Article – November 2022 eNews

Last month we hosted our first CMSport Victorian Forum. With the support of the Victorian Government, it was wonderful to welcome 94 participants from the sport, government and community sectors back to face to face events.

Using the theme “Reflecting Community. Connecting Community.”, the Forum focused on how the sport sector can foster a more welcoming environment for multicultural Victorians to play, watch and love sport.

Co-hosts, Faye Shee-Durnion (left) and Simon Rodder (right)

We were honoured to have some amazing guest presenters that contributed to the conversation. Some key takeaways from the event included:

The Hon Ros Spence MP affirmed the State Government’s strong commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion in all levels of Victorian sport.

Keynote speaker Azmeena Hussain OAM shared her family’s story and how lived experience has helped her identify that sport needs to focus on three things to improve cultural diversity – strategy, governance and evaluation.

Expert panellists Amran Ibrahim (Bachar Houli Foundation), Ramzi Hussaini (Life Saving Victoria) and Clinton Meehan (Helping Hoops) promoted the importance of connecting authentically with communities through committed programming guided by positive role models and local co-design.

Panelists at the CMSport Victorian State Forum in October 2022.

Two amazing break-out workshops delivered by Australian Sports Commission and Victoria University with Footscray Hockey Club covered:

  • The importance of representation by collaborating more effectively to identify volunteering opportunities for culturally diverse communities in a workshop hosted by Adam Cassidy, Matthew Calf and Nader Daher (Australian Sports Commission).
  • The need to provide club networks with meaningful resources and support that help reduce the burden on local volunteers resulting in stronger networks in a workshop hosted by Melissa Morton (Footscray Hockey Club), Ramon Spaaij and Carla Luguetti (Victoria University).

At CMSport, we’re looking forward to continuing our work to support sport being more inclusive well into the future. This first Victorian State Forum is just the beginning. Stand by for more!