Crows go Country to help students
Adelaide’s Jake Soligo, Luke Nankervis and Billy Dowling have travelled to the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands to deliver the Adelaide Crows Foundation’s Crows on Country program.
The players and staff visited Amata School and Pipalyatjara School this week.
Crows On Country is a tailored, culturally inclusive education program, which aims to translate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students’ love and passion for AFL to increase school attendance and literacy in science and mathematics.
Crows on Country
In partnership with remote schools, teachers and Aṉangu educators, the Foundation’s successful STEMfooty program has been adapted to ensure it is culturally safe. Crows on Country now also incorporates bilingual resources which is helping to further unlock the potential of Aṉangu students.
On his first visit to the APY Lands, Soligo said he had enjoyed spending time at the schools and being welcomed into the communities.
“The kids are incredibly excited to see us and kick the footy with us, and for us learning their culture has been a good experience,” he said.
“I think the program does a great job of bringing footy and learning together. By having players in the video content, you can see the kids’ faces light up and it captures their attention.”
The visit was the fourth that the Adelaide Crows Foundation has made to the APY Lands this year.
Aṉangu Communities Foundation
It was made possible thanks to the support of the Aṉangu Communities Foundation and Bibbulmun Fund. The Aṉangu Communities Foundation is administered by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia – operators of Ayers Rock Resort.
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia CEO Matt Cameron-Smith said for more than two decades the Aṉangu Communities Foundation has been deeply committed to strengthening community capacity across healthcare, education, and economic and social participation for the Traditional Owners of the APY Lands, where we operate at Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru.
“As our partnership with the Adelaide Crows Foundation enters its next phase – expanding the innovative Crows on Country STEM footy program with in-language resources – it’s a privilege to help bring this initiative to our neighbouring communities of Amata and Pipalyatjara,” he said.
“We’re proud to support young people in the APY Lands as they translate their love of footy into a passion for science and maths, opening doors to future career pathways and contributing to the growth of a skilled Indigenous workforce.”
