Coerver Coaching Australia is donating a year’s worth of coaching for indigenous children in rural and remote communities around Australia. The clinics, to be run monthly, will provide a much needed avenue to improve the health and lives of many of the country’s most disadvantaged children.

With an estimated 29 per cent of young indigenous Australians not learning or earning an income through employment and a 70 per cent non-attendance of school children in some areas, the JWFF and Coerver see football as a vehicle to help provide not only meaningful healthy activities but a possible way out of trouble.

This partnership signals one of the biggest in the JWFF’s history and will add a new direction to their activities. Previously, the JWFF has catered to the elite in the game but this partnership aims to take the game to those who currently don’t have access to it. There is currently a 20 year gap in the life expectancy between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Australians and they hope football can play a part in helping close this and improve indigenous health.

“The foundation is pleased to be working with Coerver,” said JWFF CEO, Lisa Middlebrook. “The generosity and professionalism of this donation is reflected in their attitudes towards business and the wider Australian community. Their coaching will make our entire community programs possible.”

The announcement comes off the back of a series successful of clinics the two organisations recently ran in Western Sydney with Johnny Warren Medallist and former Adelaide superstar, Marcos Flores. The clinics catered to the underprivileged in the area and proved to be a huge success, bringing a lot of fun and happiness to all the children that participated in them.

Coerver Coaching Australia is delighted to be partnering with the JWFF as their community technical football program provider. Asia Pacific Director Jason Lancsar [pictured], said: “This is a great initiative by the JWFF by enriching the lives of indigenous Australians through football. We are fully committed to this project by using our world renowned pyramid of player development as the basis of the program and look forward to working closely with the foundation in ensuring this beneficial for all involved.”

Currently, the amount of indigenous players in the national team set ups is not in line with many other codes – an issue that JWFF and Coerver want to tackle head on. By increasing the numbers of aboriginal children playing the game it is hoped more will make it at an elite level, something the Foundation hopes will help in working towards Johnny Warren’s dream of Australia one day winning the World Cup.

“Johnny Warren was a big believer in introducing indigenous children to football and nurturing and developing their talent" said Warren Family representative, Deputy Chairman of JWFF and Johnny’s nephew, Jamie Warren.

“So my family and I are extremely proud to see this partnership between JWFF and Coerver Coaching Australia come to fruition. It is the start of many Indigenous initiatives the foundation will undertake in the future," he added.

A formal timetable for the camps and clinics along with a list of the destinations is yet to be finalised, but it is anticipated the first clinic will be commenced shortly.