The Purple Hands Foundation and Fremantle Dockers returned to Broome for the Kimberley 9s AFL beach carnival last week, with 400 school kids from across the region enjoying an amazing two-day event.

The carnival, in its fourth year running, was held on Broome's Gantheaume Point as part of the Kimberley Connected program.

The program, which is proudly supported by Containers for Change, has seen schools from across the Kimberley - in WA's north west - take part in workshops encouraging students to attend school and make positive life choices for themselves and their peers.

The Kimberley 9s AFL beach carnival is one of many positive aspects of the Kimberley Connected program.

On Wednesday – Day One of the event – a Welcome to Country saw all staff and students gathered on Broome beach before a day of building confidence and connections through football.

The primary students who took part in the carnival on day one wore their 2024 Kimberley 9s shirts, which were created through input from 165 students across the region.

Students participated in a round-robin-style football carnival, breaking into teams, with Fremantle players Bailey Banfield, who hails from Broome, and Michael Frederick assisting with umpiring and coaching.

It was the first Kimberley 9s carnival for Mr Frederick.

"It's been an early start, but the day's been ticked off and it's been a good day so far having a run around with the kids," he said on Wednesday evening.

"Banners comes down every year, and for him to show his face and where he's from, it's inspiring for a lot of the young kids here who are playing footy — not just them, but kids across the Kimberley."

"I get joy out of seeing them have a bit of fun, and Banners inspiring all the young lads and girls to play some footy, so it's been good.

"Everyone had an early rise to get the place set up, which was nice, and then today I've just been running around to any of the groups to have a kick and trying to spot a bit of talent."

The high school students were starring on and off the field on Day Two.

Noongar AFL star, former Docker and current Next Generation coach at Fremantle Roger Hayden said "every year it's getting bigger and better".

Mr Hayden said Kimberley Connected has "been a fantastic program run throughout the Kimberley", and noted the cultural significance of the children contributing to the design of the carnival shirt.

"The shirt designs come from different areas throughout the Kimberley and to see what the kids have designed and the stories behind it, it's really important... The learning and the awareness has been important for us."

Mr Hayden praised the contribution of local organisations in the Kimberley, including Garnduwa - who provided carnival assistance and volunteers, for "driving something that has been pretty special over the past four years".

He noted the Kimberley Connected program promotes healthy lifestyle, strong school attendance and good behaviour, having a significant positive impact on local kids, with the Carnival being "a reward" towards the end of semester.

"Football has been a big driver, and the kids always look up the the AFL sides, Fremantle, West Coast. To bring them together, give them something to look foreard to has been important. There has been a lot of improvement, and we want to keep continuing that drive, with helping and supporting the communities throughout the Kimberley."

Mr Hayden said he couldn't thank the groups supporting the event enough.

Travelling around 2,000 km from Cockburn to Broome, Dockers' premier partner DP World helped deliver the equipment the Purple Hands Foundation needed for the event, including marquees, footballs, signage, field marking ribbons, and more.

Major partners who made the event possible included WA Police, whose volunteers assisted with umpiring, event setup, student interaction and more; Containers for Change - delivering 'caring for Country' workshops for all students in the lead up to the carnival, interactive workshops at the carnival; the Shire of Broome – Carnival funding; and Kimberley Regional Service Providers - supporting Purple Hands in servicing local communities through funding, equipment and volunteers.