WA female footballers participate in national leadership campTuesday, March 13, 2018 - 5:02 PM

Eleven WA female footballers from Indigenous and multicultural backgrounds have flown across the country to take part in the 2018 AFL Medleys and Rio Tinto AFL Woomeras Leadership Program.

The program which kicked off today, March 13, is a six-day camp which focusses on personal and cultural development and high performance training for 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural players from across the country.

Currently in its sixth year, the Rio Tinto AFL Woomeras team is the national u16s female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander development program, while the Medleys is the national u16s female Multicultural development program.

The program will see the Medleys and Woomeras participate in sessions including cultural education, nutrition, mental health and building team values. Held separately, each respective program will tour and train at AFL clubs before coming together to compete in two exhibition matches.

Nuria Ushoroff and Ashara Willis, both from WA, have been named assistant coaches for the Medley's team.

The Medleys will take on the Woomeras in the first match on Thursday, March 15 at the Richmond Football Club and the sides will then clash on Saturday, March 17, at Victoria Park.

It will be only the second time an all-Indigenous girls' team will play an all-Multicultural girls' side in an official match.

AFL General Manager Game Development Andrew Dillon said the Medleys and Woomeras programs are a great way to encourage young women to aspire to reach the elite level and fast track their football development.

"The AFL Medleys and Rio Tinto AFL Woomeras Leadership Programs are an incredible platform for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural women to not only showcase their great talents, but to also develop leadership skills and the potential for them to become positive role models for their respective communities," Dillon said.

“This program is an opportunity for these aspiring women to experience and learn from being in a professional training environment. In addition to improving their on-field football ability, there is also a strong off-field focus around culture and identity.

"The camp will also provide an opportunity for the girls to watch the Western Bulldogs play against the Melbourne Football Club in what promises to be a great match in the NAB AFL Women's Competition this weekend."

Rio Tinto's Managing Director Australia Joanne Farrell said the company are proud to be supporting the Woomeras program.

"The young women in this program will become the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role models as they continue to follow in the footsteps of program graduates such as Emily McGuire who is currently playing in the NAB AFL Women's Competition for the Fremantle Football Club.

"The AFL has the power to create positive social change, shift attitudes and help set the social agenda in Australia, with a captive audience of passionate supporters of the game and members of the clubs.

"Rio Tinto and the AFL are committed to supporting the on and off field aspirations of young and talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from around the country. We want to help our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sports stars strive for success on the field, in the classroom, in the workplace and in their communities."

Participants for both programs were selected following a three-stage process where hopefuls attended state try-outs before being selected for the State Kickstart Team (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) or State All Nations Team (Multicultural). Following the AFL National Diversity Championships held in Byron Bay in October last year, 50 participants were selected for the respective Medleys or Woomeras team.

2018 Medleys Coaching Panel
Head Coach – Sabrin Nyawela (VIC)
Assistant Coach – Lael Kassem (NSW)
Assistant Coach – Nuria Ushoroff (WA)
Assistant Coach – Ashara Willis (WA)

2018 Woomeras Coaching Panel

Head Coach – Bronwyn Davey (SA)
Assistant Coach – Natalie Plane (VIC)
Assistant Coach – Samantha Bice (VIC)

Rio Tinto is the principal partner to all of the AFL's Indigenous Programs. Rio Tinto is one of Australia's largest employers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, employing some 1600 Aboriginal men and women across the nation.