Backing local champions. - neafl

The Parental and Community Engagement
The Parental and
Community Engagement
(PaCE) Program
is a joint initiative
between the AFL and
DEEWR, that better
supports Indigenous
Parents and communities
to participate
in educational
decision making
activities.
Students and parents
participate in fun activities to
develop life skills and a greater
understanding of culture. In
Wagga Wagga, the program has
been operating out of Mount
Austin High School (MAHS)
since late March 2011.
In the short time that the
program has been running
the AFL has been able to
set up healthy relationships
MAHS Staff and Community
Groups. Michael Vincent is the
coordinator of the program,
“I have developed a strong
relationship with the Aboriginal
Education Assistants at MAHS,
Michelle Gemmell, and
Steve O’Neil. The school is
very supportive and Deputy
Principal Bruce Fisher is always
involved.”
“The community is getting right
behind the program, and community
groups such as Family
Services, Riverina Medical and
Dental Aboriginal Corporation,
Wagga Wagga Aboriginal Elders
Group, Department of Family
Community Services, MAHS,
Riverina Community College
and Ashmont Community
Centre will add great value for
the Parents and Students
participating”
A steering committee
has been put
together to guide
the program and
consists of:
- John Love – PaCE Program
Manager NSW/ACT
- Michael Vincent – PaCE
Program Coordinator
Wagga Wagga
- Aunty Isabel Reid -
Wiradjuri Elder
- Tangerene Ingram - Parent
- Michelle Gemmell -
Aboriginal Educational
Assistant
- Steve O’Neill – Aboriginal
Educational Assistant
- Bruce Fisher – Deputy
Principal MAHS
- Tim Bowen – DEEWR
- Jason McPherson –
Regional Manager SNSW/
ACT
Already as part of the program
the Indigenous parents and
students travelled to Sydney to
experience an AFL game at the
Sydney Cricket Ground between
the Sydney Swans and Port
Adelaide Power. Parents were
given the opportunity to hold
the Swans Banner up, while
the students created a guard of
honour for the Swans as they
ran out onto the field. Further to
this, local Tristan Williams was
asked to be a junior mascot
for the Sydney Swans and run
out with the team through the
guard of honour and the banner.
Tristan was selected for good
behaviour during the trip.
You will see the
PACE program participants
conducting
a guard of honour
for the GIANTS as
they run out onto
the field against
Belconnen this Saturday.
Accompanying
the team will be
Ryan Ingram as the
team mascot.
The program is just getting
started and many discussion
groups, workshops and camps
are planned between now and
the end of the year. If you’re
interested in becoming involved
in the PaCE program please
contact Michael Vincent at
Michael.Vincent@aflnswact.
com.au