Discover our story of uniting diverse communities and fostering growth through the love of soccer.
Established in 2014, The Community Soccer Hub creates opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to know what it feels like to belong to a local Australian sports club.
Initially a safe space to enjoy playing soccer and connecting with the community, it has grown to over 500 participants.
Based at Selwyn Park Albion, the Hub works to reduce the significant barriers to sport participation such as; access to transport, financial restraints, language barriers, lack of culturally sensitive facilities and lack of communication between mainstream sporting clubs and settlement organisations.
This is achieved by working in collaboration with community leaders and organisations to design programs suitable and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds, all days of the week.
Programs include:
● Casual men, women and juniors “turn up and play” sessions
● Community group allocation
● One on one academy training
● Competitive pathways through our Albion Thunder side
Aside from the playing opportunities, the CSH also provides professional capacity building experience through coaching, refereeing and young leadership courses, experience on the committee, and in coordinator and volunteering roles.
A number of research findings, including VicHealth’s “Building Health Through Sport” report (2010) have identified the benefits for newly arrived communities participating in sport and recreation. These benefits include social benefits such as trust building, capacity building, community understanding, developing social contacts, building relationships, belonging, social cohesion and providing an entry point for broader social participation.
Positive health outcomes for sport participation are also well-known including physical fitness, general wellbeing, self-esteem and psychological benefits such as stress and depression reduction and increased confidence. Sports clubs can also facilitate settlement and transitional support in a supportive environment where information regarding services can be shared among participants and community leaders.
However, many people of refugee, migrant and low socioeconomic background can face significant barriers to sport participation such as access to transport, financial restraints, language barriers, lack of culturally sensitive facilities and lack of communication between mainstream sporting clubs and community organisations.
Consultation with community groups, organisations and Brimbank City Council highlighted the lack of low cost, centrally located, easily accessible, inclusive, and regular sporting programs available for people in the area. The CSH was formed to address these unmet needs with Brimbank City Council offering Selwyn Park in Albion as the perfect location.
The Community Soccer Hub’s unique co-location model enables opportunities for so many participants who would otherwise be excluded.
In 2019 CSH was awarded the “Inclusive Brimbank” award.
Community Soccer Hub activities take place on unceded Wurundjeri and Bunurong Country.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land. We join their calls for justice.
