Almost 100 students participated in the first of the Western Bulldog’s six week introductory football clinics across the West this week, kicking off preparations for the 5th Annual Inter-AMES (Adult Multicultural education services) Football Carnival. 

The aim of this unique Carnival, to be held at the Whitten Oval on June 23rd, is to bring all AMES players together through football and to provide an opportunity for the players to showcase the skills they have learnt both on and off the field.

This year the Western Bulldogs and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) will sponsor the Inter-AMES Football Carnival jumpers for the final - adding a special incentive for this year’s participants to get into the final and represent their team in Bulldogs colours. 

All students are newly arrived to Australia and come from countries from all over the world including Vietnam, Burma, Ethiopia, Poland, Columbia, China, India and Sudan (just to name a few!) 

Students attending Adult Multicultural English Program classes from St Albans AMES, Footscray AMES, Werribee AMES, Wyndham Community & Education Centre (Refugee VCAL Class) and VU Sunshine attended the clinics - following seven ‘sold out’ “Welcome to the AFL” sessions across the region last week.


Over the next 4 weeks, the students will continue to learn and develop football skills and knowledge at Whitten Oval and Werribee’s Soldiers Reserve while they prepare to play against each other in the Inter-AMES Football Carnival late next month.

Not only will these newly arrived migrants and refugees be learning about football, they will also get the opportunity to learn valuable life skills through teamwork and physical activity as well as have the opportunity to improve their English through social interaction with students from other classes and centres. 

This initiative is delivered by the Western Bulldogs’ community arm SpiritWest Services along with ex-AMES student volunteers who are acting as coaches and mentors to the new students. 

The AMES Football Program is one of five sports delivered throughout the year as part of the Club’s AMES Sports Program funded by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Settlement Grants Program.

If you would like to learn more about the Club’s Settlement Grants Program, please contact us on 1300 GODOGS or spiritwestservices@westernbulldogs.com.au