In the seventh year of John Moriarty Football’s (JMF) delivery of its Indigenous Football Week initiative, the transformative organisation has embraced a theme of ‘Mayamantharra’ to honour the community support that has allowed the JMF program to run consistently.
Translating to ‘collaboration’ in the Yanyuwa language – which is spoken by families in Borroloola, Northern Territory, John Moriarty’s birthplace – Mayamantharra is intimately tied into the Moriarty Foundation’s delivery of the JMF program in remote and regional Indigenous communities around Australia.
Having grown from 120 children in Borroloola to now delivering to 2,000+ Indigenous children in 19 communities and 23 public schools across three states, the JMF program has both nurtured budding Indigenous footballers and assisted in areas of education, health, mental health and community engagement.
Soccerscene sat down with JMF Program Director Jamie Morriss and Wailwan woman and JMF Dubbo Community Coach Jorja Fuller, to discuss the significance of and opportunities that arise from Indigenous Football Week.
The theme for this year’s edition of Indigenous Football Week is “Mayamantharra: Partnerships for Success”. What is the intention behind this theme?
Jamie Morriss: Mayamantharra translates to ‘collaboration’ in the Yanyuwa language, spoken by families in Borroloola, NT, John Moriarty’s birthplace and where John Moriarty Football (JMF) was established in 2012.
The continued delivery of JMF is made possible by the partnerships we have at the community, national and international level.
JMF is embedded in the local communities we deliver in. As such, we work closely with local community groups, councils, schools, businesses and local health organisations. For instance, throughout the year our JMF Select team in Borroloola, NT is invited to play in Katherine, the closest town with an organised football club. Katherine is a 7-hour drive and we have to stay overnight when the team goes to play. These trips are made possible by the support of organisations like MacArthur River Mine Community Benefits Trust, Roper River Council as well as local businesses.
Earlier this year, Indigenous Football Australia (IFA), which oversees the delivery and expansion of JMF, formed a partnership with adidas. The partnership will see adidas sponsor JMF scholarships and provide high quality football equipment, including footballs, boots, and bags; as well as custom uniforms.
When we talk about success, we don’t just talk about the successful delivery of JMF, it also refers to the successful transformation outcomes JMF has. JMF is achieving proven progress in 13 of the 17 Closing the Gap targets and we have a track record of improving school attendance and achieving resilient, healthier outcomes for some of Australia’s most remote Indigenous communities.
What initiatives will the Australian Professional be delivering and promoting as a part of Indigenous Football Week?
Jamie Morriss: We are very proud to have A-Leagues as a partner for IFW22. IFW22 will be the centerpiece of the Round 4 of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2022/23 season. Each match will include a Welcome to Country ceremony, a celebration of Indigenous culture and the opportunity for fans to join our story and donate to further the work of JMF. Expect to see a lot of Indigenous Football Week artwork at the games, plus lots of coverage about our story across A-Leagues’ channels, plus on Channel 10.
A-Leagues and Paramount+ (Channel 10) are also taking part in our IFW22 Charity Football Tournament on 25 October at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. They are part of 10 teams that are competing and raising money for JMF.
From starting with 120 children in Borroloola, to now delivering the John Moriarty Football program to over 2,000 Indigenous children across three states, why has JMF been so successful?
Jamie Morriss: We succeed because we are Indigenous-founded, Indigenous-delivered, embedded, holistic and authentic. JMF is co-designed and community-led. In each of the communities we deliver in we work closely with a Community Advisory Group made up of community Stakeholders, Elders, and Traditional Custodians, to guide and advocate for JMF.
We are deeply embedded in the communities we deliver in and have a permanent presence, we are not a fly-in, fly-out program with a sporadic presence. Our coaches come from the local community, they often know the children and families we deliver to, they understand the challenges, they are trusted.
Jorja Fuller: JMF has only been running in Dubbo for three years, but in that time it has become a trusted community organisation. We often participate in community events to help out because we are embedded in the community and highly respected by children and families.
How important is the continued embracing of initiatives supporting Indigenous communities to the growth of Indigenous football?
Jamie Morriss: There is enormous football talent in the communities we deliver to and for the most part, football as a sport is not well represented in these areas. The predominant sport tends to be AFL or rugby. Programs like JMF provide pathways for Indigenous players, through our grassroots delivery, Scholarship program and the coaching career opportunities we provide in local communities. These can be pathways to a better future through health and education, or through the game itself.
Right now, we have 14 players in our Scholarships program. Some based in their local community getting support with mentoring, advanced coaching, school tutoring, equipment, club fees and more. A number are studying in top sport high schools in Sydney. They are a talented bunch and we are confident we have some future stars of the game in the group.
Jorja Fuller: In the Dubbo region we’ve seen a growth in the uptake of football thanks to JMF. A lot of this is because of our school programs, the kids love it and so do the teachers. After a JMF session they focus more on their school work and they are more likely to come to school on the days JMF is running. We even see small clubs are having more junior registrations.
Jamie Morriss: For around 20 years the Peak Hill local football club had no junior teams due to a lack of participation. However, after JMF began delivering our in-school program to the local public school, interest began increasing and the club entered a junior team for the first time in 20 years.
What are the next steps for John Moriarty Football in the coming years?
Jamie Morriss: Under the guidance of our Indigenous Football Australia Council we’d definitely like to grow our program to reach more communities and Indigenous children. We’d also like to guide more aspiring young Indigenous footballers into pathways to advanced and elite football, like our Inaugural JMF Scholarship holder Marra women Shadeene Evans, former Young Matilda who will be playing in the upcoming A-Leagues Women season for Sydney FC.
We get asked all the time by schools and communities around Australia to bring JMF to their children as they see the success we are having at building health, wellbeing and resilience, as well as promoting education. We’d love to be able to answer the call, it really comes down to funding which is why Indigenous Football Week is so important. This year we are asking football fans to make donations to support our work.
