Positive outcomes through football

AFL NT is very proud of the outcomes achieved through a collaboration with the Maningrida College and wider Maningrida community. 
Thanks to the support from Malala Health and the Maningrida College, Juan Darwin and Scott Lami joined the Maningrida AFL program around 5 months ago and are a great example of how groups can work closely with the community to deliver positive outcomes through football in an educational environment.  
Juan and Scott have grown in confidence and are now involved in delivering all the football programs which are in place at school including Auskick programs, informal kick to kick before school, during recess and lunch breaks, mentoring students and homelands visits. 
The Maningrida AFL team recently provided Auskick and fitness sessions to the Bolkdjam and Buluhkaduru communities and expect to reach many of the other homelands over the coming months.
We are also collaborating with Maningrida teachers Mango and Martine to establish the Maningrida Running Club – a project that is very close to Juan on the back of his involvement with the Indigenous Marathon Project.
This project will provide the structure to enable the community (young and old) to be involved in a weekly running program to improve fitness, health and wellbeing.   
Running sessions will be held every Thursday at 5.30pm starting at the Oval.
Both Juan and Scott are also involved in community men’s football and women’s football.  
Their connection with the community has certainly strengthened the ability of AFL NT and the College to achieve better outcomes through football and fitness.
Through this collaboration, everyone involved is very much learning together - and learning better.