JMF’s free school holiday clinics create safe and engaging spaces

John Moriarty Football uses the power of football to positively engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth living in regional and remote Australia through a variety of program deliveries, including in school and after school sessions, tournaments and free holiday clinics.

Run every school holiday, JMF’s free football clinics provide safe and engaging spaces which support physical health and wellbeing to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth to thrive.

Clinics are accessible and inclusive, open to all children in the community with transport provided to and from the clinics. By removing barriers to access, including service costs, transport and complex, rigid enrolment processes, JMF ensures all children in the community can access a fun, beneficial holiday program.

Physical activity and health literacy education are embedded into every session. Participants are engaged in fun football activities, traditional Indigenous games and gameplay to build their fitness, teamwork and footwork skills.

In many of the communities JMF delivers in, food security can be a challenge. At every session players enjoy fresh fruit snacks as well as a hot, nutritious homemade meal, supporting nutrition and encouraging healthy habits.

The combination of physical activity and health messaging is vital to address entrenched health disadvantages, help reduce disease burden and encourage healthier lifestyles.

Creating safe, accessible spaces can be life-changing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth living in regional and remote locations. The sessions are a fun, healthy activity that provides access to positive role modelling from the local Indigenous coaches and where they can learn valuable life skills.

Our Easter Holiday Clinics are open now.