AFLW returns to Cairns with lasting benefits for the local community
Elite women's football returns to Far North Queensland when the Hawthorn Football Club takes on North Melbourne at Cazalys Stadium on 18 September.
The match is the third AFLW game played in Cairns under the Northern Nest initiative.
While the AFLW clash brings top-level sporting action to the region, the partnership's impact extends beyond game day. Through Northern Nest, local communities benefit from initiatives supporting participation, wellbeing and inclusion.
The program includes football clinics, school engagement, work experience, mental health and resilience programs for young people, and initiatives creating more inclusive sporting environments for people with hidden disabilities.
The partnership has strengthened connections between elite sport and the local community, inspiring the next generation of players and growing opportunities for women and girls in Australian Rules football. The Hawks have embedded themselves in the Cairns community through school visits, community programs and grassroots activities across the region.
The Northern Nest initiative is a partnership between Hawthorn Football Club, the Queensland Government, the Queensland Mental Health Commission and Cairns Regional Council. The initiative aims to deliver lasting social, participation and wellbeing outcomes alongside an annual AFLW match in Cairns.
For more good news sporting stories —follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For the latest plays from Queensland’s sporting industry, subscribe to our State of Play newsletter.