Indigenous Round a resounding success
The AFL's Indigenous Round provided all clubs the opportunity to help celebrate the culture and players which have helped shape Australia’s game.
The week kicked off with the launch of the Collingwood match day guernsey which featured the Barrawarn logo, which is used for the club’s main indigenous program focussed on employment and education. Barrawarn is the Woi-wurrung word for Magpie.
The Barrawarn program has been a great success and in operation for three years. It now has more than 35 Indigenous Victorians employed at various organisations around Victoria.
Following the game, the guernseys went online for auction, with all funds raised going to the Rumbalara Football and Netball Club in Shepparton and the Fitzroy Stars Football Club.
A special group from Yuendumu Football Club in the Northern Territory also made a special visit to the Westpac Centre during the week, to see the state of the art facilities.
They enjoyed a walk through, chat with some of the Collingwood players and some photos with the 2010 Premiership.
The group also came along to the Friday night clash between Collingwood and St Kilda where they were presented with three game memberships and enjoyed the experience of having photos on Etihad Stadium before the game.
Throughout the year the Collingwood Football Club Foundation will continue to focus on the Barrawarn Program in partnership with the Department of Business and Innovation and AFL SportsReady.
The program to date has succeeded in:
- Providing 35 full time work placements at various organisations around Victoria
- Supporting 15 school based and full time traineeship positions in partnership with AFL Sportsready. A further 15 traineeship positions are being launched with Artsready, providing qualifications for Indigenous Australians in the arts sector
- Supporting five full time indigenous trainees working with AFL Victoria, all of which have received Diplomas of Management and Level 1 Coaching, Umpiring Level 0 and Australian Sports Commission Level 1 coaching accreditation.
Head to the Collingwood Football Club Foundation's website to learn more about the Barrawarn Program.