Footy program for at-risk youth concludes with NAIDOC celebrationWednesday, June 29, 2016 - 10:31 AM

More than 100 young people from Kwinana and Mandurah came together to play a game of football and celebrate Indigenous culture as part of the NAIDOC session of the WA Football Commission’s Night Fields program on Friday, June 24.

It marked the last session of the six-week program which was developed last year to involve disengaged and at-risk youth in football and provide them with a range of social support services.

The WA Football Commission in partnership with the City of Kwinana and Relationships Australia provided participants with a traditional Indigenous dance group session and dinner ahead of NAIDOC Week. (July 3 – 10)

City of Mandurah Youth Development Officier Jo Novoselac said the session was a great way to end such a positive and engaging program.

“Our kids have had an absolute ball over these last six weeks,” Novoselac said.

“They can’t wait for it to start up again in Term 3.”

The program started out in Armadale, Lathlain and Swanview and has since expanded to Cockburn, Fremantle, Melville alongside the South West Metro partnership Forum (SWMPF) and more recently this year, Kwinana and Mandurah.

 WAFC Metro South Community Engagement Coordinator Liam Anthony said the collaboration from local and state government agencies has been the driving force behind the success of the program to date.

“A number of agencies including YMCA and Headspace have been able to drive effective outcomes in their local communities, which is great to see,” Anthony said.

The program provides a football pathway for the participants and has allowed them to transition into local football clubs.

A Kwinana participant who had never played football before she took part in the program said she is now playing club football and loves it.

“It has been so much fun and now I play for the Kwinana Knights Junior Football Club.”

More than 300 young people participated in the Night Fields program in Kwinana and Mandurah.

Participants simply head to their local centre, register their details, practice their football skills and then play a game before being fed dinner.

Due to the success of the program the WAFC will look to create more centres for the Term 3 Night Fields program.