The AFL launches Learn. Earn. Legend!

The AFL in partnership with the Australian Government today launched a new Learn. Earn. Legend! initiative aimed at encouraging young Indigenous Australians in NSW and western Sydney to stay at school and to strive for a bright future.

The new program was launched at Blacktown Olympic Park, the training ground for Team GWS, in the presence of the Hon Jenny Macklin MP,  Michelle Rowland, Labor candidate for Greenway, Ed Husic, Labor candidate for Chifley, Kevin Sheedy, Dale Holmes and Tony Shepherd of Team GWS and Jason Mifsud, the AFL’s Community Engagement Manager.

Under the Learn. Earn. Legend! banner, the AFL will initiate a Parents and Community Engagement (PaCE) project as its first priority. The PaCE project has been developed to ensure children are engaged in and benefiting from schooling as a pathway to employment.

The project will engage parents and the communities of Indigenous students in western Sydney and regional NSW, using the Sydney Swans and Team GWS players as mentors, to provide educational and lifestyle support to maximise learning.
 
AFL General Manager Market Development David Matthews said the AFL will work closely with schools, parents and Indigenous communities with an overall goal of keeping Indigenous students in school.

“The aim of this innovative partnership with the Australian Government is to further establish and encourage greater engagement with Indigenous youth and their community and to provide students with a pathway to employment,” Matthews said.

“Through currently established Indigenous projects, like the two Indigenous academies in western Sydney and the Indigenous/Multicultural Talent Programs, the AFL have found that young people thrive through the engagement with parents, caring adults and elders within their own community.

“This partnership will enable greater opportunity to expand and enhance our current programs existing within greater western Sydney and establish new programs in other parts of NSW.”

The AFL has been working with Indigenous communities for a number of years in an endeavour to improve employment, education, health and participation outcomes.

In 2007, the AFL launched its two western Sydney based academies aimed at improving literacy and numeracy skills with a key focus of keeping kids in school.

As part of the PaCE program, the AFL, in conjunction with the Sydney Swans and Team GWS, will aim to build stronger connections between parents and schools through these and future programs.

“It is hoped through the increased engagement of parents, the community and with the assistance of Swans and Team GWS players as mentors, Indigenous youth will be encouraged to stay in school and go on to fulfill childhood dreams,” AFL Community Engagement Manager Jason Mifsud said.

“This partnership is a major stepping stone to ensuring Indigenous Australians are provided with the opportunity to learn, through school, university and traineeships, earn money in their profession and to be role models for their own community.”

The PaCE project will use specific resources and strategies to connect with the families and communities of the Indigenous students enrolled in the programs.

Students and parents will participate in fun activities and outings as part of the program. Qualified facilitators will also conduct workshops and discussions groups with parents and carers at the academies.

This new partnership will enable better promotion of the key messages behind the Learn. Earn. Legend! brands which are “stay at school”, “get that job”, and “become a legend”.

“The Australian Government’s goal is to encourage young Indigenous Australians to have a go, stay at school and ensure a pathway to employment,” Mifsud said.
 
“The best thing all kids can do is get a good education. We know that the more education you have, whether that be finishing year 12, completing a TAFE qualification, an apprenticeship or a tertiary qualification, the more likely you are to get a good job.”
 
The launch also recognised AFL SportsReady’s involvement in the partnership by announcing their 1000th Indigenous Trainee, Owen Love. AFL SportsReady has played a major role in Indigenous Education and Training in partnership with the Federal Government since the inception of their Indigenous Education Program back in 2000.
 
For more information on Learn. Earn. Legend! visit www.deewr.gov.au/indigenous.