Latest News - October 2021
It was another exciting term for the Cathy Freeman Foundation, with plenty on the horizon for the remainder of 2021 as well.
With lockdown continuing in parts of Australia throughout Term 3, we are so grateful to all our staff both in our Melbourne Head Office and our partner communities for their ability to adapt to these uncertain times, as we continue to be agile and work together.
In Term 3, we welcomed some new staff members, saw hundreds of students take part in our back to school marches, participated in 228 community events, and handed out 329 Starting Block Awards. We love watching our students learn and grow, and it is wonderful to see them rewarded for their efforts.
We are so excited to have our virtual running event Stride for Education back in 2021 and hope you'll join us as we make our strides count this November for Indigenous education.
Read on below to see what we've been up to.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Kind regards,
Jade Colgan
Chief Executive Officer
The Cathy Freeman Foundation’s virtual running event, Stride for Education, is back in 2021!
Join our movement to make a difference and help raise awareness for the Cathy Freeman Foundation by being as active as you can throughout the month of November. You can do this in whichever way you wish, whether that be walking, running, or wheeling for those in wheelchairs. With free registration and great prizes on offer, it's the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself, so grab your family, friends or colleagues to form a team or register as a solo strider today.
Every kilometre counts and is a stride closer to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to realise their goals through our education programs.
Choose from five daily distance challenges named after our four partner communities and Melbourne office so no matter your fitness level, you can help us Stride for Education. Don't forget to join our Team Freeman Facebook Group, where you can share your Team Freeman journey and connect with other like-minded community members.
BACK TO SCHOOL MARCHES In usual CFF fashion, our partner schools celebrated the start of the Term 3 with our back to school marches. Over 309 students marched proudly to mark the start of the school term, while activities went on inside the school grounds for those schools affected by restrictions.
TERM 3 STARTING BLOCK AWARDS
We recently celebrated our end of term Starting Block Awards, where we recognised the hard work and dedication of 329 students who achieved 90% and above attendance. In addition to this, 64 Gold Medal Awards were given out, and 131 Give Me 5! Awards. We are so proud of all our award winners, and grateful to St.George Foundation for their support of our Starting Block program.
COMMUNITY EVENTS Throughout Term 3, CFF contributed to community engagement through 246 opportunities. These opportunities stretched across open days, marches, stakeholder and school meetings, and assemblies. They were enjoyed by more than 3184 community members.
STRIDE FOR EDUCATION T-SHIRTS Our 2021 Stride for Education T-Shirts are now available to to pre-order for just $20! Wear a touch of Team Freeman as you Stride for Education this November. 100% of proceeds go towards our Indigenous education programs. Click here to pre-order yours before Friday October 29. T-shirts are expected to be delivered in mid-November.
Stephanie Mahon, Melbourne Office Programs Education & Administration Officer
Stephanie is an experienced program officer with a professional background across various initiatives, including early childhood implementation, community development and inclusive education. Stephanie has a Masters Degree in International Development and worked in the Solomon Islands, helping young people in Honiara start their own small businesses. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys walking her Boston Terrier Doug and attempting to cook; often ending in burnt pans and takeaway pizza.
Beth O'Sullivan, Melbourne Office
Administration Officer
Beth joins CFF's Melbourne office with a background in Administration, and is currently completing a Bachelor of International Studies. When she is not working or studying, Beth likes to go hiking or head to the beach. She strongly believes that everyone should be provided with equal opportunities including education, and is passionate about having a career that creates positive social change.
