Overview
The SANFL, recognising the importance of creating pathways for Aboriginal youth within South Australia commenced in September 2010 the SANFL Aboriginal Pathways to Excellence Program (APEP); this program consists of the following components: 



APEP SANFL Traineeships

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The SANFL has created a traineeship program for Aboriginal male and female students that have completed Year 12. In alliance with the South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy (SAASTA) schools we select students in their schools around South Australia to undertake a 12 or 24 month Traineeship.

The Students will be employed within the school during the school terms, working with the schools’ Aboriginal Liaison Officers and closely with the SANFL’s Field Officers. When not at the schools they will be based at AAMI stadium working on their studies and being exposed to university and career pathways e.g. Government, Private Business and Trades.

The Trainees will undertake a Certificate 3 in Community and Recreation or Certificate 3 in Sport and Recreation, delivered by Sport SA depending on the length of their Traineeships. The SANFL oversee and supervise the management and delivery of the Traineeship program via the SANFL Aboriginal Employment and Participation Manager, James Moore.

The SANFL support the Trainees in:

• Developing sports program delivery and leadership skills
• On-the-job education and training, including working with Trade Organisations in providing multi-skilled workshops over the one/two years in various trades etc, thus giving the Trainee additional career pathways once the Traineeship has been completed.
• Exposure to and motivation for progressing into full time employment within sporting administration
• Assisting Trainees to pursue employment in other areas of the Government and in Corporate Industries
• Developing and Mentoring the Trainees so they can complete the Certificate 3 in Community and Recreation or Certificate 3 in Sport and Recreation.
• Increasing Aboriginal male and female participation in Sport

The key focus of the Trainee include:

• Support the delivery of SAASTA programs/curriculum in schools
• Mentoring young Aboriginal students who are enrolled in the SAASTA Programs, and focus on the need for completion of Year 12 and gaining their SACE accreditation.
• Assist the SAASTA Coordinators and students to prepare and plan the schools involvement in the Aboriginal Power Cup (a current initiative between the Attorney General’s Department, the Port Adelaide Football Club and the SAASTA)
• Assisting in the planning and implementation of football related activities such as the ‘come n try’ events in the school community;
• Work with the SANFL local Field Officers to conduct clinics in other schools and across various community settings
• Undertake further training and development as required (SANFL courses, Sport SA accreditation, Administration courses) and be linked with a business mentor for ongoing professional career pathways.
• To support the partnership between the AFL, SANFL and the SAASTA, the SAASTA Head Office would utilise its existing resources to assist their SAASTA School Academy Liaison Officers to support the Trainees during the time of employment.

The SANFL has also sourced alliances with other South Australian Sporting bodies including Netball SA, where the SANFL will source, train and oversee Aboriginal Trainees in those Sporting bodies.

Major Shareholders with the SANFL for this program is SAASTA, Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST) and Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

Trainee Locations/Name

• Glossop High School – Kieran Stone (Commenced February 7th 2011)
• Ceduna Area School – Corey Ware (Commenced February 7th 2011)
• Whyalla (Stuart High School) – Chelsea Treloar (Commenced 7th February 2011)
• Coober Pedy Area School – Thimos Tsakiridis (Commenced 7th February 2011)
• Para West Adult Campus – Nikki Lane (Commenced 7th February 2011)
• Pt Adelaide (Le Fevre High School) – Anthony Wilson (Commenced 7th February 2011)
• Maitland Area School – Graham Walker (Commenced 7th February 2011)
• Netball SA – Jasmin Breed (Commenced 7th February 2011)
• North East Metro Junior Football Association – Joseph Zadow (Commenced 7th February)
• SANFL Pathways Admin. – Josh Wittwer (Commenced 17th April 2011)
• SANFL APY Lands/Multicultural – Ruth Wallace (Commenced 17th April 2011)
• Christies Beach – Adam Rigney (Commenced 17th April 2011)

South Australian Aboriginal State Under 21 side

Goal
To provide a specialised Elite pathway for Aboriginal Footballers aged 21 years or under that reside in South Australia.

Process

• Through the SANFL Aboriginal Pathways to Excellence Program a real need was discovered to allow Aboriginal players from all parts of South Australia a specific pathway to be able to play with an SANFL Club.
• It was decided that we complement the annual State Aboriginal Carnival and use this carnival as the selection base for this State side. Players could also be added from areas that didn’t participate in the carnival and there is also an allowance for SANFL Clubs to nominate players if they wish.
• To make sure the program is accepted by the Aboriginal Communities, the SANFL utilised some of the coaches and officials that took part in the annual Aboriginal Sports Carnival.
• The program culminated in a curtain raiser game before the NAB AFL Games on February 11th 2011, the aim is to showcase the best Aboriginal Talent aged 21 years or under. This will allow SANFL Clubs to recruit Aboriginal talent into their Club (providing they are not already Club listed)
• Squad members to be contacted regularly via Facebook/Mail and given fitness tips, life tips, employment opportunities etc from Mentors, Coaches and SANFL Participation and Employment Manager.
• The Program also included Employment and Life skills workshops presented by many Sporting and professional people.

SANFL Listed Player Forums

The reasoning behind this initiative is to let all Aboriginal players on SANFL Lists playing in the Under 16’s through to League to get to know each other, thus hopefully making them more comfortable playing in the SANFL, it will also allow us as an Organisation to explain what the SANFL is doing to create pathways for young Aboriginal people in both Employment and Talent.

These forums will start with a meal as a group and finish with presentations from highly regarded Aboriginal identities within South Australia. Presentations will be conducted by experienced AFL and SANFL Aboriginal players, Indigenous departments from our South Australian Government Partners and also the SANFL’s Corporate Partners.

These forums are designed to ensure all Aboriginal players are aware of support that is available to them as they pursue an elite sporting career. We at the SANFL want to underline the importance of completing your SACE and having an employment pathway that can work in conjunction with your sporting career. Basic Life Skills presentations will also be conducted through these forums focusing on components such as Budgeting.

The 2011 Dates are:
Forum One- 15th March from 6pm
Forum Two – 7th June from 6pm

SANFL Clubs
The APEP Program offers assistance to SANFL Clubs in terms of their Aboriginal footballers on their Senior and Youth Lists, the SANFL APEP is supporting all SANFL Clubs to ensure all players have the best possible opportunities to succeed in both their talent and employment goals. 


Talent Identification
The SANFL is committed to providing talent pathways for Aboriginal males, through the SANFL’s involvement in the annual Aboriginal Sports Carnival, Community Aboriginal Football networks and through talent identification by the APEP Manager.

The SANFL is targeting young indigenous males and providing support in forms on mentoring and guidance, the aim is provide a recognised pathway to joining an SANFL Club. The SANFL currently has 74 Aboriginal Listed players in the SANFL from Under 16’s to League, but we are confident this number will climb dramatically due to the new pathways offered to both Urban and Country Aboriginals. 


South Australian Aboriginal State Under 15 side

Goal
To provide a specialised Elite pathway for Aboriginal Footballers aged 15 years or under that reside in South Australia.

Process 

• Through the SANFL Aboriginal Pathways to Excellence Program a real need was discovered to allow Aboriginal players from all parts of South Australia a specific pathway to be able to play with an SANFL Club.
• Screening 5th June 2011 at Westpac Centre, from that a training squad of 30 to be selected.
• A Squad of 25 to represent South Australia in the National Indigenous Under 15’s Championships to be held in the Gold Coast in September 2011.
• Players that perform well at the Championships will be selected in the National Boomerangs Squad to be coached by Andrew McLeod.
• Squad members to be contacted regularly via Facebook/Mail and given fitness tips, life tips, employment opportunities etc from Mentors, Coaches and SANFL Participation and Employment Manager.
• The Program also included Employment and Life skills workshops presented by many Sporting and professional people.

Media
The coverage regarding this Program has been outstanding with Radio, Television and Print all covering aspects of our Program, attached are examples. The Aboriginal Pathways to Excellence “Facebook Page” has been hugely successful since its inception in October 2010, with over 35,000 views and counting.


Contact
James Moore
Aboriginal Pathways to Excellence Manager
jamesm@sanfl.com.au
Wk: 8424 2205 Mobile: 0438805904
Visit SANFL’s “Aboriginal Pathways to Excellence” Facebook Page.