PaCE program a huge success

The new AFL Parent and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program reached its peak in September for the recipients of the AFL PaCE Pinnacle Award.

Malcolm Smith (Coffs Harbour), Nathan Lamont (Wagga Wagga), Megan Haywood (Wollongong) and Ian Starr (Blacktown) were the deserving winners of the inaugural award.

The Pinnacle Award is presented to four Indigenous students who are currently completing their High School Certificate, are seen as an Indigenous role model and have the support of their parents.

The four recipients and their families were treated to a weekend away in Melbourne where they got to watch the Collingwood and West Coast qualifying final.

For many of the students it was their first trip to Melbourne and first match they’ve seen live at the MCG. Unfortunately (or fortunately), many walked away as Collingwood supporters.

The PaCE Program was established this year to better support Indigenous parents and communities to improve educational outcomes for children.

The program forms part of the Australian Government’s Learn! Earn! Legend! initiative and is run out of five PaCE Centres in New South Wales – Blacktown, Campbelltown, Illawarra, Coffs Harbour and Wagga Wagga.

AFL PaCE Manager John Love said the program is having a positive impact on indigenous communities around the state.

“The PaCE Program, in its initial year, demonstrated its ability to engage Indigenous students, parents and communities,” Love said.

“This program is a great tool for helping Indigenous students strive for an education and to give them every opportunity to find employment.

“It is a fantastic achievement to receive the Pinnacle Award and the deserving winners are all role models in their communities and are destined to go on to bigger and better things.

“With a common interest in sport, all recipients of the award took a lot out of the experience travelling to Melbourne with their families.

“Over time, as the program expands and more communities are engaged, the program is really going to assist Indigenous students to find employment which will not only benefit them but also their community.”

Each student will return to their school next year to share their educational or employment progress with others.

The Pinnacle Award will be a goal for students and their parents at each PaCE Centre going forward to encourage more students to complete their year twelve studies – a key aim of the PaCE program.