Beau McCreery and Josh Carmichael reinforce community connection and assist at an afterschool FASTA football clinic at the Fitzroy Housing Estates in celebration of Cultural Diversity Week.
The Collingwood Football Club is pleased to announce its partnership with The Fitzroy Activity and Sport Tuesday Afternoon (FASTA) program.
Established in 2006, the FASTA program has engaged children (aged six – 12) from the Fitzroy housing estates through sport training clinics for over 17 years.
This year, in an AFL-first, Collingwood has partnered with FASTA to deliver a 10-week football program across Term One of the Victorian Primary School system.
The program, which commenced on February 7, is held on Tuesday afternoons and is run by Collingwood’s SEDA Secondary College students as well as AFL Game Development Officers.
The participants are from the Fitzroy Primary School and Sacred Heart Primary School Fitzroy with most children residing in the housing commission apartments.
The FASTA program provides a safe environment for middle years children living in the Fitzroy housing commissions and surrounded areas to be involved in activities that promote engagement, inclusion, and participation at no cost to the families involved.
The program is made possible by its foundation partners the Australian Catholic University, the GR8M8S Foundation and Victorian Police. It is also partially funded by the City of Yarra grants.
Australian Catholic University Community Engagement Project Manager Ann-Maree Brydon spoke on the importance of the FASTA program.
“Through our partnership with Collingwood, it has been great to see the positive improvements to the children’s individual wellbeing and resilience,” Brydon said.
“We have had significant growth of the program over the last few years which is shown by larger attendance numbers and it’s encouraging to see the program is reaching more and more people every week.”
“It has been identified that a key part in preventing youth crime and empowering local youth to transition safely through the middle years is to provide community led sport and health programs that engage young people.
“The FASTA program provides a great opportunity for students at ACU to contribute to a community that is meaningful to them, meeting community needs in a way that is valuable and respectful.”
Collingwood’s partnership with FASTA aligns with the Club’s commitment to promote an inclusive environment for all by supporting programs which empower communities and increase connection and belonging.
Collingwood’s Director of Stadia and Community David Emerson echoed Brydon’s words.
“The FASTA program is an important partnership for Collingwood as we work to engage new communities who wouldn’t likely have a natural affiliation with Australian football,” Emerson said.
“This program works with youth who are predominantly from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
“Collingwood has the opportunity to not only teach football skills, but also empower and connect communities with the Club.”
“We credit the work of FASTA over the past 17 years and we look forward to building a stronger connection with the program for years to come.”
The children who are a part of the FASTA program and their families will attend Collingwood’s Round two match against Port Adelaide on Saturday afternoon at the MCG.
