Richmond will become the first sporting Club to present at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues when a delegation heads to New York later this month.

Attending the event in partnership with the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Richmond will share the journey of the Korin Gamadji Institute (KGI), based at the Swinburne Centre, Punt Road Oval.

For the past 10 years, the KGI has delivered highly-unique and innovative leadership and well-being programming for young Indigenous boys and girls.

The program connects participants to their culture, community and provides opportunities that will empower them to help close the unacceptable economic and health gaps that exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Richmond will also discuss the establishment of Dreamtime at the ‘G and the role it has played in building a bridge between Indigenous and non- Indigenous Australia. Now in its 14^th year, Dreamtime at the ‘G is the flagship game of the AFL’s Indigenous Round.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to share our work on the world stage,” Richmond General Manager of Communications and Marketing Simon Matthews said.

“We are incredibly proud of what the Club, and particularly the staff of the Korin Gamadji Institute, deliver every day to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities.

“It’s important that we also acknowledge the formal and informal partners across community, corporate and government who help shape, support and guide the work we do as a collective.

“What we do is unique, innovative and is creating genuine outcomes and we look forward to sharing our journey when we get to New York. Equally, it will provide an invaluable opportunity for us to learn from other organisations and that can only improve what we already deliver.”

In December 2017 Richmond became the first sporting club signatory to a National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples Accord, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Indigenous Australians.  

As a signatory to the Accord, Richmond, and the KGI, continue to promote measures that advance stronger relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.

“National Congress is proud to lead this delegation to the United Nations with four outstanding representatives from the Korin Gamadji Institute at the Richmond Football Club.

“Attending the United Nations, with the support of National Congress, is an important opportunity for these emerging leaders,” said Co-Chair Jackie Huggins.

“We believe that the story of KGI, much like the partnership between National Congress and Richmond Football Club, is a unique and worthy story; one certainly ready to be told on the world stage,” Huggins added.

“As a sporting nation, Australia in particular, knows that success in sport provides valuable lessons. Perhaps more importantly the more inclusive a team and a sport, the more valuable that lesson will be for individuals and their wider communities. Organisations that successfully unite and bring out the best in people from diverse backgrounds certainly deserve to be heard at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.”

Richmond Football Club is also the only sporting club in Australia to have its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) recognised as being in Elevate status for its demonstrated leadership.