
JMF-led annual Indigenous Football Week
Matildas coach Alen Stajcic attending a JMF
JOHN MORIARTY Founded by the first Indigenous Socceroo John
Moriarty and his son James in 2012, and managed
camp in Borroloola to scout talent FOOTBALL by the Moriarty Foundation, JMF is football’s most
• Providing logistical and promotional support significant independent stakeholder in driving Indig-
for the National Indigenous Football Champi- enous engagement. JMF seeks to enhance social,
onships and Australian Indigenous Football health and education outcomes for Indigenous
Championships children aged 2-16 in remote communities through
• Providing logistical and strategic support for football. The programs employ Indigenous people
tours to the World Indigenous Nations Games and provide pathways for talented players to pursue
football more seriously, which is beginning to bear
In addition, it showed Indigenous grassroots players fruit with the selection of JMF scholarship holder
reported marginally higher satisfaction and retention Shadeene Evans in the Young Matildas.
likelihood than the broader participation base.
JMF also drives the annual Indigenous Football
Moving forward, FFA is determined to make up A few noteworthy initiatives by other members of Week (IFW), a recognition and celebration of
for lost time. Staff are being repositioned with a the football ecosystem include Football Federation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s con-
renewed focus on Indigenous and multicultural Victoria’s initiation of its own Reconciliation Action tribution to football. IFW is delivered in partnership
engagement. Energy and resources have been Plan, Melbourne City’s annual Indigenous Rec- with FFA, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA)
channelled into forming meaningful partnerships ognition Match and Adelaide United’s adoption of and media partners. JMF is funded by charitable
with NGOs and governments, to drive social devel- an Indigenous-inspired kit for matches in Central donations and government funding. In 2016, as part
Australia.
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
opment outcomes. A new, dedicated government of IFW, Socceroos players donated match fees of
relations function has been created as part of this approximately $90,000 to JMF, while in 2018, the
capacity-building phase designed to underpin future PFA will donate $50,000.
progress. FFA has flagged the creation of its first
Reconciliation Action Plan as a consideration for its JMF received international recognition with a top
next four-year strategic cycle. 3 finish in the FIFA 2018 Diversity Award, the first
Australian initiative to be included.
7
TAHJ
Tahj’s grandmother is of Torres Strait islander descent. Encouraging your child to enjoy the game and always
He began playing at the age of five for the Avoca have a ball at their feet at home and to play for fun with
Sharks and by age nine Tahj was selected to play in the their friends is the best way that soccer can be promot-
Central Coast Mariners Skills Acquisition Program. Tahj ed in the Indigenous community.
was able to play representative futsal for the Central
Coast and was fortunate to gain selection in the Austra- If one day Tahj is fortunate enough to succeed in soccer
lian team. Tahj has toured New Zealand, China, Hawaii it will be through persistence and not giving up. As
and Malaysia playing futsal. Tahj’s parents we will support his dream to become a
professional player but also promote the importance of
He has been able to experience many different cultures his education as he continues his journey.
and make new friends through the sport. His tour of Ha-
waii was particularly interesting as he was able to learn
a great deal about Polynesian culture as he visited local FATHER OF TAHJ, AGE 12
schools and villages.
Tahj is very proud of his Indigenous heritage and looks
up to players such as Jade North who have succeeded
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
in the A-League for a number of years. Tahj’s uncle
works closely with the Indigenous community in Macks-
ville and whenever Tahj visits his cousins he always
takes a soccer ball with an open invite for any kids
nearby who want to play.
8
100,000 INDIGENOUS
PARTICIPANTS
11% 5%
80 10
AFL SNAPSHOT:
INDIGENOUS INDIGENOUS
PLAYERS PLAYERS
ON AFL LISTS ON AFLW LISTS
52%
INCREASE IN
INDIGENOUS
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
UMPIRES
9
PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES AFL RAP HIGHLIGHTS
SIR DOUG NICHOLLS INDIGENOUS ROUND NEXT GENERATION ACADEMIES The AFL’s RAP ran from 2014-2016, and has been followed up by
Annual round recognising and celebrating Academies for young males delivered by AFL the adoption of RAPs by each of the league’s clubs.
Indigenous players and culture since 2007. All clubs in either Indigenous or multicultural com-
clubs wear special Indigenous-themed guernseys munities to introduce the sport and build social AIMS
during games. The AFL estimates its Indigenous skills. 7000 participants aged 11-15 and 168 aged • Improve participation
Round has a reach of 25 million people. Sir Doug 16-18. • Build partnerships
Nicholls played 54 games for Fitzroy and was the • Create employment opportunities
first Aboriginal person to be knighted, also serving JIM STYNES SCHOLARSHIP • Acknowledge and celebrate
as Governor of South Australia. Federally-funded scholarship available to prom-
ising 15-19-year-old players from Indigenous, SELECTED ACTIONS
INDIGENOUS ALL-STARS CAMP multicultural or socially-isolated communities, to • Establishment of an AFL National Indigenous Advisory Group
All Indigenous players from across the AFL are assist with education, transition-to-work, or pursuit • Development of a suitable cultural awareness and education
invited to a special camp combining high-per- of professional playing career. program for the AFL community
formance training with cultural celebration and • Celebrate, support and encourage all AFL employees, in par-
strengthening. FOOTY MEANS BUSINESS ticular Indigenous employees, to engage in significant cultural
Two one-week residential camps for 50 young activities such as Reconciliation and NAIDOC week events
FLYING BOOMERANGS AND WOOMERAS Indigenous men focusing on education, training • Explore the option of providing AFL leaders with first hand ex-
National programs for under 16 males and fe- and employment opportunities. Participants are periences in Indigenous programs and communities to further
males using football to facilitate personal, cultural, exposed to the environment of a professional develop respect and understanding
leadership and talent development. AFL player and have the opportunity to play the • Conduct formal Acknowledgement and Welcome to Country
curtain-raiser to Dreamtime at the G between ceremonies at major AFL events
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
MALE AND FEMALE DIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS Richmond and Essendon. • All AFL offices to display the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Annual week-long tournaments giving oppor- Islander flag and/or acknowledgement statement
tunities to players from Indigenous and diverse COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS • Identify key category areas for Indigenous supplier engage-
backgrounds, including potential selection for the Network of 261 volunteers focusing on engaging ment and preferred suppliers
Flying Boomerangs and Woomeras, in addition to Indigenous and multicultural communities. • Prepare and publish a yearly progress report in the AFL
coaching and umpire academies for Indigenous Annual Report
and multicultural people.
10MERRYN
I have been associated with remote education in an talented soccer players. This has given many of our
Indigenous community for the past three years. During students more confidence in themselves, not just in
this time, a highlight for the students of Robinson River their soccer ability but in other areas of their life too.
has been their involvement with John Moriarty Football.
This has involved a trained soccer coach and Indige- JMF have also opened the door for a brighter future
nous support coaches travelling 150km to visit us, usu- through the scholarships they offer to some of our
ally twice a week. As soon as their troopy pulls through students. Although this has proved very challenging for
the gate, across the school you can hear shouts of some children, as they find it difficult to be so far away
“Soccer are here!” from home and in a very different environment, it is
an opportunity that is valued by the whole community.
Each session sees the students practicing specific skills These scholarships are opening doors and allowing
and developing their footwork. The games are then for different pathways through life, opportunities which
played, where the students are encouraged to practice would not otherwise occur.
these and many other skills they have learned through-
out the years. An important part is also the teaching
of being “good sports” and playing fairly. Handshakes, MERRYN CURLEY
helping their team members after a fall and saying Principal, Robinson River School, Northern
Territory
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
positive remarks of encouragement and support are all
part of the expectations.
I must admit that I might be a little biased, but the chil-
dren at Robinson River have developed into incredibly
11MORE
30,000
REGISTERED PLAYERS ARE
17%
THAN INDIGENOUS
OF NATIONAL TEAM
OF NRL PLAYERS (KANGAROOS)
12% ARE FROM
INDIGENOUS
29% PLAYERS ARE
INDIGENOUS
DESCENT MEN
RUGBY INDIGENOUS CAPTAINS OF BOTH TEAMS IN 2015 NRL GRAND FINAL
LEAGUE
SNAPSHOT:
4
INDIGENOUS 6%
WOMEN
27
OF
PART OF THE STAFF
VICTORIOUS 2017
WORLD CUP SQUAD
ABORIGINAL
OF
& TORRES STRAIT
80% INDIGENOUS
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
ISLANDER PLAYERS
FEEL SUPPORTED
AND HAVE A VOICE NRL EMPLOYEES
12GOVERNANCE PROGRAMS AND
INITIATIVES
AUSTRALIAN RUGBY LEAGUE INDIGENOUS COUNCIL (ARLIC) INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY SCHOOL TO WORK PROGRAM
Multi-stakeholder group which oversees the implemen- Has led to over 5% of NRL staff being from Aboriginal A full-time School to Work Project Officer oversees
tation of the RAP and provides an Indigenous voice to and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, after the first an award-winning program which has seen over 900
decision-making Indigenous employee joined in 2011. The program also Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students success-
includes training for non-Indigenous staff. fully completing their transition from school into higher
NRL SENIOR INDIGENOUS PLAYERS ADVISORY GROUP education, training or employment since 2012. Federal
Five Indigenous NRL players selected by their peers to ALL STARS GAMES funding announced in 2017 means that an additional
provide advice and guidance to NRL management and Special NRL season curtain-raiser which started in 1500 students will be supported over three years.
the ARLIC 2010. From 2019 will feature men’s and women’s Indig-
enous All Stars team against New Zealand Maori sides. INDIGENOUS YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Teams are selected by a fan vote. Sixty young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Year
11 students are selected to spend five days in camp
INDIGENOUS ROUND where they get the opportunity to interact with other
A celebration of Indigenous culture involving various young leaders through a series of workshops, activities
activations. All teams wear one off Indigenous-inspired and discussions.
jerseys, which is mandatory as part of the Club Licenc-
ing agreement.
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
NRL INDIGENOUS PLAYERS CAMP
Cultural leadership camp for all Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander players in the NRL, plus other players
who might benefit. Focus on mental wellbeing, career
planning, cultural education and leadership skills.
13NRL RAP HIGHLIGHTS
Rugby League’s 2014-17 Reconciliation Action Plan
– its third – achieved many of the outcomes and
• 100% of new staff will complete face-to-face
cultural awareness training within their first six
Rugby League plays
programs listed above. Another outcome was assisting months a critical role in
NRL clubs to draft their own RAPs. The NRL is now • All Commissioners and Executive to undertake a
building historical
acceptance of past
kicking off its ambitious 2018-2022 RAP: the first Ele- cultural immersion activity
vate-style RAP of any national sporting body. • Acknowledgment of Country before every NRL
game and on all staff email signatures
wrongs and equally as
importantly a strong
AIMS • Ensure all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• Drive social change in Indigenous communities staff have career development plans focussed on
• Improve relationships between all Australians progression and retention platform to celebrate
•
•
Embed reconciliation across whole of game
Establish a coordinated effort across major sports
• Engage with a minimum of five Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander businesses to supply goods
success and strengthen
and services annually relationships between
SELECTED ACTIONS
• Embed the RAP into the NRL’s 2018-2022 Strate-
• Assist ten Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people to participate in targeted programs aimed
all Australians
gic Plan at officiating and coaching at the elite level
• Conduct a Fan Forum during All Stars week in • Include a monthly article on NRL website and
the host city social media platforms highlighting Indigenous
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
• Employ an Indigenous Community & Player achievement across the Game
Engagement Manager • Organise at least three NRL matches each year NRL Reconciliation Action Plan
2018-2022
• NRL to organise three internal events during in an area with a significant Aboriginal and Torres
National Reconciliation Week Strait Islander population (outside of NRL club
• Develop a social inclusion framework with the locations)
Australian Human Rights Commission that sup-
ports the NRL Member Protection Policy
14LYDIA
Growing up in Kalgoorlie, I didn’t hear anything about I’ve always loved travelling. It’s something that I’ve done
football, it was always AFL. I moved to Canberra when from a really young age and continued with football. I’ve
I was 11. There wasn’t really any AFL there, so I was got to see so many amazing places in the world that I
playing football. If it wasn’t for my mum getting a job in would have otherwise not been able to see or afforded
Canberra, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. to go to. I could probably go to any place in the world
and know someone.
I actually grew up playing AFL with the Indigenous kids
out in the desert. It was rough and tumble so I wasn’t Through football I have had the opportunity to study, to
afraid to dive and get hurt or be on the ground. When I grow my knowledge and kind of just get out there. You
started playing football I didn’t want to be goalkeeper at can see another part of the world, learn about other these kids to play the sport, they are going to have the
first, but it was just a natural fit throughout my career. cultures and make relationships that are going to last a exact same reaction.
lifetime. Football gives you a sense of community.
The West Coast Eagles players would come into Kal- Indigenous people are really athletic and when they
goorlie. Most of the boys I grew up with went on to play It’s very hard to build a relationship with an Aboriginal take control of their abilities and ambitions, they can do
AFL at some level. But obviously there wasn’t an AFL community. The AFL have done well whereas football anything. I think they have a unique skillset that is only
competition for girls, so I would play every other sport hasn’t reached that yet. One camp or one appearance inherited through their culture. A lot of that is untapped.
but that. I started playing soccer at lunch time at school. once a year is not going to build that relationship or You can see from the AFL what they can bring. I think
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
encourage kids to play. it’s cool that Indigenous footballers have an x-factor that
But I didn’t know there was a pathway to a career for it. no one can coach.
To be honest I didn’t know who the Matildas were until Another challenge is that they do not want to leave
I made my first Matildas camp! So I was kind of naïve home. When my mum told me we were leaving Kal-
and I was going along with the punches each year until goorlie for Canberra, I locked the door to my room and LYDIA WILLIAMS,
my first tour with the national team when I was 16. said ‘I want new parents!’. So if we try to encourage Matilda
1554,000
INDIGENOUS
MORE THAN
PARTICIPANTS
( UP FROM 36,900 IN 2017 )
7
INDIGENOUS BIG BASH
MEN AND LEAGUES
WOMEN IN (2017-18)
CRICKET SNAPSHOT:
9.5%
19 INDIGENOUS
EMPLOYEES
AT CRICKET AUSTRALIA (2014)
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
NOTABLE AUNTY FAITH THOMAS, JASON GILLESPIE
(TESTS), ASH GARDNER, DAN CHRISTIAN,
PLAYERS SCOTT BOLAND, D’ARCY SHORT (ODI & T20I)
16GOVERNANCE PROGRAMS AND CRICKET AUSTRALIA
INITIATIVES RAP HIGHLIGHTS
Local Indigenous Cricket Advisory Committees in NATIONAL INDIGENOUS CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIPS Cricket Australia is in the process of completing its first
each State and Territory feed into a National Indige- Annual week-long state versus state tournament held in RAP, which ran from 2014-2018.
nous Cricket Advisory Committee which has one of Alice Springs each year, for male and female players,
its co-chairs on the Cricket Australia board. designed as both a celebration and as a talent accel- SELECTED ACTIONS
erator. • Have at least three Board Directors of Aboriginal
and/or Torres Strait Islander background across
150TH ANNIVERSARIES Australian Cricket Boards
Recreation of the historic Aboriginal XI tour of England • To provide three male and three female cricket
in 1868 by current men’s and women’s teams, following scholarships for Indigenous cricketers to engage
matches and orations to commemorate the 1866 with specialist coaches through Cricket Australia’s
Aboriginal XI v Melbourne Cricket Club match at the High Performance program
Melbourne Cricket Ground. • Implement formal Acknowledgement of Country
and Welcome to Country ceremonies as part of
A SPORT FOR ALL Cricket Australia’s events, all men’s and women’s
Diversity and inclusion program “supporting more girls international fixtures, KFC T20 Big Bash League
and women, multicultural, Aboriginal and Torres Strait (BBL) matches and formal meetings
Islander and disability communities get involved in • Engage employees, Board members and senior
cricket”. $5m annual sponsorship from Commonwealth management in Australian Cricket in cultural
Bank. awareness training through an online assessment
portal
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS CRICKET STRATEGY FOR GAME AND • Establish a calendar of significant Aboriginal and
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
MARKET DEVELOPMENT 2014/15-2017/18 Torres Strait Islander events (e.g. NAIDOC) which
Encompasses a number of programs including the Australian Cricket will actively celebrate.
National Indigenous Cricket Championships • State and Territory cricket associations to become
a member of Supply Nation in order to increased
ANU RESEARCH PROJECT AND REPORT supplier diversity within Australian Cricket.
University partnership to investigate Indigenous cricket • Establish an Indigenous employment and devel-
in Australia opment strategy
17JAMES
It all started when my old man bought me a soccer ball offers a lot that nothing else can. Sport can teach a lot
for a present. I’d tried playing rugby and it just wasn’t for of things about health, wellbeing, discipline and you can
me. With soccer, I never loved it but I was OK at it and I show that if you work hard you can improve on things
just progressed along. and apply that to other aspects of life too. It’s a very
unique way of delivering positive messages to youth;
I had this privileged kind of upbringing in a way. I didn’t through engagement with people they see running
really identify with the Indigenous side of my family around on TV.
at a young age because I associated it with all of the
negative things that I saw and experienced. Looking Indigenous athletes also provide a good medium to de-
back now, football actually gave me the opportunity to liver that cultural awareness to the broader population. I
escape all the issues that came with that. know other codes do it really well.
On the Tweed it is traditionally more of a rugby league It took me until a couple of years ago to realise that me
area but there is a really big participation rate for playing is not important; it’s me seeing other people
soccer, especially among youth, so there were always get the opportunity and fulfil their potential. I want to
academies and clinics going on. I was fortunate the create more role models for the Indigenous community.
path for me was relatively easy when compared to I want to create some cultural change, empower people
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
others. It was probably the proudest part of my career and try to address that disconnect we have with the
to sign with Gold Coast United and play in front of my Australian public.
friends and family.
I think soccer can be made more readily available to the JAMES BROWN,
Indigenous community, but it’s sport in general – sport Former A-League Player
1814
LLOYD MCDERMOTT
RUGBY DEVELOPMENT
RUGBY
TEAM
INDIGENOUS Independent organisation, named after
UNION
SNAPSHOT:
PLAYERS Lloyd McDermott, Indigenous Wallaby
and first Aboriginal barrister. LMRDT
holds an annual Indigenous Rugby
HAVE REPRESENTED Sevens tournament called the Ella 7s,
with up to 44 teams participating and
THE WALLABIES 2,000 people attending.
(AS OF 2017)
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
19PROGRAMS AND AUSTRALIAN RUGBY
INITIATIVES UNION RAP HIGHLIGHTS
DEADLY 7S The ARU is working towards completion of its second • Welcome to Country at significant events such as
National program for Indigenous primary school RAP, covering 2016-18. During its first RAP, which Test Matches held in Australia
children combining rugby union discovery and cultural commenced in 2013, all staff from the CEO down par- • Advertise all job vacancies in Aboriginal and Tor-
education. Over 5,000 students participated in 2016. ticipated in cultural awareness activities to address an res Strait Islander media
identified need to improve understanding of Indigenous • Develop a list of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
MAJOR EVENTS Australia. The ARU has established a group of RAP Islander businesses that can be used to procure
Welcome to Country performed before major events Champions: internal staff who communicate RAP tar- goods and services
and ‘message sticks’ presented to visiting international gets and achievements throughout the business. • Create profiles of Indigenous Wallabies on the
teams. An Indigenous-designed jersey was worn in the ARU website
third Bledisloe Cup match in 2017. AIMS • Launch a targeted program engaging Aboriginal
• Increase Indigenous participation in rugby union and Torres Strait Islander children, starting the
• Drive ‘Close the Gap’ outcomes through engage- participants on a pathway to ongoing engagement
ment with rugby with the game
• Identify commercial partners with a shared vision
SELECTED ACTIONS to successfully engage Aboriginal and Torres
• Organise one internal event and support one Strait Islander peoples in rugby
external event for National Reconciliation Week • Collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
each year Islander rugby greats to identify how ARU can
• Develop relationships with government and com- increase engagement
munity organisations including Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Local Aboriginal
Football’s Indigenous Engagement: State of Play
Land Councils
• Provide office space to LMRDT and staff to sup-
port Ella 7s carnival
• Investigate cultural training opportunities for RAP
Working Group members, RAP Champions, HR
Managers and other leadership and extend to
Member Union (state) staff
20A report by Professional Footballers Australia on behalf of John Moriarty Football
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