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The Charles Perkins Soccer Academy was established in November 2019, as part of Macarthur FC, the twelfth team to join the Hyundai A-League competition.

For too long, football development within Australia’s Indigenous communities has been ad-hoc and uncoordinated.

This is despite a history of Aboriginal involvement in the game reaching back to the 19th century and the presence of star players such as Quilp, ‘Bondi’ Neal and Willie Allen.

Due to a variety of reasons over successive generations, football has failed to recognise the potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to contribute to the game and, importantly, has failed to play its part in contributing to reconciliation through specific Indigenous football activity and programs.

Indigenous players of the calibre of Harry Williams, Frank Farina, Karen Menzies, Bridgette Starr, Jade North, Kyah Simons, Lydia Williams and others have made it to the top without structured support form the game.

By establishing the Charles Perkins Soccer Academy and through the Academy, Macarthur FC intends working with other A-League clubs and the football community to bridge the gap between football and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.