For over three years, Stephen Day has been a School Ambassador at Mount Gambier High School, overseeing the Australian Football program as part of the school curriculum during 2nd and 3rd terms.

Approximately 75 year 9 and 10 students students participate in the Australian football program in place of their regular PE course.

As well as being a comprehensive, enlightening and enjoyable learning experience for all the students, the program provides aspiring footballers of all skill levels access to contemporary AFL drills and practices.

Stephen works very closely with the Glenelg Football Club's South East Academy structure with many of his own students forming the majority of the Glenelg Mount Gambier based Academy.

Stephen is a proactive sporting coach and teacher. After attending the January 2010 AFL Australian National Coaching Conference in Adelaide, he has implement many drills and ideas picked up during the conference.

In my role as SANFL Regional Development Co-coordinator in the South East, Stephen is always of great assistance when organising preseason nine-a-side carnivals during school terms.

Stephen encourages and provides many of the umpires, coaches, runners and other volunteers required for these carnivals. By highlighting other activities besides playing, students get a far clearer understanding of the many different roles associated with Australian football.

Stephen continues to encourage his senior students to attend Level 1 coaching courses conducted in the South East. Besides being a dedicated teacher in South Australia's Secondary Education system, Stephen's work as School Ambassador is also a great asset to Australian football.