Since the AFL’s Multicultural Program began in 2005, it has enabled more than 20,000 people from migrant families to experience an AFL game or be introduced to their own local football communities.
The AFL Multicultural Schools Program has been implemented in more than 180 schools and 30 English Language centres, while 25 AFL staff are employed to facilitate multicultural programs nationally.
The AFL’s Multicultural Round will be held again this year in Round 14 of the Premiership Season. Together with the support of Australia Post, the matches will celebrate ‘Many Cultures-One Game’ and will highlight the community engagement initiatives currently being undertaken by the AFL, as well as the many players from culturally diverse backgrounds, who make up 10 per cent of the AFL player list.
With this in mind, the AFL and Australia Post last Tuesday announced ten AFL players as this year’s Multicultural Ambassadors as part of the Australia Post Community Inclusion Partnership.
As Multicultural Ambassadors, Nic Natanui (West Coast), Leigh Montagna (St.Kilda), Bachar Houli (Richmond), David Rodan (Port Adelaide), Harry O’Brien (Collingwood), Israel Folau (Greater Western Sydney), Joel Wilkinson and Karmichael Hunt (Gold Coast), Majak Daw (North Melbourne) and Ahmed Saad (Melbourne) represent some of the many diverse backgrounds in football and will encourage individuals and groups to unite through their love of the game.
Throughout the year, the Multicultural Ambassadors will work one day a week with local groups towards uniting individuals and communities across the country; Nic Naitanui (Fijian) at the Western Australian Football Commission, supporting the ongoing development of the WA multicultural strategy, talent academy and international development; Leigh Montagna (Italian) at AFL House, focusing on multicultural, social and ethnic media strategies and other major events; Bachar Houli (Lebanese Muslim) working on developing an Islamic schools program in Victoria, NSW and WA, which aims to engage more than 30,000 students; Joel Wilkinson (Nigerian) with AFL Queensland focusing on the development of a community club cultural development program; David Rodan (Fijian) will be at the SANFL (South Australia) supporting the ongoing development of the SA multicultural strategy, talent academy and international scholarship program; Harry O’Brien (Brazilian), Israel Folau (Tongan), Karmichael Hunt (Cook Island/Samoan), Majak Daw (Sudanese) and Ahmed Saad (Egyptian Muslim) will all support and perform ambassadorial roles across many AFL programs.
