In a great display of the importance of sport in the wider community, a $200,000 health and community program designed to engage Koori men through the Fitzroy Stars Football Club has been launched in Victoria. The Community and Social Health Engagement program will focus on encouraging Koori men to adopt healthy lifestyles and play a role in the community.
PROGRAM HELPS KOORI MEN REACH FOR THE STARS
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
A $200,000 health and community program designed to engage Koori men through the Fitzroy Stars Football Club was launched today by Acting Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls.
Mr Hulls launched the Community and Social Health Engagement program at the Sir Doug Nicholls Oval in Thornbury, accompanied by AFL Indigenous player Nathan Lovett Murray from Essendon Football Club, Fitzroy Stars players and members of the Aborigines Advancement League (AAL).
“This is an important and innovative program which will focus on encouraging Koori men to adopt healthy lifestyles and play a role in the community through involvement in the Fitzroy Stars,” he said.
“The program will offer activities on fitness, diet and nutrition, and counselling to develop self-esteem, career pathways and help with drug and alcohol management.”
Mr Hulls said the program’s activities would not be limited to club members but would include family members and the wider community, who would collectively take up the task of running a football club as part of the program’s objectives.
“It is timely during Grand Final week to acknowledge the enormous talent of indigenous players and I hope initiatives like this one will help breed champions of the future,” he said.
Mr Hulls said running a community club would help develop important skills that translate into all areas of life.
“During the program, participants will build communication, organisation and leadership skills which will help them to gain confidence, set aspirations, and reach their full potential,” he said.
“This program also provides important diversionary and rehabilitative measures for participants who have had contact or are at risk of contact with the criminal justice system to help them make choices that will have a positive impact on their lives.”
The Brumby Government has committed funding to the program under the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement’s Frontline Youth Initiatives Program, which aims to engage Koori youth at risk of negative contact with the criminal justice system.
Mr Hulls said it was great to see the Fitzroy Stars back in action after a 13 year absence from football competitions.
“Thanks to an agreement with the AAL, the Fitzroy Stars will use the Sir Doug Nicholls Oval as their new home, giving the team a bigger and brighter future to look forward to,” he said.
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