With over 20 years of experience in facilitating youth participation in sport, CMY recognises that sport is an effective tool for engaging young people, especially newly-arrived young people.
CMY runs sport programs for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to increase participation, build a sense of belonging and help participants to develop new connections as they settle in Australia.
We also work closely with sports clubs and organisations, with the aim of creating a sector that is more accessible, inclusive and responsive to the needs of young people from diverse backgrounds.
Find out more about our capability building work in the sport sector.
Our programs
Welcome Football
Welcome Football uses the world game soccer to support young people and their families who are newly arrived in the City of Hume, to build connections with their local community and develop leadership skills.
The program involves the delivery of in-school, after-school and school holiday programs and events. It also includes a youth leadership component whereby young people can volunteer as Community Champions, undertaking leadership, coaching and referee training and are then actively involved in the planning and delivery of the program activities.
Open to young people from the City of Hume and surrounding areas, who have recently arrived in Australia.
Welcome Football is delivered in partnership with Football Victoria and funded by the Bennelong Foundation, Newsboys Foundation and Grace & Emilio Foundation.
Get involved, contact:
Daniel Nair Dadich | Team Leader – Youth Leadership
E | ddadich@cmy.net.au
Welcome Sports
Welcome Sports connects young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, who live within Hume, Melton and Sunshine with sport opportunities through a tiered approach:
Tier 1: Running sports clinics in schools and a school holiday program
Tier 2: Giving young people the opportunity to join local sporting clubs
Tier 3: Involving young people in sports careers through refereeing, coaching, admin
CMY partners with local schools in the North West to ensure young people have access to inclusionary space to increase social connections, their physical activity and link them to supports and services.
Become a Youth Volunteer in 2022
We are currently seeking volunteers to support our Welcome Sports Program in the Hume, Brimbank and Melton areas of Melbourne. As a Welcome Sports Volunteer you will support the co-facilitation of the program alongside a CMY Project Officer. Your main duties will be to assist with providing sports and recreation opportunities to young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. You will also have an opportunity to design sports clinics for an ‘in school’ or ‘after school’ program, school holiday sport program and/or potential round robin tournament.
We’re specifically seeking young people who:
- Have a passion for sports facilitation and inclusion
- Are aged 18-25, from a refugee or migrant background (including if you’re born in Australia with parents or carers with a refugee or migrant experience)
- Are available to volunteer likely after school hours or possibly on weekends
- Reside, or are available to travel to, Hume, Brimbank or Melton areas
- Are able to take part in fortnightly meetings to present ideas and co-facilitate (in person and/or online)
To become a volunteer, please read the Position Description and APPLY HERE.
For more info, contact:
Jay Panchal | Project Officer – Sports & Recreation
E | jpanchal@cmy.net.au
Women’s Sports Hubs
The Women’s Sports Hubs provide opportunities for young women in Melbourne’s South East to build connections in their local community through participation in various sports. It includes a variety of weekly female sports sessions across the Cities of Dandenong and Casey, including soccer, ultimate frisbee and badminton program.
Further to opportunities to participate in sports, the program supports young women to build their capacity as leaders, volunteers and accredited coaches and referees in the sports sector.
Open to young women aged 12-25 living, studying, working or otherwise connected to the South East region.
The Women’s Sports Hubs are supported by the Victorian Government.
Get involved, contact:
Daniel Nair Dadich | Team Leader – Youth Leadership
E | ddadich@cmy.net.au
Youth Transitions Support
Youth Transitions Support uses sport to engage newly-arrived young people in the City of Hume and provide support in education, employment and training within the sporting industry.
In addition to weekly sports programs, CMY facilitates excursions to employers in the sports industry, and incursions from local sports clubs and organisations to promote wider opportunities to get involved in community sport.
Open to young people aged 15-25, based in the City of Hume, who are newly-arrived to Australia (5 years or less).
Youth Transitions Support is a partnership program led by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, with support of the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
Get involved, contact:
Daniel Nair Dadich | Team Leader – Youth Leadership
E | ddadich@cmy.net.au
Welcome Football