The Sydney Swans Foundation is the Match Day Partner for our upcoming clash with the Brisbane Lions. This season, our philanthropic arm are calling on donations to support the ARA First Nations Academy. 

Established in 2022, the program provides opportunities for boys and girls aged between 11 and 18 years old to engage in football, while supporting culture and community.  

As part of Round 1 celebrations, ARA First Nations Academy and QBE Sydney Swans Academy athletes will participate in games across Saturday. U13s will play in games on Tramway Oval from 12:50pm, while U15 Girls and Boys will run out in a curtain raiser from 4:45pm on the SCG. 

The First Nations Academy has reached over 400 participants with 90 advancing to the QBE Sydney Swans Academy. It runs in six centres across New South Wales including Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Central Coast, Sydney, Shellharbour and Tamworth. 

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The Foundation are proud to champion the ARA First Nations Academy

Hear from ARA First Nations Academy athletes Emily Hollingsworth and Pharrell Trapman around the impact of the Foundation and the ARA First Nations Academy on not only their football, but also their sense of community and culture.

Participants take part in weekly training sessions, cultural education sessions and mental health workshops. In addition, a contingent of youth boys and girls travelled to Alice Springs and Uluru last July, as part of a cultural development program.  

Emily Hollingsworth joined the First Nations Academy during its year of inception and now represents the QBE Sydney Swans Academy in the U16 program. Speaking to Sydney Swans Media she says the program is unique and provides opportunities outside of high performance.  

“Not many sports have this program that Indigenous kids are able to use,” she shared.  

“There's so many different things you can get out of the program, whether it's cultural, connecting with nature, connecting with like your mob or footy stuff. The coaches know so much either side of footy.” 

In addition to weekly sessions, a contingent of youth boys and girls travelled to Alice Springs and Uluru last July, as part of a cultural development program, proudly funded through the generosity of Sydney Swans Foundation donors.  

Fellow athlete Pharrel Trapman also shared his praise for the First Nations Academy. He was one of handful of athletes selected to attend last year’s excursion to Uluru. 

“It has an impact on me mentally - changing my mindset or my goals - to make the AFL. When I went to the Red Centre, it made me grateful of where I live and what I have around me like the ARA First Nations Academy,” Trapman said. 

Trapman’s mother Yvette Andrews echoed this notion and emphasised the importance of his renewed connection to country.  

“It's like a song line that connects everyone across the nation. And he's carried that with him in a way that's changed and empowered him, and I have not seen something impacting like that,” she shared.  

Andrews continued, “So now he has a really unique and genuine connection to young Aboriginal people across the country that comes from football.” 

Elsewhere, Hollingsworth has developed her leadership skills alongside football and is now looked up to among her peers.  

“With the support of the Academy and the Foundation, I'm now able to spread my knowledge to both younger and older people to help them in their future endeavours,” Hollingsworth added. 

The Sydney Swans Foundation is proud to support the ARA First Nations Academy - creating powerful pathways for young athletes through culture, community and opportunity.  

This week, we’re asking our Sydney Swans community to stand with us. Your donation will help deliver culturally significant experiences, holistic support and life-changing opportunities for our First Nations Academy athletes.  

Every contribution - big or small - makes a real and lasting difference. Join us in shaping the future, on and off the field. Donate today or find out more here.