The Sydney Swans will host a football festival in the Top End this November with the aim of delivering an important health message about smoking.

First Nations peoples in the Northern Territory have among the highest rates of smoking in Australia, especially across the Jabiru – Tiwi region in West Arnhem Land, where the town of Maningrida is located. Maningrida is one of the most culturally diverse Aboriginal communities in Australia, with around 15 different languages spoken among the population.

The Sydney Swans first visited Maningrida two years ago in partnership with the Mala'la Aboriginal Health Service. Through an extension of that collaboration, a contingent of Swans AFL and AFLW players and staff will return to Maningrida to host a football festival, encouraging the community to Kick the Habit as part of the Australian Government’s Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) program.

The TIS program supports healthy lifestyles through the promotion of smoke free environments and discouraging the uptake of smoking and tobacco products.

On the field, the three-day Maningrida Footy Festival from November 15-17 will see men’s, women’s and youth teams compete in a round robin format, while off the field, participants will engage in TIS workshops, health checks and other health activities.

Sydney Swans Indigenous Strategy Manager Jarred Hodges said the project aims to use role models and community engagement to impact meaningful change.

“Our aim is to use the power of sport to bring the community together to increase the exposure of First Nations young people and families to vital preventative smoke-free messaging,” Hodges said.

“We were fortunate to establish some strong relationships when we visited Maningrida two years ago and our staff and players learned so much from the experience, so this is our opportunity to give back.

“Importantly, this is not a one-off event, as we will deliver the Maningrida Footy Festival and the Kick the Habit campaign each year for at least the next three years. Our goal is to engage 500 participants and 1000 spectators by year three, and hopefully have a really positive impact on health outcomes in the community.”

Executive Health Manager of the Mala'la Aboriginal Health Service, Lesley Woolf, said sport is a powerful way to provide positive role models and deliver impactful messaging.

“We are excited to have the Swans back in Maningrida. They are a positive influence on the community, and we are looking forward to a great weekend of football,” she said.

The Maningrida Footy Festival and Kick the Habit campaign are being delivered in partnership with the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program and the Mala'la Aboriginal Health Service.