2019 Multicultural Futsal Series (M-Series) launches on Harmony Week
M-Series Harmony Round – Celebrating Diversity, Strengthening Social Cohesion and Connecting Communities to play the World Game Down Under
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday 24th March 2019 heralds the launch the Multicultural Futsal Series (Or the ‘M-Series’ for short), to be staged at the King George V Recreation Centre in The Rocks, Sydney.
This landmark project will see the hosting of eight one day tournaments over the course of a year that align to key dates in the City of Sydney’s social and cultural calendar including Youth Week, Refugee Week and NAIDOC Week.
A key objective in this multi-faceted project is to provide a platform for newly arrived migrants, their families and communities to build social capital through participating in futsal and football-oriented activities and competitions.
The project is the brainchild of Jarrod Galbraith-Marten, who in consultation with many community leaders, organisations, supporter agencies and individual members from diverse ethnic, religious and cultural groups, identified a need to develop a model of community engagement that enables these groups to enter an environment where they can participate in a sport that they enjoy, celebrate their cultural identity and forge lifelong friendships with members of other ethnic, religious and cultural groups.
An overarching goal of the M-Series is to make newly arrived migrant communities, especially those from refugee backgrounds, feel welcome in Australia and contribute to their integration into society.
The need for this appears no greater than at present, when we bear witness to the devastating impact caused by certain individuals and organisations whose viewpoints and actions run contrary to this sentiment – such as that demonstrated most recently in the most appalling and inhumane terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand.
It is by no coincidence that the ‘M-Series’ takes place at one of Australia’s most iconic locations. The King George V Recreation Centre sits at the feet of The Sydney Harbour Bridge and a stone’s throw from Circular Quay.
The ‘M-Series’ will provide participants the opportunity to use the King George V Recreation Centre as their community hub and gateway to explore and enjoy the best of what Sydney has to offer.
The project serves as an example of meaningful collaboration between key stakeholder groups including a the state governing body for football and futsal (Football NSW), a professional football club (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), a local government authority (City of Sydney) a specialist not-for profit organization, NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) a NSW government healthcare service provider (Sydney Local Health District) and an Australian youth charity (FAIRGAME Australia).
The M-Series collaborators had this to say about their involvement and support of the ‘M-Series’;
‘I feel deeply honoured and privileged to be involved in such a momentous project as the M-Series. I strongly believe it will be hugely beneficial to the communities and sponsor organizations that engage in the project. I see the project as more of a process, a process that will continue to evolve and grow beyond its original scope. My sincere hope is that at some point in the not so distant future complete ownership of the ‘Multicultural Futsal Series’ can be transferred to the communities that it seeks to serve’
Jarrod Galbraith-Marten, Project Officer, The Multicultural Futsal Series,
‘The M-Series provides an environment of inclusion and acceptance while allowing access to health and education services for Sydney’s newest Australians. Fair Game Australia is grateful to be involved with an opportunity that brings these communities together and can expand each groups capacity.’
Nathan Stone, Sydney Chair, Fair Game Australia
‘We have made colossal strides in our understanding of how the brain and body are affected by stress and trauma over the last 15 years. In the context of this learning journey, the importance of physical activity, fun and social connection for good mental health has become increasingly irrefutable. The M-series seems to offer a great package that addresses these three aspects through Football, a medium that has justly been nicknamed “the world game” because of its universal appeal across national borders and cultural and faith divides.’
Jorge Aroche, CEO STARTTS
The first round of the tournament series will be held during the City of Sydney’s Harmony Week on Sunday 24th March 2019. For this first tournament teams will consist members from Afghan Hazara, Tibetan, Burmese Rohingya, Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian and African communities.
Scheduled future rounds include: Youth Week (14th April), Refugee Week (16th June), and NAIDOC Week (7th July). The dates of the four remaining rounds will be announced in the coming weeks.
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ENDS
For more information about the M-Series contact Jarrod Galbraith-Marten at jarrodlgm@gmail.com
Media inquiries: Karen Collier 0432 286 851
Photo courtesy Jarrod Galbraith-Marten:
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