DARREN MONCRIEFF
Saturday, July 23, 2011
ONE-TIME number 1 AFL draft pick Des Headland has worked with Subiaco Football Club for it to create a greater engagement with the Indigenous community.
The club will today launch its Reconciliation Action Plan which, central to its philosophy, seeks to bring people from different cultures together with the football field central to where reconciliation can be promoted.
It will have its launch at Medibank Stadium today where the Lions will host Swan Districts in round 18 of the WAFL.
Headland has implemented a series of nine-week school programs which aims to improve Indigenous children's school attendance rates, numeracy, literacy and participation. And he with Pickett have been heavily involved with the football club's new Nyoongar Magic footy clinic.
This season, Subiaco has 12 Indigenous players on its list: Headland, Allistair Pickett, Alliston Pickett, Adam Cockie, Martin Smith, Rhonen Maher, Curtis Hansen, Sonny Dann, Jordan Eades, Norman Stubbs, Kevin Renehan and Darren Swan.
Nyoongar Lions: Marty Smith (left), Allistair Pickett, Sonny Dann, Des Headland and Alliston Pickett.
The Lions hope that with the expansion of its Indigenous programs, this number can only grow in the future.
The development of the Subiaco club's RAP began in December last year with the formation of a RAP working group. This group comprised of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people residing within the club's zone.
A draft of the plan was developed through regular meetings with the group and its launch today represents what it hopes will be the start point of a new era at the Lions.
A key plank of the club's plan include providing an environment which helps people to bond and build mutual respect.
To that end, Subiaco has identified that the benefits of sport extend far beyond the obvious health and physical rewards and is actively promoting that participation also results in improved mental health, better educational outcomes, stronger communities, reduced crime and other social benefits.
In July, the club held its fifth annual Dreaming Carnival in Nollamara which had some 20 teams from within the Subiaco District.
And Subiaco's plan won’t be confined within its metropolitan borders.
An expansion of these programs will target country areas and that will become a major project of the club in using football as a vehicle for social inclusion, the provision of cultural awareness training to key volunteers and staff.
A Welcome to Country will be performed before today's game with a traditional dance by students from Balga High School to follow.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 23/07/2011 09:38