Indigenous Football Week's 2024 theme 'Breaking Barriers' is intrinsic to John Moriarty and the foundation which carries his name, for Brisbane Roar golden boot winner and organisation scholarships coordinator Allira Toby.

The annual initiative, delivered by Moriarty Foundation arm John Moriarty Football, hosts a charity match, gala day and champions the sport's power "to change the lives of Australia's most vulnerable children and youth".

IFW runs Sept 23-19.

Moriarty, a Yanyuwa man and child of the Stolen Generations born in Borroloola, was the first Aboriginal person to play football for Australia and an accomplished artist, activist, Aboriginal Affairs government executive, and Order of Australia holder.

He co-founded the foundation in his home community in the Gulf of Carpentaria for youth empowerment through education.

"I love seeing the big smiles on the children's faces when I visit community and join them on the football oval. Those smiles tell a story of wellbeing, resilience and opportunity. It's why more children attend school on the days JMF runs its sessions. After our in-curriculum sessions, they concentrate better and show more positive behaviours," he said, ahead of Indigenous Football Week.

"More engagement with education, and improved mental and physical health - this is the power football has to change lives, just as it changed mine."

Toby told National Indigenous Times 'Breaking Barriers' is "quite literally the reason why this program and foundation exists, and it's just really important to celebrate".

On Thursday, companies like Paramount+ Optus, Stan, Channel Nine and Charter Hall will field sides when Sydney's Allianz Stadium plays host to the Moriarty Cup, a charity tournament aimed at raising funds for JMF's programs.

"We're delivering programs every day in all the communities that we deliver to provide access to football in regions where there's not much (football) to access," JMF program director Jamie Morriss told National Indigenous Times.

"It's a free program for kids to access our JMf sessions. Outside of that, by being delivered in the school curriculum, we're hoping that kids want to come to school more often."

Morriss added: "For us, being a non-for-profit, fundraising is a continuous effort to continue delivering the programs that we do every day" in 18 communities through NSW, Queensland and the NT.

Toby said it's a holistic approach to addressing barriers of disadvantage with football operating as the centrepiece.

For some of the kids involved, a 10-hour car trip is coming up for their next game.

On September 28, JMF players from Borroloola head across to join another JMF Tennant Creek side on their home turf for a gala day.

The kids "absolutely love" getting out for a match, Toby said.

Another string in their bow, inaugural JMF scholarship holder and current Central Coast Mariner in the A-Leagues, Shadeene Evans landed at UK Women's Super League 2 club Charlton Athletic for a training stint ahead of the Australian domestic season.

"My goal is to continue to push myself and work hard to be the best footballer I can be. To play for an elite women's club overseas at some stage in my career would be a dream come true," Evans said.

"When you come from a community like Borroloola where life can be tough, opportunities like this seem impossible. John Moriarty Football changed my life and now I'm a role model for other Aboriginal kids to show them what's possible," added Ms Evans.

Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman, 2024 A-League premiership goalkeeper and recent Danish club AIK signing Jada Whyman is this year's Indigenous Football Week patron.

"To achieve what I've done in football I've had to break many barriers. I am honoured to be a role model for JMF's 2,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players in remote and regional Australia. Every day the children in these communities experience many barriers and disadvantages, and the gaps are only getting wider," Whyman said.

"JMF's work is so important. Through football it creates life-changing opportunities so Aboriginal children and youth can determine their own futures," said Ms Whyman.

Both A-Leagues Commissioner Nick Garcia and Professional Footballers Australia co-cheif executive Beau Busch agreed on football, and JMF's work, in creative positive change.

"We are incredibly proud of JMF's work in creating pathways for young Indigenous Australians. Its pioneering efforts have helped to improve the lives of many and helped to connect players in remote Australia into the A-Leagues, Australia's national teams and global football," Busch, a JMF board member, said.