TAFE program nurtures future Aboriginal stars of the AFL
1 June 2002
With help from some legendary former AFL players, Kangan Batman TAFE has come up with a unique way of keeping young Aboriginal men interested in education, by drawing on their love of football.
Kangan Batman TAFE is offering the Aboriginal Footballers Development Program, aimed at 15 to 18 year olds who are not in secondary school (or are at risk of leaving school), and who either have the talent to play football at the highest levels, or the potential to succeed in the sport and recreation industry.
This new program was initiated by former North Melbourne champion and veteran of 148 AFL games, Phil Krakouer, to nurture future generations of Aboriginal AFL footballers.The program combines intensive football training with an educational program in sport and recreation, as well as literacy, numeracy and information technology. It provides aspiring Aboriginal footballers with the appropriate guidance, physical training, education and cultural and personal support to help them achieve their dream of playing football at the highest levels.
Phil got the idea for starting up such a program through his involvement with Kangan Batman TAFE's Koori Programs Unit as a student of Aboriginal culture.
The low numbers of Indigenous youth going on to further study at TAFE or university is a tragedy that desperately needs to be addressed, and I wanted to do something to help, he said.
Kangan Batman TAFE has developed a number of effective programs which provide alternatives for Aboriginal teenagers who have dropped out of high school. So I thought we could build on that success using football to get these kids excited and give them something to aspire to.
According to Phil, "there is now great demand within the AFL for Aboriginal players because of the great Aboriginal footballers of the past and the skills they brought to the game. Over the past decade there has been a substantial increase in Aboriginal player representation in the AFL, so this presents a great career opportunity for those with the necessary talent and dedication. "
However, graduates of the program who are not drafted to play in the AFL or at the highest state level will still have a rounded education and qualifications in sport and recreation to fall back on.
Over the two years of the program, students complete the Coorong Tongala Course (Certificate II in Koori Education), which covers communication, literacy, numeracy, and computer skills and Indigenous culture. The program also includes the Certificate II in Sport and Recreation during the first year, followed by the Certificate III in Sport and Recreation in the second year. On successful completion of the program, students will be able to continue into the Certificate IV in Sport and Recreation.
These qualifications give students the skills and knowledge to work in the sport and recreation industry, or a pathway to further study at TAFE or university. They include areas such as nutrition, sports administration, teams, fitness, First Aid, occupational health and safety, and the sport and recreation and football industries.
The overall program is very intensive and is delivered five days per week from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm. It is structured to include three hours of physical activity and four hours of classroom sessions. The football training is conducted at Fitzroy Football Ground and aims to enhance students' skills, fitness, strength, attitudes and tactical knowledge of the game to the level required for inclusion in the AFL draft or other levels of football.
The training is conducted by two renowned coaches - former National Director of Coaching for the Australian Football Foundation, Kevin Madden and Peter Knights, a former senior coach of the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn football clubs.
Former AFL player Dermott Brereton has recently committed to becoming a mentor/guest speaker to motivate the students in the program, while his brother David is one of the course instructors.
Practice matches are integrated into the program, where the students form a team of 26 players who compete with another mainstream football team for a full match.
The program also concentrates on developing the personal life skills of the students, particularly as many relocate from interstate to attend the course and are living away from their families for the first time.
It covers areas such as basic health, nutrition and personal development, for example cooking, budgeting and building positive relationships with others. The program also addresses issues the students may encounter as professional footballers, such as drugs in sport, racial vilification and how to handle the media at a press conference.
The course is currently in it's second intake, having been trialed from July to December 2001. Of the current intake of students who commenced in early 2002, all are progressing well with the program, and already three have been recruited to play in the VFL (for the Coburg Football Club, the Bendigo Diggers and the Box Hill Knights). Several more are currently in the TAC Development Squad.
"There has been tremendous interest in the program because it is unique, not only within Australian TAFE, but also in Indigenous education and in the football industry", explains Terry Kildea, Manager of the Koori Programs Unit at Kangan Batman TAFE.
"From the start we conceived it as a national, rather than a Victorian training program. We are taking on-going enrolments and are actively recruiting suitable students from all states and territories. In addition to Melbourne-based students, we currently have students from Western Australia, South Australia, NSW and regional Victoria."
"We have also had lots of interest from the AFL. We are hoping that one day the course could provide a service for AFL clubs, in that if they bring potential Aboriginal players to Melbourne, we could nurture them in the course."
Contact
For further information or to find out how to apply for the program, telephone:
Terry Kildea
Manager
Koori Programs Unit
Kangan Batman TAFE
[03] 9279 2357
Support for the program
The following organisations are sponsors or partners in the Aboriginal Footballers Development Program.
- The students' endurance is measured with the assistance of the Victorian Institute of Sport. These results are compared with the AFL draft camp testing, AFL testing for the Metropolitan and Country TAC U/18 Squad.
- The Rio Tinto Aboriginal Foundation supports the program through a three-year funding agreement, and financial support has also been provided by Preston Motors.
- The program has received ongoing support from the VFL Clubs. Officials in the AFL have expressed interest in the methods used in the program and its ongoing development, as the students get older and more prepared for the experience of football at the highest levels.
- Ongoing support has been provided by organisations such as VAYSAR (Victorian Aboriginal Youth, Sport and Recreation), the Enmaraleek Association Incorporated (a Broadmeadows-based Aboriginal cooperative) and the Broady Power Football Club.
Who is the program run by?
The Aboriginal Footballers Development Program has been developed by two departments of Kangan Batman TAFE: the Koori Programs Unit and the Sport, Recreation and Fitness Department.
About the Koori Programs Unit
During the program, students receive support from Kangan Batman TAFE's Koori Programs Unit. Established in 1994, the Koori Programs Unit provides a welcoming and supportive environment for Indigenous Australian students at Kangan Batman's Broadmeadows campus. The unit currently has around 500 students from diverse backgrounds, ranging from 14 year olds to people in their 50s.
Many are studying in courses specifically designed for Indigenous Australians. Others are studying in mainstream Kangan Batman TAFE courses, but use the unit for support if required (such as mentoring, tutoring, counselling, advice or referral to other services). All Koori Programs Unit staff, from the teachers to the office staff, are Indigenous Australians.
The unit has close links to the local Koori community and organisations such as the Enmaraleek Association and the Glenroy Koori Open Door Education (KODE) school.
Who is the program run by?
About the Sport, Recreation and Fitness Department
The Sport, Recreation and Fitness Department is a dynamic, energetic team of teachers based at Kangan Batman TAFE's Richmond campus.
All Sport, Recreation and Fitness staff have current industry experience, specialist industry expertise and the capacity to pass on their knowledge in an enjoyable, creative and interactive way. They thrive on bringing innovative ideas and teaching practices into the department.
The staff support students in meeting their goals and provide extra assistance to ensure students are learning and achieving their desired outcomes.
In addition to the Aboriginal Footballers Development Program, the department also offers industry training programs, VET in Schools, traineeships, short courses and day-time courses including the Certificate III in Fitness, Certificate IV in Recreation (Sports Coaching and Administration), and the Diploma in Health Science (Massage).
For further information, contact:
Sangeeta Alex
Manager of Sport
Recreation and Fitness
[03] 9425 5635
