GED KEARNEY MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR COOPER

SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY
MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
SENATOR FOR THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
 
BUILDING THE FIRST DEDICATED ABORIGINAL WOMEN & GIRLS SPORT AND WELLNESS CENTRE

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will put $3 million towards the construction of the Aboriginal Women and Girls Sport and Wellness Centre in Thornbury.
 
This election commitment will help deliver a two-storey building on land owned by the Aborigines Advancement League at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval, providing a dedicated facility for the Fitzroy Stars Football and Netball Club women’s team.
 
The centre will be an Australian-first dedicated urban Indigenous cultural, educational, health and wellbeing safe space for First Nations women and girls.
 
It will foster sport, yarning circles, education and employment pathways, social and economic independence seminars, women’s achievements and female leadership.
 
This project was announced by the Victorian Government in 2021, but soil contamination has led to unexpected costs. Today’s election commitment will ensure this project can be delivered.
 
Consistent with past practice, election commitments will be delivered in line with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.
 
Quotes attributable to Member for Cooper, Ged Kearney:
 
“This centre will be Australia’s first dedicated space to First Nations women’s and girls’ health and wellbeing. It will support their physical and mental health through participation in sport and other cultural, economic and wellbeing activities.
 
“This is a massive win - for the Cooper Community, for the Aborigines Advancement League, for the Fitzroy Stars and for First Nations people. Thank you to everyone who helped advocate for this to happen”.
 
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
 
“Sport brings communities together, and this investment by the Albanese Labor Government will ensure the Sport and Wellness Centre can do just that for First Nations communities in Melbourne.
 
“This centre will not only be a space for First Nations women and girls to come together, it will also be a dedicated facility for the next generation of female sports stars from the Fitzroy Stars.”
             
SATURDAY 12 APRIL 2025