Football Helps Improve Alice Springs Indigenous Education

Member for Lingiari and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon today praised the Clontarf Foundation for improving education outcomes for young Indigenous males

Mr Snowdon said that the expansion of Clontarf programs to Alice Springs schools is a huge positive for the town.

'The Foundation uses Aussies Rules to improve the discipline, life skills and self esteem of young Aboriginal men and by so doing equip them to participate meaningfully in society

'The kids enrol in AFL training Academies, and to participate on an on-going basis, they are required to attend school regularly, and show appropriate behaviour and self discipline.

'I was fortunate enough to attend the opening of the new Central Australian Academy last Friday.

'It was clear that this is something that the kids are engaging with, and is working to engage them their educations.

'They are training three mornings a week, and are even given brekkie afterwards.

'Clontarf has had a dramatic impact in Western Australia in getting Indigenous youngsters into the classroom since its inception in 2000.

'Already, there are promising signs of the programs success in Alice Springs.

'Among the 150 kids who are taking part in this, school attendance rates are very positive – between 92 and 96% for kids in program attending Alice Springs High School.

'It is a terrific program; I am pleased to see it being put in place in Central Australia.

'Young girls also need female role models and mentors to encourage them to stay at school. Sport can be equally empowering for young girls as it is for young boys.

'I'd like to see more female sports like netball and softball also encouraged in improving education outcomes for young Indigenous girls.

'I cannot emphasise enough the importance of these sorts of initiatives – it is doing something very necessary to improve Indigenous education outcomes.' Mr Snowdon said.

2007-03-26