The Biennial Indigenous All Stars Summit was held in Adelaide in February in 2018 and hosted (for the first time) by the Port Adelaide Football Club.

The Indigenous All Stars Summit, ran by the AFL and AFLPA, was held in SA for the first time whereby 140 players and industry leaders gathered for four days of workshops, cultural celebrations and training from Sunday 18^th Feb - Thursday 21^st Feb.

For the first time the summit also included non-Aboriginal participants including players, CEO’s and presidents who were invited in a show of unity across the competition.

They came together on the Monday to carve their own boomerangs and take part in traditional dance.

The All Stars camp is typically held every second year and has previously been in Perth and Alice Springs.

In August 2018, our Aboriginal Programs Director Paul Vandenbergh presented a business plan alongside Geelong premiership player Mathew Stokes and the AFL’s inclusion and social policy manager Tanya Hosch to the league’s competition committee about bringing the camp to Adelaide which saw successful support from the heads of AFL and as such the planning begun for the 2019 event.

The University of Adelaide (partners of Aboriginal Programs at PAFC) had additionally partnered with the summit to provide its lecture theatres, gym and training grounds for the event.

Point Pearce Aboriginal Community hosted a day for the 75 Indigenous players and accompanying support staff. The club would like to thank Farrin Wanganeen for his support in organising this.

Marlon Motlop, Aboriginal Programs Coordinator also played a large role as one of the coaches for the All Stars Summit.

As well as celebrating Aboriginal culture, Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas addressed important issues directly with lead players of AFL clubs and then presented this back to rival clubs during the week.

The summit wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of Rio Tinto and the AFL.