Demons learning to lead with Worawa

Sixty-four kilometres north-east of Melbourne’s CBD, nestled in the back of Healesville, sits Worawa Aboriginal College.

The college opened in 1983 as a result of a discovered need for the integration of Aboriginal culture into curriculum.

Initially co-ed, in 2010, Worawa transitioned into a boarding school exclusively for young Aboriginal women.

Fast forward 15 years, and the college is the learning hub for 40 students from urban, regional, remote and very remote communities all across Australia.

Through the club’s connection to the Jim Stynes Foundation, who partners with Worawa, Narrm Football Club has started to develop a close relationship with the college via its AFLW program.

As part of this collaboration, a select group of players and students have come together to connect and take part in a new leadership initiative that looks to empower Aboriginal women to be future leaders in their community.

Narrm defender Saraid Taylor was one of 10 players involved and praised the experience, reflecting on its impact for herself and her teammates.

“We've been really lucky to get the opportunity to come down to this beautiful country at Worawa Aboriginal College and get to work with some amazing students,” Saraid said,

“Through our connection with the Jim Stynes Foundation, we’ve started building a really strong relationship with the college.

“It's something tangible that as players we can get involved in and it’s an opportunity to connect to culture and community.”

The initiative between the college and club has been built out across four sessions, all with a range of activities designed to help develop meaningful relationships, while fostering practical learning experiences.

SESSION ONE

The opening session saw the players travel to Healesville to meet the students and get an understanding of Worawa and its purpose.

“We mingled and did some little Icebreakers,” said Demon defender Denby Taylor.

“We talked about leadership and what it looks like for them, what it looks like for us and used inspirations in each other's lives.”

Saraid said the first meeting was a chance for both students and players to discuss leadership and what they hope to make of the program.

“Our biggest job, I think, for ourselves and the students, was to work out how everyone can be empowered to be a leader, with that coming in all different ways,” Saraid said.

“So what are our individual strengths? How can we then work in a really great way as a team?”

Following the morning of initial conversations among the group, the players and students were then welcomed to the lands of the Wurundjeri People by Aunty Lois Peeler AM.

Aunty Lois is the Elder in residence and is an incredibly important figure for the college and the Aboriginal community as a whole.

She guided the group through the Worawa Dreaming Trail, which is found on campus, providing insights into native plants and their role in Aboriginal culture.

The trail also included powerful moments of reflection, Lois speaking of the challenges herself and her ancestors have faced as a result of colonisation.

“The walk with Aunty Lois was incredible, it was really hard to do it and not feel deeply moved,” Saraid said.

“It’s beautiful land, beautiful country and with such a rich history, a really devastating history in a lot of ways, with the impact of colonisation.

“How lucky we are to be able to receive such a gift of knowledge, I feel very honoured for that to have been shared with us and it was very generous of Aunty Lois and Worawa.”

SESSION TWO

As part of session two, the Worawa students visited Casey Fields on an AFLW training day to get a high-performance experience.

Following a tour of the facilities, the students got involved on track at the beginning of training, before participating in a Reach Foundation session.

“Through the Jim Stynes Foundation, the students were able to do a Reach session,” Saraid said.

“We've also done a Reach session [as a team], ours was a little different but with similar themes, like the kind of values they care about and what they're passionate about too.”

SESSION THREE

The players headed back to Worawa for a third session of connection via art and culture.

“Today we were in art smocks, and we painted boots and balls together,” Denby said.

“It's been really fun. It was different and a good opportunity for conversation. It’s nice to be able to do an activity and just talk and get to know each other even more.”

The Worawa art room was filled with chatter and laughter, this time the players soaking up as much information as they could from the students.

“It’s an opportunity to connect to their culture and community and it’s special to have the students be so generous with their knowledge and stories,” Saraid said.

“I think it's something that the club is really trying to do a lot of work in, with Indigenous rights and recognition, through our Reconciliation Action Plan.”

SESSION FOUR

The students and players will celebrate the end of the program at this weekend’s Narrm game at Casey Fields.

Players will don the boots painted during session three, with a pre-game ceremony set to take place on-field, acknowledging the students’ completion of the leadership initiative.