Football United celebrated the launch of a new after-school program at Evans High school and Intensive English Centre, Blacktown, on Wednesday May 13. The Evans program is part of Football United’s three year project activity supported by recently acquired Australian Research Council funding.

Football Federation Australia, Football New South Wales and Sydney FC  joined forces to support the launch .

“The Evans Launch is really exciting.  It is our first program where all coaches are former refugees, and have been trained through Football United. We are ecstatic about the opportunities it can provide for our participants.” notes Football United founder, Anne Bunde-Birouste.
“Sydney FC has been a great support to Football United from its beginnings,” she added.  “We’re encouraged with recent progress in working toward similar situations with Football New South Wales  and Football Federation Australia.”

An initiative of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales, Football United harnesses a love of football (soccer) to build opportunities for belonging, racial harmony and social inclusion of Australia’s new immigrants. The program operates in partnerships with Councils, Migrant Resource Centres, football clubs and associations.