Culture Through Sport

The Stephen Michael Foundation has developed the “Culture Through Sport” program which provides school students with an opportunity to learn, appreciate and experience aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures by engaging in traditional Aboriginal games.

The Culture Through Sport program features a range of activities including:

• Cultural Awareness and education from local elder
• Understandings of NAIDOC
•  Vision of “Nyoongar Footy Magic” documentary series
• History, explanation, and delivery of Traditional Aboriginal games
• Education on the significance of NAIDOC Week
• Participation in a Traditional Aboriginal Games tournament
• Cultural Awareness – Specifics of Noongar Land
• Opportunity to learn local Aboriginal Elders
• Train-the-trainer program for teachers and staff

For more information about the Culture Through Sport program please contact Liam Anthony on 0408 929 960 or liam@smfoundation.org.au

ACADEMIES

Regional Youth Girls

Despite the growing popularity and interest in female football, there are still many areas across Western Australia where girls aged 13-17 do not have the opportunity to play AFL in the community.

Across the past 18 months the Stephen Michael Foundation has developed a number of pilot events, carnivals and competitions focused on youth girls in targeted regional areas including the Upper Great Southern (Narrogin, Katanning, Wagin, Kojonup and Boddington), Gascoyne (Carnarvon and Exmouth) and the Murchison (Meekatharra, Mt Magnet, Wiluna and Cue).

Following these pilot events training hubs have been set up in the Upper Great Southern and Gascoyne region to develop the most talented local female Footballers. The academies train once a week to enhance their talent and ease the transition down to play with South Fremantle Women’s Talent Squads. The academies are coached by local coaches who are continually being upskilled and developed by our coach coordinator Tony Micale.

Regional Youth Boys

The main premise of the regional Academies is to help upskill local players and then identify any that may be able to play for the South Fremantle Youth Development Squads and Colt’s programs. The South Fremantle Football Club have an established Talent Development squad in the Upper Great Southern however the SMF last year introduced the very first Gascoyne Talent squad comprising of the best 30 male players in the region.

The UGS squad were last year coached by Liam Anthony the SMF program Manager with local coaches coaching the Gascoyne squad.

For further information on the Stephen Michael Foundation Academies please contact Liam Anthony on 0408 929 960 or liam@smfoundation.org.au

RECLINK

Reclink Australia provides sport and art programs to disadvantaged Australians to create socially inclusive, life changing opportunities. The SMF have over the past 18 months have developed a strong partnership with Reclink in WA to help create pathways to improved health and wellbeing, education and employment outcomes for all of their participants.

The two main programs we are involved in are street games which is held on a Wednesday morning and Kick in the Park on a Thursday morning, both of which are held in Fremantle. The main objective of these two programs is to encourage, promote and educate program participants about the benefits of regular exercise and the impact this will have on physical, mental health and wellbeing.

Encourage social interaction and networking by providing a safe environment that supports meeting new people, making friends and exercising.

For further information about the Stephen Michael Foundations’ Reclink partnership please contact Liam Anthony liam@smfoundation.org.au or 0408 929 960.