Richmond Football Club and its centre for Indigenous youth leadership, the Korin Gamadji Institute (KGI), have announced a partnership with First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing.
First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing (FPHW) is an Aboriginal community-controlled health organisation offering primary healthcare services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People and their families in urban Melbourne.
FPHW, like the Richmond Football Club, are supporters of the Voice and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The partnership with Richmond will see the FPHW take on the role of Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing partner, providing over-arching guidance to Indigenous staff, players, and Indigenous young people engaged through the KGI programs.
First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing CEO, Karinda Taylor, welcomed the partnership.
“One of the many things that attracted our organisation to the Richmond Football Club was the amazing work of the KGI team," Taylor said.
"The acknowledgement and respect they give to young and emerging leaders, the empowerment, encouragement and safe space to create pathways for themselves and their local communities demonstrates the positive impact the team is having right across this country.
“It always feels like a safe space when you work in partnership with people that share similar values. Like the staff at FPHW, the KGI team are genuinely committed to working together for a collective impact.”
Richmond’s Director Indigenous Leadership, Angela Burt, looked forward to collaborating with FPHW.
“Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing is one of the key pillars of the KGI Richmond Emerging Aboriginal Leadership program," Burt said.
“Under the supervision of Indigenous clinical psychologist, Dr Justin Trounson, the KGI team provides social and emotional wellbeing education and advice to over 500 young Indigenous people.
“We have the best results when we work with community and we are grateful to First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing for their expert advice and guidance.”
Clinical psychologist at KGI and Board member of FPHW, Dr Justin Trounson said, “I am delighted to see these two organisations strengthen their commitment to building a strong and longstanding partnership in service to our Indigenous young people, their families and their communities.
“I have had the pleasure of working within both organisations, as a clinical psychologist alongside the KGI within the Richmond Football Club and more recently as a board member of FPHW. Both organisations demonstrate a relentless commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to thrive and stay strong, and a determination to support the social and emotional wellbeing of our Indigenous communities.
"This partnership allows both organisations to expand their reach, learn from each other and work together to imagine new ways to foster and nurture the social and emotional wellbeing of our young people. With the current challenges faced by our communities, the social and emotional wellbeing of our young people has never been more important and I am proud to see Richmond Football Club step into this space with the support and guidance of the KGI and FPHW.”
Partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations is a target in the Club’s current elevate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
