Together with Welcome to Australia, the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation held a ‘Welcoming Carnival’ during Saturday’s VFL home game against Geelong.
The carnival included hosts from various service providers that can assist newly arrived migrants. Through engaging with these providers, the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation allowed participants to build their own skills surrounding accessing these services.
With various activities for families including inflatables, football games, face painting and food stalls, the carnival attracted over 350 newly arrived migrants.
Western Bulldogs Community Foundation’s ‘Ready, Settle, Go’ program Manager, Michelle Hage said the carnival was a fantastic way to bring together newly arrived communities and our mainstream VFL fans.
“It was great to see the faces of diversity that we take pride in, engaging in the various activities at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday.
We’re incredibly proud that so many new members of our community could watch their first VFL game at our club. We hope to see cultural diversity continue to grow at VU Whitten Oval through the support of all Western Bulldogs Community Foundation programs”.
With assistance from the Sons of the West program Leaders and participants from the ADAPTERs program, the carnival and VFL game brought together an incredibly diverse audience.
Western Bulldogs Community Foundation General Manager, Kashif Bouns said that the carnival was a great way to integrate all three streams of the Foundation.
“Having the support from the Sons of the West Leaders and our Community Foundation ADAPTERS ensured that the carnival was able to reach a cohort of people that wouldn’t usually attend Footscray Bulldogs games.
“It was also great to see the Wynbay Bulldogs from the Hobsons Bay City Council take part in Saturday’s event, with the team playing a curtain closer game at VU Whitten Oval”.
The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation together with Hobsons Bay City Council aim to increase the ability for disadvantaged people to reconnect with the mainstream community, through football.
The team plays in the Reclink Football League which was established to assist disadvantaged people in accessing sport and recreational activities.
Through using football as an engagement tool, the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation aim to create meaningful relationships between the club and all members of our community.
Throughout our long history, the club has warmly embraced people from diverse backgrounds because we have made it our mission to be the community where people are at their best.
For more information about the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation and its programs, visit westernbulldogs.com.au/foundation
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