Welcome NAIDOC Cup & 20 years of the AFL Western Sydney Indigenous Academy, Convened by WSYD Moving

NAIDOC Week 2025 marks a powerful milestone, 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience.

This year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” Celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors.

It’s a theme that deeply resonates with the 20-year anniversary of the Western Sydney Indigenous Academy, a long-standing initiative led by the AFL that has supported over 200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across eight partner high schools in Blacktown and Campbelltown.

The Academy provides one-on-one mentoring with a clear focus: to increase school attendance, improve Year 12 graduation rates, and support students in their transition into full-time study or employment. Students benefit from specialised in-school education sessions, additional classroom support and tuition, as well as after-school sport and recreation activities designed to enhance health, wellbeing, and cultural connection.

To mark this important milestone, AFL has partnered with WSYD Moving to convene the event at Blacktown International Sports Park whilst overlooking the NAIDOC Cup in action.

Event Details

Date: 2 July 2025
Time: 10:00am – 12:00noon
Location: Blacktown International Sports Park Oval 1. 500m from the BEST building.
Cost: Free event with catering provided

Event Schedule

9:30am – Registration and refreshments
10:00am – Welcome to Country
10:05am – Official Opening WSYD Moving
10:10am – AFL Welcome
10:15am– AFL Presentation (20 mins): Mark Leavy, National Indigenous Participation Lead
10:35am – Matt Keevil-Scott, Graduate (5 mins): Western Sydney Indigenous Academy
10:40am – Panel Discussion (40 mins): facilitated by WSYD Moving
11:20am – Refreshments and opportunity for connection

Panel Discussion: Equity, Access & Collaboration (40 mins). Facilitated by WSYD Moving

Associate Professor Andrew Bennie, Western Sydney University; research includes First Nations sport participation
Darius Neven Acting Deputy Director Aboriginal Health, South Western Sydney Local Health District
Claire Beattie – Executive, Business Engagement, NAB & Board Member, PCYC
More to follow

This dynamic discussion will explore:

Structural barriers faced by First Nations people in accessing sport, education, and well-being and the strengths, resilience, and innovation that are paving the way forward
Equity in access and opportunity, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people
The role of cross-sector collaboration in closing the gap and building community-led solutions that last

Who should attend?

Community, Academia, education, public health, government, leisure, health, sport and recreation, peak bodies, not-for-profits, private enterprise, disability, aged care, and the social economy.
Representatives from the wider sport and physical activity system in Western Sydney
Physical activity enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in reducing physical inactivity in Western Sydney
Community leaders who want to support their communities to improve health and reduce physical inactivity

Who are we?

WSYD Moving is a registered health promotion charity dedicated to tackling physical inactivity and inequity across Western Sydney. As a community-led, systems-based movement, WSYD Moving brings together cross-sector partners to co-create healthier, more connected communities. Its mission is to systemise and enable the community to reduce inequity of access to healthy lifestyles through sport, physical activity, and movement.