PROFESSIONALS HELP ROOKIE RURAL PLAYERS

Courtesy Angie Bain

GEOFF VIVIAN

The well-being consultant to the Fremantle Dockers says Aboriginal players from remote communities face a unique set of challenges when entering an AFL or WAFL club.

“One of the biggest things that’s really important in any high performance environment is having a really solid support system,” she said. “And for some people that’s colleagues, that’s friends, that’s family, it’s mentors, it’s aunties and uncles. But when those people aren’t around for you to transition into such a different environment and you don’t have those support peopel it can be really really tough both psychologically and socially,”

Angie Bain said those who transitioned successfully into playing at an elitel level accepted help from special Indigenous and non-Indigenous Dockers staff.

“And we do take a little bit more time to give them to transition,” she said. “Because it’s a completely transition to, say, a talented athlete coming from the metropolitan area. We are very flexible around allowing these athletes to share their culture with us and be part of the education of helping our system become more culturally aware and also more inclusive.”

Ms Bain is in Karratha for the two-day Pilbara Sports Forum where she spoke yesterday.