World Footy News

The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have welcomed the announcement by the Federal Government of a partnership to support young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in Greater Western Sydney.

The Federal Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, announced at ŠKODA Stadium that the Federal Government through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has committed $1.2 million over three years to fund a national approach to youth settlement through the Multicultural Youth Affairs Network Australia (MYAN)

As part of this commitment, $270,000 has been earmarked to fund the establishment of a new independent service in New South Wales through a partnership between the GIANTS, the Centre for Multicultural Youth and Multicultural Youth Affairs Network NSW and its local host organisation, Settlement Services International (SSI).

GIANTS Chairman Tony Shepherd applauded the initiative and thanked the Minister for the opportunity to further the club’s community work within Greater Western Sydney.

“This funding and partnership will make a significant difference in the lives of young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in New South Wales,” Shepherd said.

“As a club we are committed to creating genuine community connections in Greater Western Sydney and providing meaningful opportunities for the youth of the region. Greater Western Sydney is incredibly diverse and this funding acknowledges the significant numbers ofyoung people settling in the area.

“I want to thank the Hon Kate Lundy and the Federal Government for their support of this partnership and recognizing the opportunity that exits in this region.

“By working with the Centre for Multicultural Youth and Multicultural Youth Affairs Network NSW we hope to provide education and employment pathways and community engagement programs.

“Our Life Learning Centre, which will be established at our new training and administration base at Sydney Olympic Park, will provide a channel to assist in the delivery of targeted programs for multicultural youths.”

Violet Roumeliotis, CEO of Settlement Services International said: "This unique project will make it possible for mainstream and specialised youth services and the sporting community to work closely for the benefit of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in Greater Western Sydney and beyond."

Carmel Guerra, CEO of the Centre for Multicultural Youth added: “We welcome the opportunity to support the establishment of this service. It is not only a significant boost for young people in Greater Western Sydney but also to other’s around Australia as it strengthens a national approach to helping young people settle well."