AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) is pleased to host the 2017 Female Diversity All Stars Leadership Program which begins today in Darwin.
The first of its kind, the inaugural Female Diversity All Stars Leadership Program brings together 26 Indigenous and Multicultural players, who have been selected following this year’s Medleys and Rio Tinto Woomeras Leadership Program, to participate in a six-day camp focusing on personal and cultural development.
The footballers will participate in cultural identity sessions, visit and train at the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre and compete in an exhibition match against the Wanderers Football Club on Thursday, November 2 at TIO Stadium starting at 6pm.
AFLNT CEO Michael Solomon said, “We are thrilled to host the Leadership Program here in Darwin at one of the best football facilities in the country and we would love to host the camp again in the future.”
AFL Head of Game Development Grant Williams said the Female Diversity All Stars Leadership Program is a great way to encourage young women to aspire to reach the elite level and fast track their football development.
"The 2017 Female Diversity All Stars Leadership Program is an incredible platform for young Indigenous and Multicultural women to not only showcase their great talents, but to also develop leadership skills and the potential for them to become positive role models for their respective communities," Mr. Williams said.
"The young women will enjoy an elite training environment in the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre with the aim of improving their football ability, enhancing their leadership potential and exploring their cultural identity.”
Participants for the program were selected following a four-stage process where hopefuls attended state try-outs before being selected for the State Kickstart Team (Indigenous) or State All Nations Team (Multicultural). Following the AFL National Diversity Championships held in Shepparton in September last year, 50 participants were selected for the respective Medleys or Woomeras team. Their first camp was held in Melbourne in February this year.
2017 Female Diversity All Stars Leadership Program Coaches
Head Coach – Courtney Ugle
Assistant Coach – Bronwyn Davey
Assistant Coach – Sabrin Nyawela
Assistant Coach – Nuria Ushoroff
NT Representatives
Molly Althouse
NT
Phyllisia Paliluaminni
NT
Stephanie Williams
NT
About the AFL Female Diversity Programs
Rio Tinto AFL Woomeras and Medleys
Currently in its fifth year, the Rio Tinto AFL Woomeras team is the national under-16 female Indigenous development program while the Medleys is the national under-16 female Multicultural development program.
The Medleys program mirrors the World Team pathway for boys of the same age, while the Woomeras team mirrors the Rio Tinto AFL Flying Boomerangs pathway for the boys.
About the AFL Diversity program partners
Rio Tinto is the principal partner to all of the AFL's Indigenous Programs. Rio Tinto is one of Australia's largest employers of Indigenous people, employing some 1600 Aboriginal men and women across the nation. Australia Post is the principal partner to all of the AFL's Multicultural Programs.