AFL club North Melbourne have launched their inaugural First Nations Strategy to help support better outcomes for Indigenous people and communities in their environment, the club says.
North engaged with Yawuru woman Taryn Lee in 2023, who made recommendations leading to the establishment of their First Nations Working Group, driving the implementation of the strategy, and bringing on First Nations Strategy and Engagement lead Lucy Amon.
"From the start, this strategy has been shaped by many different voices across the North Melbourne community," Ms Amon said.
"We had our First Nations Working Group, players, staff, community leaders like Xavier Clarke and Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, and trusted friends like Emma Bamblett, a proud Wemba Wemba woman with connections to the Ngadjonji, Gunditjmara and Taungurung people, all involved.
"The process was about taking everyone on the journey together, really listening, and learning from their expertise and lived experiences, and making sure those voices genuinely shaped the direction of the strategy."
Key focus areas of the strategy for a 'co-ordinated approach to advancing First Nations initiatives' include: Educate our people, celebrate our shared culture, and connect with our community.
It outlines: "Responsibility is shared throughout the club, with actions and outcomes embedded in every area of our work to build strong, lasting foundations."
Its implementation will come through a three-year action plan.
Ms Amon, alongside North's general manager of people and culture, Meg Lauritz, general manager of football, Todd Viney, AFL head of player wellbeing and development, AFLW head of player excellence, media and communications team and chief executive Jen Watt are all accountable to 'activities' outlined within the strategy.
These include, among others, cultural safety measures, celebrating Indigenous culture, people and stories, use of traditional language, relationship with former Indigenous Roos and increasing Indigenous representation in their Next Generation Academy.
Across the club's history, 33 First Nations players have pulled on North's jumper.
This extends from Gunditjmara man Alfred Egan in the 1930s, the Krakouer brothers, to more recent champions Byron Pickett, Lindsay Thomas and Daniel Wells, current men's skipper Jy Simpkin and 2024 AFLW premiership player Mia King.
"This is the club's first dedicated First Nations strategy, it was built with and for First Nations people," North chief executive Jen Watt said.
"This process has been a whole of club journey and the strategy is a living commitment, with responsibilities shared by all of us.
"Through everything we do at North Melbourne, we want to leave our people, our community and our game in a better place, and this powerful piece of work will do just that."
The strategy launch coincides with AFLW Indigenous Round entering its second weekend.
