GOLD COASTER’s Karmichael Hunt and Joel Wilkinson will be among the AFL’s Multicultural Ambassadors assisting in the celebrations of this week’s 2013 Multicultural Round, as the national code recognizes the game’s rich cultural diversity across the League.
AFL Head of Diversity Jason Mifsud launched the celebrations at AFL House in Melbourne yesterday, acknowledging the many multicultural players from across the national competitive that make up 15 per cent of the AFL player list.
"It is important the AFL reflects cultural diversity, providing an environment which welcomes people from all backgrounds to enjoy our game as supporters, players or administrators in the future," Mifsud told reporters on Monday.
"Since launching the Australia Post AFL Multicultural Schools Program, we have been to more than 200 schools and reached 20,000 students, teaching football skills and reinforcing key themes of leadership, harmony and respect.”
Highlighting the contribution multicultural communities have made to Australia’s game, Mifsud spoke about the community engagement initiatives currently being undertaken by the AFL industry.
“In 2013, we expanded the Australia Post AFL Multicultural Ambassador program to include 11 AFL multicultural players and we are really proud of the pivotal role they are playing in breaking down social barriers and uniting communities through AFL.”
GC SUNS Diversity Engagement Officer – Michael Gugliotta, told goldcoastfc.com.au that the club had already began rolling out its multicultural celebrations two weeks prior to the AFL’s official launch, while more than 400 international students have already been reached through the inaugural GC SUNS International Program (SIPS) since the commencement of the 2013 Premiership Season.
The club is also on track to engage more than 1,200 students through the Multicultural Schools Program by season’s end.
“So far, we have done some outstanding work in the multicultural space on the Gold Coast and have only passed the half-way mark of the season,” Gugliotta said on Tuesday.
“We have hundreds of international visitors experience their first AFL match when the team played North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium last month, and also welcomed over 100 charity and community representatives to our third annual Diversity Breakfast in Round 14, so we can’t wait to continue our multicultural celebrations alongside the AFL this week.”
Mifsud said the League remained committed towards strengthening the landscape of opportunities available for the code’s multicultural community groups.
"We are also proud to see AFL players from non-multicultural backgrounds supporting multiculturalism, as the entire AFL community, irrespective of background, strives to strengthen diversity, inclusion and cultural understanding in our game."
