Michael O'Loughlin, AFL Player
Michael, the eldest of six children, was born and raised in Adelaide. Both his parents are proud Aboriginal people from the Narangga and Ngarrindjeri areas around South Australia.
Michael is an Indigenous, elite AFL Player. Michael made his professional sporting debut for the Sydney Swans in 1995. In the first year he won a Rising Star nomination and staked his claim as one of the competition’s most outstanding forwards.
In 1997 his skills earned him All-Australian honours, and in 1998 he was awarded the Swan’s best and fairest player. His unstoppable ability to cut open defences captivated the crowds in 2000. Booting 53 goals from 22 games, made him the Swan’s leading goal kicker. Since then, Michael has continued to dominate the world of AFL. This success culminated in his 2005 selection in the AFL Indigenous Team of the Century. Also in 2005, Michael’s career dreams were answered when he shared in the Sydney Swan’s Grand Final win. Michael has made three Grand Finals in his career, the most of any Sydney Swans player.
Michael is passionate about making positive contributions to the community and has been an ambassador for the National Indigenous English Literacy and Numeracy Strategy and DHS ambassador for Indigenous Servicing for the federal government.
Off the field, Michael will join a number of DHS Indigenous Ambassadors who complement an already extensive network of Indigenous specialist staff and further strengthen the Government’s commitment to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Bio adapted from the Centerlink Government Website.