DARREN MONCRIEFF
Wednesday 23 November 2011
THIS week marks the beginning of a year-long program for 50 Indigenous young men whose goal is to simply find long-term employment, with football as the carrot.
It's the AFL and mining giant Rio Tinto partnership that has formed the Footy Means Business program, which points Indigenous men who are 18- to 24-years-old to elite AFL programs and training, along with networking opportunities in corporate environments to strengthen identity, leadership and teamwork skills.
The 50 young men have been selected from around the country by AFL regional development officers based on their football ability, their engagement with their communities and their potential to serve as a role model.
The AFL's community engagement manager Jason Mifsud (pictured) plays a key role in the program.
It's basic aim is to expose players to the routine of a professional AFL player, including high-performance testing, training and conditioning. Players will also be introduced to potential career opportunities with AFL corporate partners.
There will be leadership sessions conducted about identity and culture, decision-making, teamwork, communication, problem solving and setting goals.
Each of the participants are matched with a mentor, including Rio Tinto and AFL staff, who maintain regular contact during the year to ensure participants are on track with their employment and education goals.
The week-long launch in Sydney began on Monday and will end on Friday with a game of football, dividing the 50 into two teams, 'Northern' and 'Southern'. The match will be played at Moore Park.
Participants will also attend Thursday's national draft, which will be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 15/12/2011 15:28