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.
Current programs for young people
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.
For more info, contact:
Brett Watson | Project Officer
E | bwatson@cmy.net.au
M | 0487084861
Previous programs
Welcome Football
Welcome Football used 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 involved the delivery of in-school, after-school and school holiday programs and events. It also included a youth leadership component whereby young people volunteered as Community Champions, undertook leadership, coaching and referee training and were then actively involved in the planning and delivery of the program activities.
Welcome Football was delivered in partnership with Football Victoria and funded by the Bennelong Foundation, Newsboys Foundation and Grace & Emilio Foundation.
Welcome Sports
Welcome Sports connected 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.
Women’s Sports Hubs
The Women’s Sports Hubs provided opportunities for young women in Melbourne’s South East to build connections in their local community through participation in various sports. It included 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 supported young women to build their capacity as leaders, volunteers and accredited coaches and referees in the sports sector.
The Women’s Sports Hubs are supported by the Victorian Government.
Welcome Football