Kicking Goals is a combined initiative that will present the Pilbara region with community support through primary school, sports education, high school leadership and sports mentoring programs.
The partnership is unique in that it merges the community-minded efforts of an AFL club, a WAFL club and a blue-chip industry leader.
The West Coast Eagles’ involvement will be facilitated by club games record holder and special projects executive Glen Jakovich, and will also welcome the contribution of current stars including Dean Cox, Ashley Sampi and David Wirrpunda, each with significant ties to the Pilbara region.
The program will be headlined by the West Coast Eagles’ key visits to Port Hedland, Newman and a selected indigenous community within its first 12 months, while Swan Districts will provide parallel resources and continued support through the growth and development of the game in the region.
With a large portion of its operations based in the State’s north-west, BHP Billiton Iron Ore currently enjoys a strong relationship with indigenous communities, but seeks to build on that with its objective to increase career paths within the company.
“We are very pleased to partner both the West Coast Eagles and Swan Districts to deliver a unique regional based program to help young people reach their maximum potential, achieving educational outcomes and using football to motivate their commitment,” said BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s Vice President External Affairs, Stedman Ellis.
“We are currently working with local schools and communities of the Pilbara to develop a new range of exciting educational initiatives. These will soon be announced in partnership with the Education Department and signal a new era for education delivery for the region.
“We certainly understand the need to find innovative ways to engage with students so as to help them complete educational training and then hopefully become prospective employees for our growing operations across the Pilbara.”
The West Coast Eagles and Swan Districts Football Club also share a sound awareness of issues faced by indigenous adolescents in the areas of education, health and employment, and Mr. Jakovich believes the program will foster his club’s desire to strengthen that relationship.
“Kicking Goals will provide the West Coast Eagles with opportunities to deliver key support to indigenous youth throughout the Pilbara region,” he said.
“With the support of BHP Billiton Iron Ore and Swan Districts, the partnership will put us in a terrific position to focus on and address the importance of education as well as social, personal and professional development.
“Our players are role models to many young people and we anticipate that their involvement in this program will be reciprocal and serve as motivation and reward.”
Swan Districts Football Club general manager Scott Ballem, who has also played a key role in the program’s structure, is pleased to see it formalised.
“When we approached the West Coast Eagles some months ago about entering into a partnership to service the Pilbara region, we had a vision of providing the best level of community service anywhere in Australia,” he said.
“Through the support of BHP Billiton Iron Ore and the West Coast Eagles, we look forward to working with the Pilbara region on both their community and football development programs.”
