Transforming lives

John Moriarty Football’s (JMF) groundbreaking football skills program is transforming the lives of vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people living in remote and regional Australia.

Our local coaches have a continuous presence in community and deliver 5-6 days a week to primary and secondary school children, with equal participation of boys and girls.

JMF sessions create safe spaces that positively engage children while also supporting physical health and wellbeing:

In school curriculum in partnership with public primary and secondary schools to support attendance and engagement at school
After school sessions
Free school holiday clinics
Tournaments and gala days

Our outcomes

Children are supported to attend school and stay engaged with their education.
The creation of safe spaces that engage vulnerable young people with positive role models.
Children are supported to be resilient and strong in family, community and culture for their wellbeing.
Provide a foundation for better life expectancy outcomes by influencing children’s physical activity levels, health literacy and nutrition.
Pathways created to higher and vocational education and the workforce.

The JMF story

John Moriarty, the first Aboriginal player selected to play football for Australia, and his son James Moriarty co-founded JMF.

John and James launched the pilot program in Borroloola, in the remote Gulf of Carpentaria, NT in 2012. In the decade since, JMF has expanded its hubs to include Dubbo in NSW, Cairns in QLD and Tennant Creek in NT.

Our goal is to grow JMF through our best practice curriculum and an integrated sport/health delivery. Our core focus is on building wellbeing, protective relationships and community connection, to support learning and football development outcomes.

READ JOHN'S STORY

Our school has noticed an increase in positive behaviour and an increased attendance rate on the days that JMF weave their magic. The first and second lunch clinics have provided a semi-structured environment where the students are able to practice, develop and utilise their skills in an approach that is child centred and team focussed. This approach has seen our children grow in terms of teamsmanship and sportsmanship. The ability to work and play productively in a team environment is what current employers are asking for."

Randal Smith, Principal of Mossman State School

Creating pathways

JMF creates life changing pathways for participants to pursue their sporting, academic and career goals, breaking down barriers to education and employment.

Grassroots – regular access for remote and regional children to the sporting and health benefits of football.

Advanced players – opportunity to be selected for representative regional pathways.

Talented players – access to club and school scholarship pathways via the JMF Scholarships & Pathways Program.

Elite players – facilitating Institute of Sport, A-Leagues, Matildas, Socceroos and International Club pathways.

Our coaches

One of our strengths is our dedicated staff members. Local employment is at the centre of our commitment and we have a 50/50 gender employment policy. We provide continuous mentoring, development and training of our local coaches through the employment of an embedded FA-qualified in-community coach and mentor.

We provide in-depth football, work skills and leadership training programs to staff, including day-to-day football coaching, session planning and delivery of games, weekend tournaments, school and representative tournaments.

Indi Footi

Linked to Indi Kindi, Indi Footi is a pre-school football program for 2 to 6 year olds. Delivered by our JMF coaches, Indi Footi activates young brains through movement, and develops basic football and motor skills, balance and coordination in a fun, non-competitive environment.

Sessions focus on fun, discovery-based football activities as well as health and wellbeing components, like breathing exercises to begin to introduce ways to self-calm.