The GLoBALL Program - run by the Essendon Football Club and Cricket Victoria in partnership with Primus Telecom - aims to provide positive engagement opportunities for international students and new migrants to interact with the broader Victorian community through sport by providing free cricket and football activities year round.
Minister Madden said elite level sport has a critical role to play in making international students – and the multicultural community as a whole – feel safer, settled and a part of the community.
""Sport has an important role to play in building momentum for a change in attitudes and a stronger culture of respect and inclusion. The GLoBALL program is a great step in this direction, and it’s a good reflection of the philosophy that underpins our Respect Agenda,"" he said.
""The GLoBALL program is a great example of how organisations are taking a stand and creating a community where people respect themselves, respect others and respect our community.""
Courtesy of the support shown by Primus Telecom, 5000 international students and newly arrived migrants will have the opportunity to attend up to three AFL matches, with the first in-take of students to attend tomorrow night’s match between Essendon and Hawthorn.
Beyond matches, program participants will have the opportunity to be involved in tours of iconic facilities, will be buddied up with AFL and cricket supporters on match days, and will enjoy practical skill sessions and other social events.
Primus Telecom’s CEO Ravi Bhatia said they were very pleased to support an initiative that was focused on making a difference in the wider community.
""Primus Telecom understands that sport has an incredible power to bring diverse groups of people together, we also understand the important role sport can play in enhancing social cohesion in the community and we are committed to supporting newly arrived migrants and international students as they make their transition into Australian society,"" Mr Bhatia said.
""We are confident the GLoBALL program will provide participants with a rewarding taste of Australian culture while building relationships with the broader community.""
Essendon chief executive Ian Robson said the GLoBALL program provided new migrants and international students the opportunity to experience Australian culture at its best while meeting new people and sharing personal experience.
""We are using two sports that are iconically Australian to build a bridge between cultures, to create conversations, to create friendships and ultimately create a sense of belonging,"" Robson said.
""Today’s launch of the GLoBALL program is the start of what we believe will be an important and sustainable program to support our multicultural community and promote social cohesion.""
Cricket Victoria’s chief executive Tony Dodemaide said he was pleased to join the Essendon Football Club and Primus Telecom as a partner in the GLoBALL program to promote social cohesion through both the football and cricket seasons.
""Being involved in GLoBALL means we can offer more international students the opportunity to take part in our multicultural program, which welcomes people of all cultural backgrounds, ages and abilities to get into cricket,"" Dodemaide said.
Essendon Football Club and Cricket Victoria would also like to acknowledge the AFL's Multicultural program, the City of Melbourne, RMIT, AMES and the Australian Federation of International Students for their support of the program.
