AFL and AFLW players believe that every young person deserves an opportunity to succeed.

Each football season, every senior listed AFL player donates $25 from their weekly match fee to Ladder. This equates to approximately 800 players contributing almost $220,000 annually. Ladder also receives in-kind, back-of-house support from the AFL.

The continuing support from the AFL community and AFL Players’ Association is the lifeblood that keeps Ladder going year on year. The additional funding and support contributed by our growing team of government, philanthropic, corporate and community partners enables us to sustain our youth development and mentoring programs at a local level and expand them into more communities.

Inspiring young people to aspire

One of the biggest challenges working with young people who have experienced major setbacks early in life is their lack of dreams and plans for the future.

Through our founding partnership between AFL players and the AFL industry, Ladder helps young people with low aspirations to begin aiming for and kicking goals in life.

AFL and AFLW players bring unique perspectives and experiences that really resonate with young people in our programs. We continually receive support from players, who volunteer their time, energy and skills as program ambassadors and mentors. These elite athletes share their life stories and insights with our program participants with the aim of inspiring each young person to develop their own aspirations in life.

In return, Ladder provides players with valuable professional and personal development opportunities, including serving as volunteer mentors and guest speakers for program participants and alumni – engaging and enabling AFL and AFLW players to actively contribute to lasting social change.

Giving social stigma the boot

Ladder’s close ties with the AFL industry enable us to attract and engage young people without the stigma often associated with youth support services.

We draw on the vast connections of the AFL Code to give our program participants a sense that they belong and are valued members of the community. This includes offering them unparalleled personal and professional development opportunities, including mentoring from AFL players, group excursions, and attending AFL games and special events.

While many services struggle to get young people to sign up for their programs, we regularly have graduates asking if they can do another Ladder program and whether their friends or siblings can join them. Program participants can remain involved in the Ladder community and take part in our alumni program.

"We can’t wait to support more amazing young people through the Ladder program and to continue to mentor them and provide life advice – and even have them give us life advice! The Ladder program’s something pretty special."

- Alicia Eva, Ladder Board Member and GWS GIANTS AFLW player