The Adelaide Football Club is proud to launch The Beach Energy Aboriginal Youth Leadership and Governance Program.

The first of its kind in Australia, the program aims to support motivated students from year 10 to year 12 SACE and beyond, while developing and enhancing leadership skills and qualities.

The Beach Energy program will involve 30 students (each year) from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands. They will be assigned a mentor to run a series of activities to assist them in completing their education and utilising opportunities after they have completed year 12.

At completion, graduates will have developed important leadership and governance skills that will provide growth and leadership opportunities within their communities.

Premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist Andrew McLeod will lead a group of select mentors (including Richard Tambling, Brett Maher, Jared Petrenko, Khatija Thomas and Graham Johncock) who will support the participants through the specific educational and sporting components of the program.

McLeod said: “The Adelaide Football Club for many years has been a leader in more ways than one.

“In their endeavours to strengthen their community programs and build on one of the existing partnerships with the Aboriginal communities of the APY Lands, the Crows are about to embark on a great journey.

“The Beach Energy Aboriginal Youth Leadership and Governance Program will create a healthy and secure environment where young people can develop, be nurtured, learn and grow as individuals in a program that is unrivalled in Australia.”

The program is designed to use the Club’s standing in the community to help improve opportunities for Aboriginal youth in the areas of travel, sport, health, education and employment.

Targeted at 15-16 year olds, the program, in partnership with Beach Energy and the Federal Government will provide leadership and diplomacy skills that will encourage participants to value their education and ultimately transition into employment.

CEO Steven Trigg said the Club could not have developed such a program without the support of these partners.

“We are extremely proud of this program and believe it will have great success within our partnered communities,” he said.

“We must thank Beach Energy and the Federal Government, who value the program enough to partner with us.
 “In particular Kate Ellis, The Minister for Employment Participation and Early Childhood and Child Care, has been enormously helpful in recognising the value of the program and working to acquire support.”

The Australian Government is investing $300,000 to support the Adelaide Football Club to run an intensive leadership program for the 30 Aboriginal students on the APY Lands.

 The Hon Kate Ellis MP believes the program can provide participants with some great opportunities.
 
“We know footy can give indigenous kids a real chance at life and who wouldn’t want to learn alongside the mighty Crows and the likes of Andrew McLeod,” she said.
 
“Like thousands of South Australians I’m delighted at the Crows’ on field success but I’m also proud to see the hard yards they are doing off the field to benefit our broader community.”

Beach’s Managing Director, Reg Nelson, says they are proud to partner with the Club in delivering this program and hopes it will inspire the young people who participate.

“We hope it will give the kids confidence and a strong foundation as they enter adulthood and enable further education and improved employment prospects,” he said.

“The Adelaide Football Club and Beach are both great South Australian organisations sharing the common goal of improving confidence and self-respect among young aboriginal people.”

McLeod said: “I am extremely proud that my football club, the place that gave me a chance to pursue my dreams, has taken on this program and is giving others a similar opportunity”.