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:
Our Cultural Connection program aligns directly with the WA Department of Education’s Aboriginal Cultural Standards Framework and has been developed to support schools in fostering positive communication and interaction between staff, students, and the local Aboriginal community.
The Cultural Connection program features six two-hour sessions and provides students with a unique opportunity to enhance their awareness and understanding of Aboriginal culture and history.
Teachers and staff will also be required to attend a cultural awareness session to support the integration of key learnings from the program across the entire school. The program further connects schools with local Aboriginal service providers and Elders.
As part of the Cultural Connection Program, we work closely with SEDA College’s Baldja Mob, providing mentoring and support while promoting cultural, educational, and career development activities.
The Aboriginal Girls Engagement Program is an innovative and culturally safe and responsible initiative providing individualized support services and group activities aimed at enhancing the wellbeing, engagement, and educational outcomes of Aboriginal girls and young women in WA schools.
Key activities include:
Program activities are offered flexibly between Monday and Friday during the four school terms, before and after school, and during school hours, depending on the individual needs of participants, local services, and school requirements.
The All Abilities program empowers youth living with disabilities to recognise and reach their full potential. The program aims to increase self-confidence, personal development, and connection to their local community.
Intended program outcomes include:
The SMF Umpire Development Program teaches the theoretical and practical skills necessary to become an AFL umpire, including:
Following the completion of the Umpire Development Program, the SMF supports participants who wish to transition into their local umpiring pathways.
The Program is endorsed by the AFL and the West Australian Football Commission to deliver umpire accreditation.
The SMF Regional Talent Academies are designed to upskill and identify male and female players aged 13-18, linking them to the South Fremantle AFL and AFLW talent pathway.
The program operates in the Gascoyne region (with training hubs in Carnarvon and Exmouth) and the Upper Great Southern region (with a hub in Narrogin). In addition to player development, the SMF supports local community members in becoming coaches and umpires.
We facilitate a series of carnivals that give young people the chance to play with and against youth from outside their local communities in a fun and safe environment. The carnivals offer significant opportunities for local community involvement, including roles such as umpiring, coaching, team management, catering, and first aid. The SMF supports community engagement by providing upskilling in these areas and opportunities to offer casual employment.
For more than four years, we have partnered with the Department of Justice to deliver recreation, mentoring, and leadership programs at Banksia Hill Detention Centre and Unit 18 at Casuarina Prison. These programs aim to support the mental and physical health of young people in custody.
Programs include:
Banksia Roos Program: AFL-focused mentoring and recreation for young males, promoting self-improvement and leadership. Teams have played against schools and talent squads.
Banksia Girls Program: Recreation and mentoring activities for young females at Banksia Hill.
Unit 18 Rec Program: Multisport and cross-training with mentoring for young males in Unit 18.
Rising Leaders Program: Delivered during school holidays, this program builds skills in communication, teamwork, resilience, and coping strategies
The SMF Coaching program provides participants with a foundational understanding of AFL coaching and the key traits that contribute to a successful coach. The program specifically focuses on helping coaches:
The SMF Coach Development program is endorsed and supported by the West Australian Football Commission.
The Nutrition program aims to empower young people to adopt healthier lifestyles, enhancing their overall wellbeing and supporting their educational and personal development. Through partnerships with local health professionals and community organisations, participants are also introduced to resources and services available to support their continued journey towards better health.
Participants engage in interactive workshops, cooking sessions, and group discussions that explore topics such as:
Sporting Schools is an Australian Government initiative designed to help schools increase children’s participation in sport and connect them with community sport opportunities.
Sporting Schools programs are provided free to children and their families to help students build the confidence and capability to be active for life. Schools are funded by the Government and then, in turn paid to the SMF who act as the sport Coach.
There is a program for primary schools, and a targeted program for Year 7 and 8 students in secondary schools. The SMF has been approved by WA State Sporting Associations to deliver the following sports:
The Connect program is delivered from the Stephen Michael Foundation metropolitan office to students in regional Schools. This online program allows staff to deliver content and continue to build relationships with the students despite barriers created by distance.
The program is designed for high school age students specifically targeting individuals aged 12-17 who are disengaged from classroom learning. Local and metropolitan staff collaboratively coordinate the session using directions outlined for delivery of content across the two locations. Students follow instructions of both staff in person regarding general class rules and behaviour, as well as staff online to direct them through activities and provide theoretical explanations.
The Culture Through Sport program provides schools with the opportunity to learn about, appreciate, and experience aspects of Aboriginal culture by engaging in traditional Aboriginal games.
Key components of the program include:
The Culture Through Sport program has been developed to support schools in the implementation of the Cultural Standards Framework.
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
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.
The Nightfields program is a multi-sport-based activity delivered to at-risk, socially disadvantaged and disengaged youth (aged 6-18) in after school hours with the aim of encouraging positive community engagement and participation, developing healthier individuals and reducing anti-social behaviour.
The program is run in consultation with WA police, various Local Governments and Shires as well as a broad range of local service providers who assist in program planning, promotions and engaging with participants. At each Nightfields session, participants receive free food following their involvement in all sporting activities.
Night Hoops is a Stephen Michael Foundation program utilising basketball as an engagement tool to encourage young people to participate in pro-social activities during peak times for anti-social and offending behaviours. The program connects young people to positive role modelling, through connection with a large team of volunteers, and delivers targeted life-skills workshops in response to community needs. The program also aims to increase young people’s engagement in physical activity, and longer-term commitment to healthy lifestyles.