Thornbury will soon be home to Australia’s first dedicated Aboriginal Women & Girls Sport & Wellness Centre, thanks to a $5.35 million investment from the Andrews Labor Government.

The State Member for Northcote, Kat Theophanous, today revealed details about the plans for the new centre and what it will mean for the community.

The centre will be located at the Aborigines Advancement League site at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval, and be a dedicated facility for the Fitzroy Stars Football and Netball Club women’s team.

It will incorporate specialised health and wellbeing services, education and sports training, treatment facilities, a social area, new changerooms and a gym.

Hands on Health Australia are key partner in the project, offering allied and complementary health services to the community through the Centre.

“This will be a space that female players can call their own and a centre to support the health, wellbeing, education and empowerment of Aboriginal women and girls,” Ms Theophanous said.

In March 2021, the Member for Northcote was joined by Hon. Gabrielle Williams, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for Women, to turn the sod on the first stage of the project. A $1.45 million grant was provided through the Victorian Government’s Aboriginal Community Infrastructure Program to deliver brand-new, AFL standard, female friendly change rooms.

Yet the vision for the site went beyond change room facilities, and later in the year Ms Theophanous announced that an additional $3.9 million had been secured through the Victorian Community Infrastructure Stimulus Program to expand the scope of the project and create the entire Aboriginal Women & Girls Sport & Wellness Centre.

The project has been made possible through a collaboration between the Aborigines Advancement League, the Fitzroy Stars, Darebin Council and Hands on Health Australia who worked closely with the Member for Northcote, Sport and Recreation Victoria and the State Government to make the proposal a success.

“There is nothing more grounding and connecting than being able to play the game you love with your teammates in a setting that is safe and welcoming. I’m proud to have worked alongside my community to deliver the funding for what will be an amazing facility,” said Ms Theophanous.

Construction will commence on the Centre in late 2021 with completion in 2022.