AFL Toyota Premiership 2011

Round 20 of the 2011 Toyota AFL Premiership Season conincdes with National Homelessness Week. The AFL will conduct a number of activities during this round to highlight the issue of youth homelessness in Australia.

Tackling homelessness

On any given night in Australia 105,000 people are homeless. That’s more than the capacity of the MCG! Nearly half of these people are under the age of 25. The team backing Ladder is doing something about it!

Jobe Watson, Andrew McLeod & Luke Ball have all joined the team, because they want to help give young people a hand up so that they can break the cycle of homelessness for good.

With over 30,000 young people homeless in Australia tonight, you should join the team tackling youth homelessness too. Join the Team Today. Go to www.ladder.org.au to learn more or donate by calling 1800 508 905.

The Ladder Initiative

Ladder was established in 2007 by a group of former AFL players to leverage the influence of AFL industry, its players and networks to facilitate social change and challenge the issue of youth homelessness.

Ladder provides long-term solutions to youth homelessness by connecting disadvantaged youngsters with their communities, stabilizing their health and wellbeing and helping them engage with education, employment and training.

Ladder extends beyond traditional services to integrate accommodation and support, with the opportunities, experience and skills to help homeless youngsters transition into independent living and break the cycle of homelessness for good.

For more information visit www.ladder.org.au

Ladder ambassador testimonials

"I couldn’t believe that more than 30,000 young people are homeless in Australia on any given night – it’s just not right and we can’t let it go on,’ says Andrew. ‘As Australians we’re big on giving people ‘a fair go’ and these kids need our help. I really believe that it doesn’t take much to make a big difference. Having seen the great Ladder does with young people to help them get back on track I’m keen to get involved any way I can."

Andrew McLeod, formerly of the Adelaide Crows

“I have always felt privileged and honoured to play my chosen sport at the highest level and without the support of my friends and family this may never have been a reality. This is a something that I will never take for granted and will always be grateful for, but not everyone has been as fortunate as I have growing up.

After learning that the number of homeless people in Australia is more than the capacity of the MCG – worse still nearly half of them are under 25 - the least I could do was to join the Ladder team and help tackle this issue head on. I urge all footy supporters that care about people in the community that are doing it tough to join the Ladder team and something about it too."

Luke Ball, Collingwood

"Youth Homelessness was something that I never really thought about, but after seeing the work that Ladder does and learning more about the issue I was shocked to hear the over 30,000 people under the age of 25 are homeless on any given night in Australia. I had no hesitation in joining the Ladder team as an ambassador and I strongly advise all Australians to join the team and provide a better future for the youth of our country."

Jobe Watson, Essendon