Programmed has collaborated with the Fremantle Football Club to help organise the third Kimberley 9s AFL Beach Carnival in Broome. This event aimed to bring together children from the region to celebrate their commitment to education and making positive choices throughout the year. The children took pride in designing their own shirts and wore them during the two-day carnival, where they had the opportunity to play footy with Dockers players Josh Corbett, Conrad Williams, and Mikayla Morrison. Initially, this initiative was formed between the Club and WA Police to address youth crime and declining school attendance in the Kimberley.
While football was a key highlight of the carnival, it also featured workshops on culture, health, and wellbeing, reflecting important subjects covered throughout the school year. The event aimed to encourage students to attend school, make positive choices for themselves and their peers, and avoid engaging in antisocial behavior. The carnival took place on Broome’s iconic Cable Beach and served as a reward for students who actively participated in the workshops, attended school regularly, and had a positive influence on their peers and community. Over time, the event has grown to involve organizations like Programmed, which contribute to developing and offering pathways for the children.
Each day, the team set up four unique beach football pitches for the carnival. The event commenced with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony conducted by a respected Yawuru woman with traditional ties to the land where the event was held. This was followed by an enthusiastic group of children and team members rushing down to the white sands of Cable Beach for a day of football. The WA Police were present and took on roles such as running lines, goal umpiring, and general team management. Their involvement allowed the students to view them as community role models and establish a rapport with their local officers, seeing them as mentors or teammates, which could extend beyond the event and into their communities.
The carnival emphasized a strong connection to country and community, and Programmed was proud to be part of this meaningful journey.
