Fremantle hosted the Club’s inaugural Teacher Professional Development Day last week, bringing together approximately 70 educators from various primary and secondary schools across Western Australia.
The event, held on Monday 2 December at the Club’s Cockburn ARC facilities, aimed to enhance teacher engagement, raise awareness of Fremantle Football Club School programs and the Digital Schools Hub, and provide practical skills for classroom and oval implementation.
The day was packed with a diverse range of activities, including keynote speeches, interactive breakout sessions, and hands-on skill development opportunities.
Executive General Manager of Football Joe Brierty kicked off the event with updates on the Club's latest developments, including trade period news, pre-season preparations, and facility redevelopment plans.
WAFC Schools Specialist Regan Atkinson, provided valuable insights into the West Australian Football Commission's role in supporting schools in WA.
A highlight of the day was the Q&A panel featuring Fremantle AFLW senior coach Lisa Webb, Kara Antonio, and Josh Corbett.
The session allowed teachers to engage directly with professionals from both the AFL and teaching communities, fostering a rich exchange of ideas.
“The inaugural Fremantle Dockers and WAFC Teacher PD day provided a great opportunity for educators to connect, exchange ideas, and enhance their skills in a collaborative setting,” Fremantle Fans and Community Manager Mitchell Harvey said.
“By participating in the range of different activities across the day, teachers left with a much deeper understanding of how we can support schools across both metro and regional WA.
“We look forward to continuing these valuable partnerships and providing ongoing support to schools in 2025 and beyond.”
The practical component of the day saw teachers actively participating in skill development sessions led by Fremantle Game Development Manager Wade Spilcker, NGA Coach Roger Hayden, Corbett, Aine Tighe, Mim Strom and WAFC Participation Officers.
These hands-on activities covered a range of topics, including AFLW warm-up routines, tackling techniques, and injury prevention strategies.
Teachers also engaged in fun games and learned methods for teaching basic skills, all of which they can apply in their own school settings.
Attendees were treated to a facility tour and introduced to the Freo Footy Skills and Freo House Footy programs. The day concluded with teachers registering for Fremantle and Purple Hands Foundation programs, and each participant received a resource pack to take back to their schools.
The Fremantle Football Club extends its gratitude to the WAFC for their support in this event and their commitment to delivering FFC & WAFC branded programs in 2024.
This collaborative effort underscores the Club's dedication to fostering strong connections with the education community and supporting the development of AFL at the grassroots level.
