Swans Welcome Drew Woodley, Pilbara Indigenous Social Impact Engagement Officer

In partnership with Rio Tinto and the WA Football Commission, Swan Districts have welcomed Yindjibarndi man Drew Woodley as the club’s Indigenous Social Impact Engagement Officer in the Pilbara. Woodley has been a product of Swans’ football and social impact programs, having graduated from Roebourne District High School as a member of the Swans Elevate program running there, and playing in the Pilbara development squads.

Woodley was born in Karratha and raised for most of his life in Ngurrawaana community which is located roughly two hours inland from Karratha town site. Ngurrawaana is comprised of just 13 homes and a community school, with Woodley fondly remembering living culturally on country, where he says he learnt a lot about his community and himself. Woodley has strong connections throughout the Pilbara with family scattered throughout towns and communities within the region.

The objective of the Pilbara Indigenous Football program is to promote, develop and grow all aspects of Australian Rules Football with a focus on Indigenous participation by creating great relationships with stakeholders within the football community and schools, focusing on growing participation at a grass roots level, in particular through Indigenous programs, schools and Auskick programs.

With football as the platform, Woodley will work across the Pilbara, spending time in schools and amongst clubs to broaden the engagement of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the region. The benefits will be two-fold, with more access to playing football and developing skills and talent, coupled with the mentoring and support Woodley will provide to individuals.

It’s this aspect that Woodley hopes will bring brighter futures to young people growing up in similar circumstances to him. “I’m looking forward to being the positive role model that helped guide my positive choices in life” Woodley said, adding “to learn about other cultural processes and protocols and support others to learn them too is going to be a wonderful experience for me personally.”

The Swans Elevate program runs in Roebourne and Perth schools, with sessions impacting five dimensions that have been shown to increase educational outcomes, reduce contact with the justice system, and improve mental wellbeing.

Allowing Swans to reach more young people is the support from Rio Tinto and the WA Football Commission. Travel and accessibility are often barriers to playing footy in the Pilbara so delivering Rio Tinto Regional football experiences will bring opportunity to more remote areas. This month Woodley spent time in Newman, Tom Price, Port Hedland and Roebourne, making new connections and being part of football forums with key stakeholders.

By working with clubs Woodley will also assist Swans identify talented players and support their development, connecting them to opportunities to play at higher levels. But regardless of football talent, the social impact will far outweigh anything else.