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As the national body responsible for Australia’s only indigenous sport, the AFL recognises it has a responsibility to the broader community associated with Australian Football.

The AFL Foundation has been established to raise and distribute money to charitable causes and community groups. This is an independent organisation comprising of key stakeholders of the AFL game – players, administrators, community organisations, business, media and entertainment.

The Foundation will address the needs in the community separate from the specific area of player and game development yet identified as critical to the success of the sport and betterment of today’s society:

• the overall community of football
• health and fitness of our community
• development and support of youth in our community
• education and training

All applications for funding must be submitted to the Foundation in writing and addressed to:

AFL Foundation
GPO Box 1449N
Melbourne VIC 3001

Email:aflfoundation@afl.com.au

FOUNDATION MEMBERS

Ron Barassi

An Official Legend of Australian Football, played for Melbourne and Carlton and coached Melbourne,Carlton,North Melbourne and the Sydney Swans.

Peter Bell

President of the AFL Players’ Association and captain of the Fremantle Football Club.

Rhonda Galbally, AO

Founding CEO of Our Community, which provides information and assistance to 700,000 community groups throughout Australia. Founding CEO of the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and Australian Commission for the Future.

David Gyngell

Deputy CEO, Nine Network.

Bill Kelty

AFL Commissioner, former ACTU secretary.

Michael Long

Chairman AFL Indigenous Foundation, Norm Smith medalist and Essendon premiership player.

Jason McCartney

The public face of the Bali bombings tragedy which took place on October 12 2002. McCartney overcame burns to 50 percent of his body and serious shrapnel wounds to make a triumphant return to AFL football in round 11 2003 when he inspired the Kangaroos to victory over Richmond. He promptly retired after the game to cap one of the most emotional events in Australian sporting history.

Frank McGuire

Founding chairman Hume Social Justice and Safe City Taskforce, strategist in corporate consultancy and advertising firm, george.

Neil Mitchell

3AW presenter, immediate past president of the Melbourne Press Club.

Christine Nixon

Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police.

Mark Ryan

Director of Corporate Affairs for Westfield Holdings, senior political adviser to former Prime Minister, Paul Keating and former member of the NSW/ACT regional board of the AFL.

Michael Voss

Brownlow medalist and captain of the Brisbane Football Club.

Heloise Waislitz

Chair Pratt Foundation.

The Honourable Justice, John Winneke, AO

President of the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Victoria. Former Hawthorn premiership ruckman.

Criteria for grants

The AFL Foundation is delighted to announce the “Fair Go” awards to tackle disadvantage by providing greater opportunities for boys and girls to enjoy footy.

The “fair Go” awards promote advancement through teamwork and community building benefits of football.

The AFL Foundation will work directly with schools to make grants and awards available to primary and junior secondary pupils as a hand up rather than a hand out. The program is in line with the values and beliefs of the AFL and extends the efforts to make Australia’s only indigenou7s game as inclusive as possible.

There are two grant categories:

• Individual awards for disadvantaged students; and
• Project grants for disadvantaged schools.

Project Grant Applications for disadvantaged schools.

More substantial grants may be available for whole school or community programs to include disadvantaged students in footy. To apply for these grants, please outline in less that 100 words:

1. How a grant will assist your school to build a project that particularly develops an inclusive approach to footy and helps overcome disadvantage.

In 250 words or less, please provide:

2. A step by step outline of how you will run the project;
3. The steps you will take to ensure that the project continues after the grant funds have been used; and
4. How you will know that your project has worked.
5. If there is no junior footy club or Ausckick program in your town or area you can apply for a kit which will assist your school to run a “A Fair Go” footy program. After this is established in your school you can apply for an AFL Foundation grant to ensure that every child in your school can participate.

Individual Applications for Awards for disadvantaged students

Disadvantage should include one or more of the following categories:

• Children of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;
• Children of refugees or asylum seekers and disadvantaged non-English speaking backgrounds;
• Children of low socio-economic status;
• Children with physical, intellectual and mental disability, or chronic illness;
• Children living in rural or remote communities.

Awards of up to $1, 000 per school are being offered.

To apply for a “Fair Go” award for an individual student, please provide the following details:

1. Student’s name, age, address and the name and address of their school.
2. What form of disadvantage will grant from the AFL Foundation address?
3. How will a grant from the AFL Foundation be specifically used to assist the young people you have selected play footy?
   1. Equipment;
   2. Apparel – including boots;
   3. Membership fees for junior clubs;
   4. Transport costs;
   5. Volunteer support;
   6. Coaching for specific disadvantage such as a disability;
   7. Other non-footy equipment (such as an adaptation to a wheelchair)
4. Budgets must be supplied for equipment valued at more that $500. (Please supply two quotes).
5. What local footy clubs and Auskick programs is your school associated with?