Indigenous Programs

Essendon Football Club has benefitted from the outstanding contribution of some remarkable Indigenous Australian talent including Michael Long, Gavin Wanganeen, Dean Rioli, Derek Kickett and Norm McDonald.

The on-field excitement these names have created has spilled over to the off-field engagement of the Australian community. Today EFC delivers programs in the Indigenous communities of Wadaye and Tiwi Islands, has formal partnerships with Indigenous sporting clubs Tiwi Bombers and Rumbalara Football Netball Club and is an official partner of The Long Walk.

More recently, EFC has partnered with the Bill Hutchison Foundation to deliver the Barpirdhila Program, 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.

Click here to view the EFC Reconciliation Action Plan.

EFC Indigenous Programs Ambassador

Patrick Ryder is the Ambassador for Essendon’s Indigenous Programs, which see him act as the face of the club’s many Indigenous activities.

Paddy has played an important role in working with young Indigenous men and women from Wadeye and Tiwi Islands in a mentoring capacity.

The Long Walk

The Long Walk Trust is a charity inspired by Essendon champion Michael Long’s walk to Canberra to get the lives of Indigenous people back on the national agenda. The charity works for Indigenous wellbeing and raises funds to support programs that improve conditions for Indigenous Australians by:

• Raising awareness of Indigenous culture and people
• Promoting leadership development and Indigenous leaders who strengthen culture and improve conditions for their community

As part of the partnership, Essendon Football Club’s administration centre at Windy Hill is now home to the head office of The Long Walk and its Project Manager, Kim Kruger. This position is jointly funded by the Essendon Football Club and The Long Walk.

The annual commemoration of The Long Walk is now held on the same day as Essendon’s Dreamtime at the G clash with Richmond, the highlight of the AFL’s Indigenous round. The Long Walk also holds an annual Women’s Luncheon and supports four Indigenous leadership programs. Subscribe to The Long Walk eNews to keep informed of The Long Walk’s work at The Long Walk website.

Indigenous Partnership Program

Essendon Football Club has formed partnerships with two remote Indigenous communities - Tiwi Islands and Wadeye - as part of the AFL Club Community Partnership Program.

The AFL Club Community Partnership Program is a long-term engagement strategy to build the capacity of the partner communities by encouraging Indigenous people to reach their full potential. Essendon will work in conjunction with local schools and agencies to engage young people in school and sporting activities.

The club has also established - through the assistance of its Indigenous Program Partner DESA Australia (desa.com.au) – remote communication between the school in Wadeye and EFC, allowing for more regular communication between players and young people in the community.

Dreamtime at the G

In 2005 Essendon Football Club joined the AFL, Richmond Football Club, the MCC and The Long Walk in establishing the annual Dreamtime at the G game - a match dedicated to celebrating the role Australian Rules Football has played in building bridges between indigenous and non-indigenous Australia.

In the past four years the game has grown significantly - so much so the AFL was encouraged to establish an annual indigenous round with the Dreamtime at the G game the flagship event. In 2008 the game attracted a match day audience of in excess of 60,000 people and a television audience of just under one million people. The 2009 event will be staged on Saturday 23 May.

Barpirdhila Program

Essendon Football Club in conjunction with the Bill Hutchison Foundation launched the Barpirdhila Program – 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 – on 17 April 2009.

The aim of the program is for companies - large and small - to support young Indigenous people to complete secondary school to the stage necessary to qualify for tertiary education, traineeship or apprenticeship, and to then guarantee their placement in a company as a graduate trainee or apprentice as appropriate.

Essendon Managing Director Peter Jackson launched the program – which will be piloted in Shepparton - with Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services Mr Bill Shorten.

For further information contact the program coordinator – barpirdhila@essendonfc.com.au.

Indigenous Affiliate Club Partnerships

Essendon Football Club has formal partnerships with two Indigenous sporting clubs – Tiwi Bombers on the Tiwi Islands and Rumbalara Football Netball Club in Shepparton.

The partnerships aim to use the Essendon Football Club as a vehicle to help build the capacity of the local indigenous community and to increase awareness of indigenous issues in the broader community.

Through the partnership, Essendon players will act as role models and participate in leadership development activities.

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