Football NSW’s launch of their inaugural Girls United program have recently taken place in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Funded by Football Australia’s ‘Football Your Way’ grant, the program aims to bring together females from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, Migrant backgrounds, Refugees and those from low-socioeconomic backgrounds through a shared passion for playing football. It proved to be popular with many people getting involved.
Taking place at the Manly-Warringah Football Association’s community ground of Cromer Park, the stadium (which is home to NSW NPL 1 side Manly United FC) played host to a myriad of female footballers from a variety of unique backgrounds.
Whilst sessions are set to take place all across NSW in the coming months, the initial program at Cromer Park ran with a group who form part of a Tibetan Youth Group through the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) organisation. STARTTS staff member and Community Leader Sonam Wangmo was the one to facilitate the connection between the group and the program.
“I see excitement, enthusiasm and most importantly Female Empowerment in this program,” Wangmo said in speaking to Football NSW.
“I also see great engagement from the parents which means they appreciate Girls United.”
The Girls United program is used as a way to support these groups as they grow up in Australia, whilst providing them with a fun and engaging social environment through an eight-week football course.
In addition to the girl’s program, boys and mixed football programs were kicked off in February under the ‘Community FC’ banner and were led by Football NSW and the Football United Coaches association.
For those parties whom are interested in hosting one of these programs please contact Charlotte Ercil at charlottee@footballnsw.com.au or on 02 8814 4459.