Schools and organisations from the Western Region have scooped the AFL’s Multicultural Programs Awards held at a reception at AFL House this week.The awards, presented by Football Victoria’s CEO, Ken Gannon and AFL National Participation Manager, Dean Warren, recognised the efforts of schools and organisations in promoting multicultural participation in Australian Football over the past year.Forty-two primary and secondary schools from the western, northern and south eastern regions who participated in the inaugural AFL Multicultural Schools Program were presented with framed certificates recognising their contribution to the program. The schools have played a significant role to the success of the Multicultural Program and in raising the profile of Australian Football to their multicultural students.Western region schools, Footscray West Primary School and St Albans Secondary School received special achievement awards in the Primary Schools and Secondary Schools categories respectively. Both schools were also part of the Bulldogs Friendly Schools Program in 2006.Footscray West Primary School was recognised for its contribution to all aspects of the AFL Multicultural Schools Program, as well as for their support with the AFL’s Medibank Private 1Seven initiative. During the year, Footscray West Primary School students participated in the launch of the AFL Multicultural Program, AFL World and MCG tours, AFL match day visit (to watch the Western Bulldogs play against Melbourne at the MCG), AFL half- time grid games (at the Western Bulldogs versus Kangaroos match in Round 14) and competed in the Western Bulldogs’ AFL Multicultural Schools Cup.St Albans Secondary College was recognised for being the leading secondary school in the AFL Multicultural Schools Program. Through the work of PE teacher Simon Lynch, St Albans Secondary College organised 25 newly arrived students over four year levels from the school’s ESL (English as a Second Language) program to participate in the AFL Multicultural Schools Program. Components of the AFL program were also integrated into the ESL classes over a six week period. The students, of predominantly Sudanese background, had little or no exposure to Australian Football prior to the program being implemented at the school. A team of 20 students from the Multicultural Schools Program also took part in an inaugural International Rules exhibition match against Western English Language School at Whitten Oval as part of the Western Bulldogs’ Refugee Week celebrations in October.The Western Region Football League and the Flemington Juniors Football Club took out special achievement awards for their contribution to multicultural development at grassroots football level.The Western Region Football League re-launched its “Multicultural Football in the West” campaign in 2006. Some of their multicultural initiatives included establishing the FootyLinks program at Braybrook in conjunction with the Western Bulldogs and multicultural service providers in the western region. The program was aimed at engaging newly arrived African youth in the Western region. They also set up a similar program at the Carlton Flats through consultation with the local multicultural communities.Flemington Juniors Football Club has become a forerunner in multicultural development at grassroots level. They have not only actively recruited and promoted diversity within their own club, but also encouraged other clubs within the league to do likewise. The club tackled the issue of racial abuse head on by writing to all the other clubs in the league about the effects racism can have on players and encouraged other clubs to embrace cultural diversity. They also held a “Kick On” day to promote football and racial harmony at the Flemington Flats, organised match visits and assisted with offsetting registration fees for new players to the game.To top of the western region’s contribution to the AFL Multicultural Program, Footscray Police was recognised for their efforts in promoting Australian Football to newly arrived communities, in particular through the work of Leading Senior Constables Craig Spicer (Community Liaison Officer) and James Ridsdale (Youth Resource Officer).Working with the Western Bulldogs, the Footscray Police multicultural liaison unit has assisted the AFL with providing transport, logistical advice and even packing showbags for its multicultural match visitation program. This has enabled over 3000 newly arrived families from the western region to experience their first AFL match. They have also provided assistance with the FootyLinks program in Braybrook and the Multicultural Schools Program in the western region. Footscray Police is represented on the Western Bulldogs Multicultural Advisory Taskforce and has actively promoted Australian Football and the work of the Western Bulldogs within its network.It was the first time the AFL has given out the awards as a way of highlighting the contribution of schools and local community organisations in the development of multicultural football initiatives.