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.
Today’s celebrations allowed GLoBALL participants the opportunity to further engage with the community and learn about unique moments in Australian sport.
Essendon chief executive Ian Robson said almost 5000 members of the multicultural community have had the opportunity to experience AFL games this year and hopes these opportunities may grow in the future.
“We think elite level sport has a critical role to play in making international students – and indeed the multicultural community as a whole – feel safer, settled and a part of our community and the GLoBALL program is evidence of that,” Robson said.
“I think the GLoBALL program has proved an important and sustainable program which supports our multicultural community while promoting social cohesion and it will only get bigger in the years to come.”
Cricket Victoria CEO Tony Dodemaide said through its established Harmony in Cricket program, Cricket Victoria has long understood the power of sport to bridge cultural divides, and the GLoBALL program allows Cricket Victoria to further pursue this philosophy.
""Cricket Victoria is proud of the partnership established with Essendon Football Club and the collective capacity to use our organisations’ sporting and social standing to benefit new arrivals to Victoria,"" Mr Dodemaide said.
Courtesy of the support shown by Primus Telecom, almost 5000 international students and newly arrived migrants have had the opportunity to attend AFL matches this year.
Beyond matches, program participants have the opportunity to be involved in tours of iconic facilities, be buddied up with AFL and cricket supporters on match days, and enjoy practical skill sessions and other social events.
Essendon Football Club and Cricket Victoria would like to thank Primus Telecom, the City of Melbourne, RMIT, AUSTRADE and the Australian Federation of International Students for their support of the GLoBALL Program.
