The David Wirrpanda Foundation was established to improve the quality of life for Indigenous youth by promoting strong role models and healthy life choices. The focus of the foundation is to increase the retention of Indigenous students in school and improve their life choices after leaving school by encouraging further study or entry into the work force.

The foundation currently employs 21 full-time staff and 19 part-time role models and has a team of dedicated volunteers who all work to positively influence Western Australian Indigenous youth.

The Wirra Club:
A primary school based program which operates mainly in the Pilbara and focuses on keeping Indigenous children in school and improving standards of behaviour and achievement.

Features of the Wirra club include: provision of an educational and social meeting place, physical activity sessions, healthy snacks, mentor sessions with role models and special workshops.

The Troy Cook Health and Fitness Program:
This ten week secondary school program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to experience the life of a potential athlete by participating alongside program mentors.

The program teaches participants how to lead a healthy lifestyle, to avoid injury, make socially and personally responsible decisions and reduce threats to health and well-being.

Dare to Dream Girls Group:
This girls only program is aimed at secondary school students to increase self-esteem by touching on a variety of life issues. It touches on women’s health, sexual health, healthy relationships, drugs and alcohol, grooming and deportment, domestic and family violence as well as providing girls with opportunities that they otherwise would not have. The program also allows the girls to participate in sporting activities and courses through the strong partnership with the Nyoongar Sports Association.

On My Way Program:
This secondary school program is conducted in the Pilbara and is a rewards-based program focusing on school attendance and behaviour.

Some of the other core aims of the program are to reduce participants contact with the Justice System, encourage re-engagement with the education system and providing mentoring and strong role models both by the Foundation and within the community.

Plan 2day 4 2morrow (Employment Program):
This program focuses on young Indigenous people who have completed high school and are keen to enter the workforce.

The program has four interwoven themes: job readiness, health, lifestyle and personal and cultural team development. By completing the course, the participants are introduced to potential employers.

Mentors:
Current West Coast player Gerrick Weedon, and past players Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls and Lewis Broome are some of the program’s mentors, as well as veteran David Wirrpanda who, since his retirement, has been able to allocate a lot more time to his foundation.

AFL Indigenous Round:
Every year, one round of the AFL fixture is nominated as Indigenous round and since 2008, the West Coast Eagles have dedicated this match to raising funds for the David Wirrpanda Foundation. 

In 2011, the Eagles Indigenous Round clash against the Western Bulldogs saw David Wirrpanda Foundation volunteers out in force selling David Wirrpanda footballs as part of the Kick It For Wirra campaign. The efforts of these hard working volunteers, as well as generous contribution from BHP Billiton, helped raise a record amount of more than $90,000 for the David Wirrpanda Foundation.

Please click here to visit the David Wirrpanda Foundation website.