Release type: Media Release

Date:

Rising Aboriginal AFL All Stars win Government support

Ministers:

The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP

Joint Media Release with The Hon Warren Snowdon MP (Member for Lingiari) and Damian Hale (Member for Solomon)

Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor, today announced Australian Government support for the inaugural Aboriginal All Stars Week in to be held in Darwin next month.

The week-long series of events and workshops from 2-7 February will conclude with the bi-annual Australian Football League game between an Aboriginal All Stars team and the Adelaide Crows.

Mr O’Connor said the Australian Government is providing $19 825 to support several events during the week to encourage young emerging Indigenous football players to attend workshops covering life, leadership and financial management skills.

“While the main focus of the All Stars Week will be football, it also presents a unique opportunity to promote the benefits of education, employment and the importance of a healthy lifestyle,” Mr O’Connor said.

“The week will also involve many Indigenous AFL players who have made a career from playing football and who are role models for many young players and their communities.

“It also presents a great opportunity to tell young Indigenous Australians about programs and initiatives that could benefit them as well as encourage them to stay in school or to enrol in training programs.”

Indigenous AFL players will also visit remote communities including Croker Island, Goulburn Island, Ramingining, Barunga, Jabiru and Beswick to promote the Government’s Indigenous education and employment programs.

Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, and Member for Solomon, Damian Hale, said sport played a major part in life in Indigenous communities.

“The All Stars week presents a wonderful opportunity to improve the health, education and employment goals of many Indigenous residents in the Territory,” they said.

Mr O’Connor will also meet with employers and representatives from the business community to discuss how they can help the Australian Government achieve its target of halving the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment within a decade.