The Gold Coast SUNS will have six Indigenous players attend the bi-annual AFL/AFLPA Indigenous All Stars camp in Broome from this Wednesday.

Brandon Matera, Callum Ah Chee, Jack Martin, Jarrod Harbrow, Sean Lemmens and captain Steven May will represent the club during the four-day camp that will focus on personal and cultural development as well as industry education, with a total of 55 Indigenous AFL players to attend.

The camp provides a unique opportunity for Indigenous footballers to bond through player-led cultural development sessions, football training and traditional activities with local communities, such as fishing and dancing.

The cultural development sessions will identify and discuss the particular dynamics of AFL and club culture and the intersection with Indigenous people’s lives.

Other player-led sessions will look at the expectation of clubs, the industry and the community and how the AFL and the AFLPA can work collaboratively to best cater for Indigenous players.

Also in attendance will be club Player Development Managers and football operations staff to absorb some of the cultural discussions of the camp.

AFL General Manager Inclusion and Social Policy Tanya Hosch said the camp is a unique occasion for the AFL’s Indigenous players to come together in a culturally appropriate setting ahead of the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

“The AFL/AFLPA Indigenous All Stars camp aims to support the personal and professional development of our Indigenous players and enable their engagement with the Aboriginal people of the Kimberley region,” Ms. Hosch said.

“We have worked with our players to ensure the camp has a strong cultural focus and celebrates and strengthens their cultural identity.

“Our game is the number one choice sport for many Indigenous Australians across the country and to see 15 per cent of all players drafted last year identify as Indigenous men shows the strong links between football and Indigenous people.

“We hope all of these footballers continue to enhance their leadership capacity and continue the legacy of great Indigenous footballers who have laid the foundations for their success.”

AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh said the AFL/AFLPA Indigenous All Stars camp is a great opportunity to get players from across the country, and covering varying demographics, together to explore ways to better maximise their time in the game.

“The camp will provide all Indigenous players the opportunity to not only connect with culture, but to further educate the industry about what we can be doing better to support past, present and future Indigenous players,” Mr. Marsh said.

“It’s a priority for the AFLPA Indigenous Advisory Board that the AFL industry is working together as a whole to support Indigenous players and their families, from the minute they are drafted and well into retirement.”