Field2Future powered through Aspire Community is committed to creating stronger futures for under represented and disconnected and disengaged young people across regional and remote communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people across Australia.
Through our focus areas of Play, Learn, Lead and Thrive, we use sport in particular hockey and traditional Indigenous Games , education and cultural connection as powerful platforms for social change and personal growth.
Our programs are designed to remove barriers, strengthen wellbeing and open pathways into learning, employment and leadership.
About us
Our mission
Our mission is to expand access to opportunity so that all young people, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth across regional and remote Australia, can play, learn, lead and thrive.
Grounded in genuine collaboration and community partnership, our programs are co‑designed with young people, for young people. We create spaces where their voices shape the journey, where culture and community wisdom guide our approach, and where strengths, identity and aspirations are amplified through meaningful experiences.
Through mentoring, life skills development, leadership pathways and structured participation opportunities, we deliver programs that are safe, supportive and driven by local insight. By working side‑by‑side with schools, families, Elders and community leaders, we help young people build confidence, capability and long‑term pathways into education, employment and leadership.
We are committed to walking alongside young people as they design their futures — ensuring they are empowered not only to succeed, but to flourish, contribute and thrive in their own way, on their own terms.
Our Vision
At Field2Future, our vision is to see young people across Australia confident in who they are and clear about where they are going. Through Play, Learn, Lead and Thrive, we create supportive, culturally grounded environments where sport, education and leadership development work together to unlock potential. We believe participation is powerful. When young people are given opportunity, guidance and belief, they grow in resilience, capability and purpose.
Our programs are designed to turn challenges into pathways. By combining active engagement with mentoring, life skills and leadership development, we support young people to build confidence, strengthen identity and contribute positively to their communities. We are working toward a future where every young person has access to the tools, networks and opportunities needed not only to achieve their goals, but to uplift others along the way.
Our Values
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Inclusion
We are committed to accessibility, equity and fairness, ensuring every young person has the opportunity to participate, progress and succeed.
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Culture
We honour and respect the cultural strength, identity and lived experience of the communities we serve, centering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people within our work.
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Collaboration
We believe impact is amplified through partnership and co-design. We work alongside schools, families, clubs, community leaders and organisations to deliver meaningful and sustainable outcomes that drive sustainable local solutions to ensure local needs are recognised and actioned.
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Community
Connected Communities are at the core of everything we do. We create initiatives that build belonging, shared responsibility and collective growth. Through our commitment to sustainability, we embed people and place, culture and prosperity into every step, co-designing solutions that ensure our communities remain strong, empowered and connected, now and for generations to come.
Meet the Team
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Julie McNeil
Chief Executive Officer
Leads Aspires strategic direction, operations, and community impact. Working with the Board, the CEO oversees financial management, people and culture, compliance, and organisational growth. The role focuses on strengthening staff capability, supporting major program outcomes, managing grants and reporting, and building strong partnerships across community, government, and sport. Drives key business plans, new revenue streams, and social enterprise initiatives to ensure long‑term sustainability and meaningful community outcomes.
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Wes Ferns
ACCL Programs Delivery Manager
Central leadership role in coordinating, strengthening, and delivering high‑quality outcomes across Field2Future and all ACCL programs. This role ensures operational excellence, seamless program delivery, and strategic alignment with Aspires broader organisational goals.
Working closely with the CEO, the position provides both hands‑on delivery leadership and high‑level organisational support across people, programs, partnerships, and planning.
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Sawadu Tabuai
Community Hub Lead and Program Mentor
The Community Hub Lead plays a key role in supporting Aspires School to Club Team by delivering culturally aligned, community‑focused programs that strengthen participation, pathways, and engagement across schools, hubs, and local clubs. This role ensures Community Hub activities are well‑planned, well‑delivered, and meaningfully connected to Aspires broader youth development and participation pathways.
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David McNeil
Educator and Mentor
Education, Training & Leadership Development plays a key role in strengthening Aspires capability across programs, staff development, and community engagement. This role leads the delivery of high‑quality training and learning initiatives including Hookin4Health. Provides mentoring support to staff and contributes to the growth of Aspires representative and pathway programs. The position also supports and contributes to special projects across the organisation.
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Lisa Fatnowna
Community Program Delivery Lead and Program Mentor
Leads the delivery of accessible, culturally informed, and community‑building initiatives across the Cairns and Cairns West region. This role drives sustainable participation growth by connecting schools, clubs, and community partners, while delivering high‑quality programs that support young people, their families, and the broader community.
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Jayden Darcy
Kickstarter Project Lead & Student Mentor
Plays a central role in delivering high‑impact youth development programs across Cairns South. This position leads the coordination and delivery of the Kickstarter Program, supports students through culturally informed mentoring, and contributes to broader Aspire initiatives across communities. Working under the guidance of Wes Ferns, the role strengthens engagement, supports learning pathways, and ensures high‑quality program reporting and outcomes.
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Esther Gaffney
Part Time Development Officer
As a Part‑Time Development Officer, Esther supports the delivery of Aspire’s youth, community, and pathway programs across multiple regions. Working alongside School to Club and Pathways staff, she contributes to program delivery, student engagement, and community participation. Esther also provides hands‑on support to the Kickstarter Program and remote community activities when required.
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Taliah Lucas
School Based Development Officer Trainee
Our School‑Based Trainee supports Aspire’s youth development and community programs while building their own skills and experience in a culturally supportive environment. Working closely with the School to Club and Pathways Team, the trainee assists Lisa and Sawadu with program delivery, data collection, and participant engagement, contribute to cultural events, mentoring activities, and promotional support across Aspire programs.
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Matthias Graepel
Aspire/ Sport 4 All Program Coordinator
This role provides mentor support and program delivery across Aspire Community and the Sport4All (S4A) Get Skilled Access initiative, helping create more inclusive sporting opportunities in schools, community and sporting organisations for people with disability.
Join our growing team!
Our Board Support
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Cathy Nixon
Elected Member
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John Watts
Elected Member
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Dr Robert Pozzi
Elected Member
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Julie McNeil
Elected Member
Where we work
Regional Partnerships
Torres Strait Islands
Cape York: Including Western Cape York, Cooktown and South Cape, Bamaga, and NPA
Cairns and Far North Queensland: Notably Yarrabah and Wangetti
Atherton Tableland: Encompassing Mt Surprise, Mt Garnet, Ravenshoe, Herberton, Atherton, and Mareeba
Gulf Savannah Region: Covering Georgetown, Forsythe, Croydon, Normanton, Karumba, Burketown, and Doomadgee
Central Queensland - Emerald Region joins us to pilot some Futures In Motion programs
Global Partnerships
2026 New Balance Foundation- Futures in Motion
Partner: Beyond Sport
Beyond Sport is a 501(c)(3), UK-registered global foundation
Oceania Hockey/Team Up - Hookin4Health:
Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
National Partnerships
Hockey Organisations:
Hockey Australia: Operating in Melbourne
Hockey Queensland: Located in Brisbane
Hockey Northern Territory: Based in Darwin
Strategic Position.
Download our Strategic Position to gain insights into Aspire Community's future direction and key initiatives. This document outlines our comprehensive strategies for driving social change and empowering communities through sport.
Make a donation.
Your donation helps young people Play, Learn, Lead and Thrive - creating futures defined by possibility, not barriers.
By supporting FIELD2FUTURE, you directly strengthen culturally grounded, community‑led programs that keep young people connected, confident and engaged. Your generosity removes financial and social barriers to participation, opening access to sport‑based programs that are vital for wellbeing, identity, school engagement and long‑term opportunity.
Every contribution helps create scholarships, expand mentoring, and deliver education and leadership pathways that empower young people across regional and remote Australia. You enable safe spaces to play, meaningful opportunities to learn, and strong foundations for young people to grow into leaders within their families, communities and future workplaces.
Invest in the future today.
Your support drives lasting, sustainable change, ensuring every young person has the chance to rise, succeed and thrive.