Chairman of the AFL Commission Mr. Mike Fitzpatrick today announced that the Commission has embraced the recommendations of the AFL Indigenous Advisory Council, including the appointment of an Indigenous Commissioner by 2018.

The commitments are all part of the AFL’s enhanced Indigenous strategy put to the Commission by the AFL Indigenous Advisory Council and will seek to achieve five key objectives:

·         Promoting Indigenous leaders throughout the industry in regards to coaching, umpiring, media and administration roles.

·         Providing educational, employment and training opportunities through a national network of residential and educational facilities.

·         Establishing a national mentoring program to improve player retention, welfare and post-career opportunities.

·         Strengthen community football competitions in under serviced regions and re-establishing community carnivals.

·         Extending the celebrations at the Dreamtime game to all games in the Sir Doug Nicholls round

Mr. Fitzpatrick said a considerable amount of work had gone into the new strategy, including an audit by PWC of the AFL’s Indigenous programs, infrastructure, employment and funding commitments.

The audit of the AFL’s Indigenous Programs by Price Waterhouse Coopers was completed in 2015, and found: 

·         More than 300,000 Australians, including one in three Indigenous young people are actively involved one of the AFL’s 80 Indigenous Programs.

·         In some states, there is up to 43 per cent involvement in Indigenous communities.

·         AFL Indigenous Programs have engaged with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in 174 locations across Australia.

·         The programs have enabled more than 180 partnerships with community groups and organisations.

·         More than $31 million has been invested in Indigenous-focused capital infrastructure (Cape York House, the Michael Long LLC and Korin Gamadji Institute.)

The audit also acknowledged opportunities to establish the AFL as a vehicle for Indigenous excellence and to embed further workforce opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the AFL industry.

Mr Fitzpatrick said the appointment of an Indigenous Commissioner would be an important step in increasing the representation of Indigenous Australians across football clubs and governing bodies.  

“The issue of representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women at all levels of the game remains a significant challenge,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said.

“The AFL Commission acknowledges that to further advance the influence and contribution of Indigenous Australians, we must work toward better representation in the governance of the game, including the AFL Commission, AFL club boards, state bodies and the community competitions.

“Currently our game enjoys strong Indigenous representation of approximately nine percent in the playing group but improvement is needed it when it comes to representation in other roles.”

Chairman of the AFL’s Indigenous Advisory Council Mr. Paul Briggs said the appointment of an Indigenous Commissioner was a significant step in increasing the opportunities for Indigenous men and women in the football industry. 

“The appointment of an Indigenous Commissioner will be a game changer.”

“Indigenous people have a desire to be represented at all levels of the game they love, and the appointment of an Indigenous Commissioner will be an historic moment in Australian sport,” Mr. Briggs said.

 The appointment of an AFL Commissioner must be signed off by all AFL member clubs, who receive a recommendation from a nominations committee. 

The Committee currently comprises Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, Commissioner Richard Goyder, Peggy O’Neal, President of the Richmond Football Club and David Koch, Chairman of the Port Adelaide Football Club.