Supporting young people to reach their true potential
Stephen Michael
A West Australian Football Legend
Stephen Michael is widely considered to be one of the greatest ever players from Western Australia and arguably the greatest in the history of the South Fremantle Football Club.
Throughout his life, Stephen has demonstrated great values and integrity and the perfect role model to have a foundation honouring his name.
A proud Aboriginal man, Stephen was born in Wagin, WA and grew up in the southern Wheatbelt town of Kojonup before making his way to the South Fremantle Football Club where he became a legend.
Our Socials
Rio Tinto Excursion Day
What a day we had with the students from Busselton SHS and our excursion guide, Liam Northover! We jetted off to Hope Downs for the day - a memorable experience for all especially those whose first time it was flying in a plane ✈️
We were fortunate to meet with our Partenership Manager from Rio Tinto, Salma Khan, who shared personal anecdotes with the students and provided an insight into working in the mining sector👷🏽♀️
Throughout the day our students were exposed to a range of career opportunities and pathways via Rio Tinto, such as working on machinery. It was a fantastic day and one our students will consider when looking towards their futures. Thank you to @lifeatriotinto for making this all possible.
Today we celebrate our incredible Regional Manager, Rory.
Rory’s passion and professionalism shine through in all aspects of his work. His exceptional ability to connect with stakeholders and community members has not only earned him immense respect, but also significantly advanced SMF’s impact and presence within the regions.
In addition to his significant role in managing partnerships and stakeholder engagement, Rory continues to work closely with the youth and demonstrates genuine care towards them. He consistently advocates for and secures opportunities to help young people thrive and lead positive lives.
Rory is a valuable member of the SMF team and an excellent mentor to his staff.
Happy birthday Rory, enjoy your day!
Yirra Koolang Yorgas NAIDOC Celebration! ✨
Leading up to NAIDOC Week, our Yirra Koolang Yorgas learned about the history of NAIDOC and the significance of this year’s theme.
It was rewarding for staff to see them share their knowledge with their school at the Lakeland Senior High School NAIDOC assembly. We were also incredibly proud of the young ladies who volunteered to perform traditional dancing at the event!
Thank you to @lakelandseniorhighschool for inviting us to your NAIDOC assembly and to Tim Kelly Snr. for teaching the students traditional dance.
Happy Birthday to one of our amazing Midwest staff members, Ryan!
Ryan’s enthusiasm for working with youth has been a key driver in bringing success to the Midwest region in such a short space of time. Ryan’s ability to connect with young people, along with forming great relationships with key stakeholders in the region, is what makes him such a vital member of the Midwest Team.
His kind, caring and hard-working attitude means he’s not only a joy to work with, but a hit with students across the schools and community he engages with.
School holiday fun in Warburton 📍
We were thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with the @ngaanyatjarracouncil , @creatingcommunities, and @westcoasteagles to deliver a school holiday program in Warburton.
The week was filled with exciting activities including sports, art, leadership, mindfulness and healthy cooking 🙌. Our goal was to build relationships, provide engaging experiences, foster leadership skills, and promote overall health and wellbeing amongst youth.
It was a privilege to not only engage with the youth but also connect with community members and elders. Our staff were truly grateful to be so warmly embraced in Warburton! They were treated to some amazing on-country visits, listened to stories from elders, and experienced finding, cooking and enjoying Bardi grubs🐛.
Stephen in Parliament!
We are so grateful for a productive and exciting few days at Parliament House in Canberra last week. Following a busy schedule, we met with more than 15 politicians to advocate for and share the incredible school and community-based outcomes of the Stephen Michael Foundation.
We’re thankful for the time given to us by Australia’s policymakers and are pleased with the support we received to continue empowering youth across Western Australia. Thank you to Senator Sue Lines for hosting us!
Keep an eye out…as we’ve confirmed a few special guests from Canberra to attend our programs in the near future.
Country footy at its best! 🐏🏉
This week our Upper Great Southern & Gascoyne Talent Academy players
showcased their abilities in the 15s Regional Development Carnival. The Rams showcased their talent against sides representing the Pilbara, Midlands, and also had the opportunity to play a game against the Banksia Hill Roos.
Staff from SMF, who also work closely with the Banksia Roos, were thrilled to see both teams perform at such a high standard and interact positively post-game.
The Rams were pushed out of their comfort zone throughout the 15 week program but have demonstrated significant development, dedication, professionalism, resilience, and sportsmanship. This progress is commendable, and we look forward to seeing these players continue their journey through the SFFC talent pathway in the 14s, 15s, and colts.
Thank you to the parents, local volunteers, local football clubs, and SFFC for their ongoing support, passion, commitment, and collaboration with the Rams program!
Wardandi Gift Day
A day filled with fun, laughter, and Kaartdijin (knowledge) of history and sports - the Wardandi Gift Day was one to remember!
We worked with over 240 students throughout the day, delivering cultural games and art activities, as well as engaging our participants in storytelling. Our participants were lucky enough to have a visit from our patron Stephen Michael, who brought many smiles to all who attended the event.
We are proud of our Southwest school-based trainee Amber, who stepped up during the day and delivered sessions using the experience she has gained during her time with us. This forms part of our commitment to empower young people in all facets of their growth and learning.
Celebrating All Abilities at the AFL Inclusion Carnival 🏉🌟
In partnership with the @accsport1 and @allabilitiesfooty, students showcased incredible talent, sportsmanship, and a wonderful attitude during the recent Inclusion Carnival.
Congratulations to Seton College for winning in the grand final match! Everyone played throughout the day in the true spirit of the game and it was a joy for all staff who witnessed this event!
On-country Learning 💫
Our Gnalla Djooks students had a wonderful time learning and exploring on-country in Quairading.
In the morning, the young ladies visited Nookaminnie Reserve, where local Elders shared knowledge about the native wildlife.
Gathered around the karl (fire), the group listened and discussed the land with the Elders. Later, the Gnalla Djooks joined Elders and community members in enjoying some delicious yonga (kangaroo) stew.🦘
Thank you to Annette Bennell and Debra Winmar for providing this special on-country learning experience to our Gnalla Djooks!
Taking Hoops to Northam 🏀
The SMF team had a blast running our Night Hoops Program inviting the young people of Northam to come and compete in some fun community basketball games with the help of the local PCYC .
Incredible energy, amazing talent, and lots of fun – we always enjoy coming out to Northam to shoot some hoops with this bunch!
Rising Leaders in Action! 🏉✨
Our Bunbury Rising Leaders aced the SMF come and try session, diving into the world of umpiring. Big congrats to our standout students who won WAFL NAIDOC round shirts.
We are proud to run an umpiring program that allows students to try something new and develop skills that can be used on and off the field 🙌🏽.
Empowerment in Action: Capturing Our Impact in Leonora 📍
SMF takes pride in our work with the youth of Leonora and are dedicated to achieving positive outcomes through sustainability, consistency, fostering genuine relationships, and utilising collaboration.
We would like to thank the Leonora community and local stakeholders for their generous ongoing support. This support is invaluable and plays a pivotal role in enhancing our impact with young people in Leonora. ✨
To watch the full video visit the Stephen Michael Foundation Facebook page.
📹 @huemen_media_commercial
SEDA College WA offers Year 11 and 12 students hands-on learning opportunities in sports and trades.
Join the next Information Evening on Monday, July 22, to learn more about their unique programs.
Don’t miss out on this chance to get industry experience! Register here: seda.wa.edu.au/events 🚀🏆
Creating new friendships through sport 🤝
We were delighted to host students from Geographe Education Support Centre and Australind Senior High School at Hay Park for a cultural games carnival.
During the carnival, students had the opportunity to learn about and participate in 5 different traditional Aboriginal games.
It was a positive day that empowered the young people to engage in sports, socialise with their peers, and connect with students from other schools. It was uplifting to see so many smiling faces throughout the day! 🤗
