The ARA First Nations Academy combines high-performance football development with cultural connection and leadership growth.
The program creates opportunities and a place for connection between First Nations girls and boys aged 11 to 18. It extends to six hubs in NSW, including Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Central Cost, Sydney, Shellharbour, and a new centre in Tamworth. Each hub hosts an immersive cultural day on Country led by the community.
Since the creation of the ARA First Nations Academy we have seen remarkable participation and retention within the academy.
- 90 participants are now in the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, as a result of being in the ARA First Nations Academy, up from 7 in 2022.
- Program graduates, Emily Hollingsworth and Myla Tucker represented the undefeated U16s Sydney Swans. Emily was the first Academy athlete to be selected in an All Australian squad.
- 70% of which identify as First Nations, and five former ARA First Nations Academy athletes have now returned as coaches.
The Academy is led by experienced coaches and mentors, fostering football excellence, with participants taking part in weekly training sessions, cultural education sessions, and mental health workshops conducted by Black Dog Institute.
The cultural development tour: Uluru
In July 2025, The ARA First Nations Academy embarked on the first ever Red Centre Tour. The 8-day tour saw 44 young Indigenous athletes play games in Alice Springs, Marn Grook with the Mutitjulu community and immerse themselves in culture. The tour was focused on the growth of the participants, both athletically and personally. The tour also helped to develop a deeper cultural connection in the athletes, with social and emotional well-being also a foundation.
Two Academy athletes on the tour, Jakob Frankl and Bobbi Matthews, were recent recipients of ARA’s First Nations Academy Leadership Award, a new awards category presented at the 2025 ARA Wiimali Awards.
The ARA Wiimali Awards highlight the hard work and commitment of the Wiimali Program employees, those who have completed their apprenticeship (graduates) and mentors. The awards are a commitment of the ARA Group’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Read more
The tour provided a unique and powerful opportunity for the young athletes. It blended football with cultural exchanges and experiences, allowing the boys and girls to grow on multiple levels and broaden their worldviews. These kinds of experiences foster empathy, tolerance, and adaptability-skills that are just as valuable off the field as on it.
The ARA First Nations Academy is so much more than just sport, and ARA is proud to be a part of these young peoples journey.
This program is about connecting young First Nations boy and girls with their culture and providing them a pathway to becoming, not just contributors, but leaders of a future Australia, both on and off the field.
