Founded in 1994 by Kevin Sheedy AO, AFL SportsReady has spent more than 32 years helping young people build the skills and confidence to thrive in the workforce. Since then, we've expanded far beyond our sporting roots to become one of Australia's leading not-for-profit providers of education, employment and career pathways for young people. Through vocational learning, mentoring and real-world workplace experiences, we equip young people with the skills, confidence and experience to build successful futures.
About
OUR VISION
“We transform lives through employment, education and care.”
OUR IMPACT
Creating Change at Scale
AFL SportsReady has unlocked more than 20,000 career pathways, partnered with 2,600+ organisations, worked with 700+ schools, and created millions of hours of learning and workplace experiences.
Young people are at the heart of everything we do, but our impact extends beyond individual outcomes. We sit at the intersection of business, government and community — connecting the people, resources and opportunities needed to create social impact and address shared challenges.
Working across every industry sector, we have the unique ability to create change at scale. Our impact reaches beyond jobs and qualifications, contributing to stronger communities, a more inclusive economy and a society where more people can participate and thrive.
We are proud of our legacy. After completing our programs, our graduates go on to achieve success across Australia. Our Alumni include CEOs, business leaders, educators and community advocates who are shaping industries, strengthening communities and creating positive change.
OUR VALUES
What Guides Us
As we've grown and evolved, our values have remained at the centre of who we are and how we work. We're proud of our journey, the impact we've made and the people who have helped shape AFL SportsReady into the organisation we are today. These values continue to guide our decisions, our relationships and everything we do:
Respect
We listen to and learn from others and treat people well
Excellence
We strive for excellence in all that we do
Pride
We have pride in what we do and where we work
Ethics
We are ethical in our decision-making and our behaviour
Accountability
We do what we say we will do
Team
We work together and support each other
Our Indigenous Artwork
The Indigenous artworks featured throughout this website are owned by AFL SportsReady and proudly displayed at our Melbourne Head Office. Created by Aboriginal artists Jeannie Mills Pwerl and Heather Long Pitjara, these works inspire our connection to culture, Country and community.
When we look at these works together, we see a powerful message: connection between people and place. We are proud to share these works across our website, recognising the artists and the stories their art represents.
Desert Yam Leaves by Heather Long Pitjara (2025)
Desert Yam by Jeannie Mills Pwerl (2026)
Meet the team