Australian of the Year and Chairman of Reconciliation Australia Mick Dodson recently urged other AFL club’s to follow Essendon’s lead and adopt a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) as part of their business operations.

Dodson’s call came as part of his key-note address at Essendon’s official RAP launch at Windy Hill on 28 August.

Spearheaded by EFC, a new Responsible Gambling Ambassador campaign has been established to promote responsible gambling messages in grass-roots sporting organisations throughout Victoria.

The campaign is made up of six current and former elite athletes and is supported by North Melbourne FC, Melbourne Vixens, VIS, Melbourne Tigers and Tennis Australia.

DESA Australia, Essendon Football Club’s Indigenous programs partner, recently facilitated the first-ever remote communication hook-up between Windy Hill and Wadeye.

The video conference saw Courtenay Dempsey broadcast from Windy Hill to a primary school in Wadeye - Essendon’s Indigenous community affiliate - located 400km south-west of Darwin, Northern Territory.

Essendon Football Club community partner - the Bill Hutchison Foundation - expanded its support of harm prevention initiatives in 2009 via two new programs.

The first program, known as Barpirdhila, is an initiative that provides companies with an opportunity to make a meaningful and long-term contribution to deliver education and employment outcomes for young Indigenous Australians.

Essendon business partner Yakult increased its support in 2009 by making a financial contribution towards the club’s multicultural programs and activities.

The support enabled Essendon to provide significant value-add opportunities to program participants, including the provision of Yakult footballs and tickets to Essendon home games.