PORT ADELAIDE this week celebrates the cultural diversity of football as part of AFL Multicultural Round with its Intercultural Gala Day taking place on Friday, run in conjunction with new community partner Welcome to Australia.
It coincides with the arrival of China’s Australian Football team in Adelaide ahead of the 2017 AFL International Cup.
Welcome to Australia is a community organisation that cultivates a culture of welcome and will work with Port Adelaide to foster inclusion for newly arrived migrants and will be Port Adelaide’s AFL Multicultural Round charity partner as part of this Saturday’s game against St Kilda.
Power Community Ltd general manager Ross Wait says the build-up to Port Adelaide’s game against St Kilda will be about fostering a greater sense of inclusion among culturally and linguistically diverse groups in South Australia, many of which will watch the game thanks to the Welcome to Australia partnership.
“Welcome to Australia joining forces with Port Adelaide and Power Community Ltd highlights the shared mission we have to create safe and inclusive places for people to enjoy Australia’s game,” Wait said.
“Our vision is to see those students who joined our Power Intercultural Program contribute positively to a shared Australian culture.”
A program to foster inclusion
The Power Intercultural Program is run by former Port backman Alipate Carlile and works with high school students from culturally diverse backgrounds in South Australia to develop skills and educational outcomes around multiculturalism.
It was rolled out in seven schools this year, each of which will participate in the program-ending Power Intercultural Gala Day at Alberton on Friday 28 July.
That will see 9-a-side teams from each school play in a round robin football carnival.
“The Intercultural Program has been really successful this year, and we’ve found that students have enjoyed the chance to find how their culture has a place in footy and Australian society,” Carlile said.
“We’re already looking towards how we can build on this year’s success in 2018, including getting SACE Accreditation for the program, and linking our participants into the Powerful Futures school-to-work initiative run by the club.
“Beyond that, there are definite linkages with our own China Engagement Strategy and Multicultural Next Generation Academy, which we think will help reinforce opportunities for the kids taking part in these programs.”
Welcome to Australia share gameday pictures of its members at the game using the hashtag #PowerofWelcome on social media channels on Saturday night.
Port Adelaide hosts St Kilda at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday 29 July at 4.05pm.
