Indigenous Football Week (IFW) 2023, held October 30 to November 5, will highlight the impacts of Indigenous football programs that are supported by John Morairty Football (JMF).
As Australia’s longest-running and most successful Indigenous Football initiative for 2 to 18 year olds, JMF continues to roll out vital programs that foster positive change, such as improving school attendance and achieving resilient, healthier outcomes in Indigenous communities.
IFW is supported by the A-Leagues and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), where we will see this recognised in Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Liberty A-League Women matches, as well as in JMF communities and schools across NT, NSW and Queensland.
As Co-Founder/Co-Chair of JMF, John Moriarty AM has been at the heart of pathways from the grassroots to professional level, supporting talented young Indigenous footballers to not only play the game they love, but succeed in school.
“We draw on the cultural strengths of our local coaches and community advisory groups, made up of local elders, Traditional Owners and community members. JMF is all about self-determination to address the extreme social disadvantage and barriers to football opportunity that Indigenous players face in many remote and regional communities across Australia,” Moriarty said in a statement.
David Williams will be the 2023 IFW Patron, a prominent Indigenous footballer that played internationally for the Socceroos and now plying his trade for Perth Glory.
“Being Patron for IFW23 is a huge honour. As one of the few professional Indigenous footballers in Australia, I believe it’s important to be a role model and help create pathways for young Indigenous players, particularly those from the bush. The work John Moriarty Football does is inspirational and I’m proud to be involved,” Williams said via media release.
IFW will now be in its third year of partnership with the A-Leagues – a Welcome to Country ceremony will be conducted prior to each A-Leagues match.
“Indigenous Football Week is an important part of the A-Leagues calendar as we celebrate the contribution of First Nations people to the game and reflect on how we can make our game ever more culturally safe and inclusive. We are proud to support the work of the Moriarty Foundation,” Australian Professional Leagues Commissioner Nick Garcia added via media release.
Professional Footballers Australia Co-CEO Kathryn Gill spoke on behalf of the organisation about their care and support for JMF, who delivers to over 2,000 primary and secondary school Indigenous children every week.
“JMF is an excellent example of how the most impactful organisations in addressing indigenous issues are indigenous-led. The PFA is delighted to again partner with JMF in support of Indigenous Football Week 2023.”
IFW and JMF are in conjuction with Moriarty Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that provides successful Indigenous program solutions through resilient local engagement.
JMF’s sister program is Indi Kindi, an early learning program for the under-fives and their families to improve the global readiness of Aboriginal children entering pre-school and school.
