The Adelaide Crows Foundation will launch the second Kuwa Circles Program this week to build on the success of the pilot held in 2022 which saw eight of the 10 senior female Indigenous participants gain employment or further study.
Over four intensive weeks, 12 female students who currently participate in the Federal Government’s Transition to Work program will take part in the specialist sports and cultural curriculum designed to encourage a greater understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) principles.
The students will take part in a range of classroom and practical workshops, underpinned by the themes of connection, context, concepts and careers.
The program also has a strong emphasis on mentoring support with participants to be mentored by AFLW premiership player Danielle Ponter and other experienced foundation employees.
Kuwa (the Kaurna word for Crow) Circles is an industry and education collaboration between the Adelaide Crows Foundation, Stronger Smarter Institute and Workskil Australia, who have identified several key barriers that impact Indigenous women to access careers education and pathways, particularly in STEM careers.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are under-represented in STEM, particularly at the university level, where 0.5 per cent of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has a STEM qualification, compared to 5 per cent of the non-Indigenous population.
Adelaide Crows Foundation First Nation Programs Manager Jeremy Johncock said the program is unique in that it links Indigenous culture and STEM through applications such as the making and throwing of boomerangs.
“We are extremely proud of the outcomes of the first Kuwa Circles program held last year. At its completion, eight out of the 10 senior participants were employed or commenced further study, while the eligible junior participants all received 10 SACE credits,” he said.
“At its core, the program is designed to engage underrepresented female Indigenous student cohorts in career pathway development and arm them with the skills and confidence to consider opportunities they may not have previously.”
Adelaide Crows Foundation Community Programs Manager Katie Bell said the program would benefit from the addition of new partner WorkSkil Australia.
“We have made some small changes to enhance the program and we are thrilled to now be able to roll it out to a second group of young women,” she said.
“We’ve drawn on our experience with our successful STEMfooty program and, working with the other program partners, created a program that includes access to culturally responsive and engaging support and mentoring mechanisms linked to academic confidence and career pathways.”
Workskil Australia, a proud supporter of the Crows’ AFLW program, is a national not-for-profit organisation delivering employment and community services across Australia.
Workskil delivers the Transition to Work program in South Australia’s Adelaide North and West regions which program participants will be recruited from. This will enable participants to access ongoing support and promote long-term engagement.
The Kuwa Cirlces program receives funding from Local Jobs Network Program, Workforce Australia, Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
The Adelaide Football Club is committed to being an active participant in Australia’s reconciliation journey by building meaningful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations.
