The South Australian State Aboriginal Football and Netball Carnival is held every year at a different location, and is one of the biggest celebrations of Aboriginal sports participation and culture in SA. It will see 14 football teams, 28 netball teams with over 600 players throughout the carnival.

Today’s attendance at the Carnival will give Voice Members a chance to hear directly from Elders and other key members of the state’s Aboriginal communities on the issues affecting them, building on the State Voice and Government’s work to turn community advice into action, strengthen services and improve outcomes for Aboriginal South Australians.

The impact of that work can already be seen in practical changes being delivered across South Australia including:

• supporting people on bail with accommodation and wrap-around support
• helping eligible people return to community on the APY Lands
• making the justice system more culturally responsive through the Spinifex Court
• a Safe Birthing on Country practices project has been established as a result of direct advocacy from the Voice
• designing models of care for Aboriginal youth and adults within custody and forensic mental health settings, in co-design with the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector
• working with Government and relevant stakeholders throughout the implementation of recommendations of the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.

More than 8,000 people are expected to attend the South Australian Aboriginal Football and Netball Carnival over the two-day event held at Kilburn Football and Cricket Club.

The carnival has been held annually since 1968, with teams travelling from hundreds of kilometres away to participate in the event including, Coober Pedy. Raukkan. Koonibba and Port Lincoln.