First Nations Academy

The First Nations Academy is a culturally grounded athlete development program designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls.

For the 2026–27 Academy, 10 athletes will be selected to participate in a personalised development experience that combines culture, leadership, and high-performance athlete development.

Athletes begin their journey through the Academy Camp before continuing with individual programming and ongoing Athlete Development Clinics designed to support both personal and athletic growth.

Program Details

Who: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls aged 14 - 24
Where: Delivered in Cairns and surrounding communities, accommodation support available for athletes based outside of Cairns
Cost: Free. This is our investment into ensuring First Nations women and girls are not missing opportunities due resource limitations and geographic location. Only cost is purchase of uniforms.
Spots Available: 10 only

Program Inclusions

1 x Weekly Training Sessions
- Saturday 7:00am - 8:30am
Tailored Strength & Conditioning Plans
- Individualised for each athlete and aligned to their sport and goals
Speed Development Training
- Technical acceleration and game relevant speed work
2 x Recovery & Education Session
- With TFC Academy Program, and additional yarning spaces.

Program Focus

Strength and conditioning
Health and wellbeing education
Leadership development
Cultural connection and yarning
Mentorship and pathway support

We build strong athletes. We support strong identity.

On Purpose Program

Community Connection Program

The On Purpose Program is a leadership and empowerment program delivered in the community.

We work within schools, sporting organisations and community groups to support young women navigating sport, education and life.

This program focuses on identity, decision making, confidence and leadership.

Participants learn how to set goals properly, reflect honestly, communicate clearly and understand their values.

On Purpose creates space for young women to define success for themselves and move toward it with confidence.

Delivered In

Schools
Sporting Clubs
Community Organisations

To enquire about delivering the On Purpose Program in your space, contact us.

The Community Connection Program delivers education and training sessions in partnership with local sporting clubs and organisations.

We bring practical resources, current research and up to date health and performance knowledge directly into community spaces.

This program is also an opportunity for clubs and organisations to work with us on creating safer, more supportive environments for women and girls.

We can deliver education sessions, facilitate workshops or consult with your leadership team on how to strengthen inclusion and safety within your organisation.

If you want to build a space where women feel seen, supported and respected, we are ready to work with you.

As The Female Co continues to grow, we're expanding our reach beyond Cairns to deliver athlete development programs, coach education, leadership workshops, and community partnerships across regional and remote Queensland.

By working alongside schools, councils, sporting clubs, and community organisations, we're creating greater access to opportunities for women and girls, wherever they live.