5
years JMF has held Indigenous Football Week
13
communities celebrating Indigenous Football Week
1200+
children expected to particpate in 2020
The theme for Indigenous Football Week 2020 is “Pathways” and focuses on the pathways John Moriarty Football is creating and how it is changing the game.
Football has the power to create pathways to improved physical and mental health, wellbeing, education and community engagement. Every aspect of the JMF program seeks to build pathways and unlock the potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities.
The theme also shines a light on the JMF Scholarships & Pathways Program. This initiative provides a life-changing pathway for talented young footballers aged 10-18 years in our grassroots JMF program who show exceptional sporting ability and a desire to work hard at school.
We are very grateful to have Adam Goodes as Patron for Indigenous Football Week 2020. Adam grew up playing football (soccer), but when his family moved to a small country town in Victoria with no soccer club he decided to try AFL. Following his AFL retirement in 2015, Adam has returned to football and plays with Waverley Old Boys FC’s over-35 side.
Adam is passionate about the potential of football, and sport in general, to provide pathways to improved physical and mental health, wellbeing, education, and community engagement for Indigenous children.
“Sport can be an incredible vehicle and for me, it gave me the confidence to be the person I am today. It also created the leader I am today. We need more programs, like John Moriarty Football, that are designed in community, for community and then have really clear pathways and programs that can help those kids in community follow their dreams” – Adam Goodes
During Indigenous Football Week JMF is launching its new Community Scholarships Pathways Program. This game-changing program is designed to develop talent and foster positive change, including improved school attendance and more resilient, healthier outcomes for players, their parents and communities.
The new program provides scholarships to selected athletes within their communities with one-on-one tutoring and mentorship, equipment and stationery for school, a placement with a JMF-partnered football club in the area, football equipment and travel support.
JMF is planning a program of events that will engage our JMF hub communities in NT, NSW and Queensland, Indigenous communities, and the wider football community.
These events will include in-school workshops, including sessions with sport psychologist Dr. Noel Blundell and Compeat Nutrition, as well as football clinics, community gala days and friendly tournaments with the grand final matches live-streamed on JMF Facebook page, NITV, Football NSW, Football Queensland and Football Northern Territory.
Thanks to the many experts, organisations, official partners and schools that are working with us to deliver an outstanding IFW20 program.
We are pleased to have Shadeene Evans and Jada Whyman as IFW20 Ambassadors.
Shadeene (Shay) Evans is JMF’s inaugural Scholarship Holder. Shay has played two seasons for Sydney FC in the W-League. In 2018 she was selected as a Young Matilda, was named vice-captain in October 2019 and in March 2020 was named Role Model of the Year by FFA. Shay will be attending the JMF Tennant Creek Gala Day on Saturday, 14 November.
Jada Whyman is the starting goalkeeper for Sydney FC’s W-League team and a Matilda squad member. Born and bred in Wagga Wagga in the New South Wales Riverina, she is a descendent of the Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta people. Jada will be attending the JMF Dubbo Gala Day on Saturday, 14 November.
We are grateful for the support from our official Indigenous Football Week partners.
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A skills mastery program for 6-16 year olds that uses football (soccer) for talent and positive change.
A life-changing pathway for talented young footballers aged 10-18 years in our grassroots JMF program.