At the Stephen Michael Foundation, we believe every young person deserves the chance to reach their full potential.
By walking alongside schools, families, and communities, we help all young people build confidence, pride, and stronger futures.
West Australian football great and proud Noongar man Stephen Michael…
Stephen Michael is more than a West Australian Football legend. A proud Noongar man from Wagin and Kojonup, he rose to become one of the most celebrated players in WA football history — known not only for his strength, skill, and leadership, but also for his loyalty and humility.
Carrying his legacy off the football oval, Stephen Michael continues his journey as Patron of the Stephen Michael Foundation, standing with young West Australians to help them thrive and uplift their communities.
Stephen debuts for South Fremantle, beginning a remarkable career that would see him play 243 games and become a role model for Indigenous footballers across WA.
As captain, Stephen leads South Fremantle to the WAFL premiership. He wins the Sandover Medal in 1980 and again in 1981, cementing his place as the league’s most dominant ruckman.
Named captain of the All-Australian Team, Stephen also claims the Tassie Medal for best player in State of Origin football, and the Simpson Medal in WA’s win over South Australia.
In 1999, Stephen Michael was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, honoured as one of the greatest players to never leave WA.
Stephen is now Patron of the Stephen Michael Foundation, founded in 2017 on his belief that thriving communities are built through thriving kids.
Participants engaged across Western Australia each year
Students in Rising Leaders Program delivered across 13 schools
Programs delivered in 40+ schools & communities statewide
Every young person has a spark. At the Stephen Michael Foundation, we see that spark ignite when a student who once skipped school becomes a leader in their class, when a young girl finds her confidence to present at school, or when a community gathers around its youth and watches them shine.
Through our programs, young people gain more than skills — they gain belief in themselves. They overcome barriers of self-doubt, disengagement, and isolation to discover confidence, leadership, and connection.
By combining leadership, sport, culture, and wellbeing, we don’t just keep kids active — we give them reasons to belong, to step up, and to dream bigger for their future.
It started with a Facebook message. A teacher, worried about the struggles facing her Indigenous students, reached out to the Stephen Michael Foundation with a hope but no resources. Her school became the first in the South West region to host our Rising Leaders Program — and the results were remarkable.
Sixteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys took part, developing leadership, communication, and teamwork skills that helped them reconnect with school and community. For many, our team became trusted role models — ’adopted uncles and dads’ who brought structure, support, and laughter into their week.
The impact was undeniable:
What began as one teacher’s spark has grown into a thriving partnership — proof that when communities and SMF come together, lives change.
A 20 week school-based program helping students grow into confident leaders. Through sport, teamwork, and mentoring, Rising Leaders supports disengaged youth to lift attendance, improve behaviour, and believe in their potential.
Using traditional Aboriginal games and storytelling, Culture Through Sport brings students together to honour culture, learn respect, and build stronger ties with community and Country.
Gnalla Djooks empowers young women to grow in confidence, express themselves, and connect with culture through art, sport, storytelling, and teamwork. It’s about building resilience, pride, and the leadership skills to inspire their communities.
Delivered over eight weeks during school hours, Future Leaders helps upper primary students build confidence, leadership, and communication skills — equipping them to transition to high school with resilience and readiness.
NightFields engages at-risk youth in after-school multi-sport activities that encourage healthier choices and positive participation. Partnering with WA Police, local governments, and service providers, each session combines sport, mentoring, and a shared meal to reduce antisocial behaviour and strengthen connection.
For over four years, SMF has partnered with the Department of Justice to deliver recreation, sport, and mentoring at Banksia Hill Detention Centre and Unit 18. Through programs like Banksia Roos, Banksia Girls, and Rising Leaders, young people in custody build resilience, teamwork, and healthier pathways for the future.
West Australian football great and proud Noongar man Stephen Michael has been named the 2025 Sir Doug Nicholls Round Honouree by the AFL.
read moreWhen you give to the Stephen Michael Foundation, you’re not just making a donation — you’re sparking confidence, leadership, and hope in young people who need it most.
Your support allows us to keep kids engaged in school, create safe spaces for sport and culture, and walk alongside youth as they discover their true potential.
When you invest in our programs, you’re giving young people the confidence to believe in themselves, the tools to lead, and the chance to transform their communities.
Together, we can inspire confidence in young people, create pathways to education and work, and strengthen the cultural and community fabric of WA.
