Pauly Vandenbergh

The current Diversity Talent Manager for the AFL and former Port Adelaide Aboriginal Programs Director, Paul Vandenbergh is a leader on the topic of Aboriginal education and awareness.

A Wirangu / Kokatha man from the Far West Coast of South Australia, Vandenbergh oversaw the industry-leading Aboriginal programs for more than ten years at PAFC, playing a major role in creating life-changing experiences for Aboriginal youth across SA and the NT.

Vandenbergh is renowned for delivering insightful cultural awareness sessions to businesses and schools that identify the significant gaps between the Aboriginal and Western world, bringing to light the importance of the two worlds learning to work together in "The Third Space".

With a long list of achievements under his name, Vandenbergh has been responsible for:

• Growing the Aboriginal Power Cup program from 10 participating schools to more than 75 schools across South Australia in the last decade, making it the flagship Indigenous school retention program in the country
• The introduction of the Willpower Program for Primary School aged Aboriginal youth in remote South Australia and the Northern Territory
• The delivery of Cultural Awareness sessions to key stakeholders
• The development and introduction of the club’s first Reconciliation Action Plan
• The introduction of the AFL’s first Aboriginal AFL Academies for both boys and girls
• The first Aboriginal to be appointed to the senior executive of an AFL club

Vandenbergh will now oversee the State Talent pathway programs Nationally and leads the Indigenous and Multicultural Talent Programs including; the Boomerangs, Woomeras, Medleys, World Team and supporting the Bachar Houli Programs.