They’ve spent hours honing their tennis skills but now over 200 Western Bulldogs community program participants will see the professionals take to the court, attending the Australian Open this Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 January 2014.

Through the Bulldogs’ partnership with Tennis Victoria, a number of CALDplay (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) and WELS Sports Program (Western English Language School) participants will see the action live.

With students ranging from six to 60-years-old, the programs introduce refugee and migrant students from Melbourne’s west to a range of different sports throughout the year, including tennis.

Watching the world-class action on the big stage poses as a fitting conclusion to the five to six week tennis component involved in each program. 

Participants represent AMES Footscray, St Albans and Werribee, as well as Victoria University Sunshine, Western English Language School and Yarraville Community Centre.

The group hail from a range of backgrounds including Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Burmese, Indian and Chinese, reflecting the multicultural diversity in the Bulldogs heartland, Melbourne’s west.

Both programs aim to encourage participation, foster community engagement and maximise language proficiency in a supportive and fun environment.