Football Victoria (FV) was honoured to present at Integrated Dreams and FIFA Foundation's Football For All Leadership Programme, held in Asia & Oceania for the first time on May 7 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
FV was selected to present as a leading example of a mainstream sporting organisation excelling in disability inclusion in front of key representatives from FIFA, Asian Football Confederation and the Oceania Football Conferation.
Representing FV at the conference was All Abilities and & Inclusion Programs Coordinator, Selin Arpaci, who said the experience was a “powerful reminder “that the work we are doing is being recognised.
"Being recognised internationally is a sign that others see and value the meaningful impact we make on our participants and communities and that the impact we are making really does matter.
"It was also insightful to learn from other organisations and like-minded individuals from around the world who are working on similar projects."
In her presentation, Arpaci highlighted the key initiatives, programs, and strategies that FV has implemented to make disability football part of the core football ecosystem, rather than treating it as a separate or add-on project.
Much of this work began with key funding from the Victorian State Government in 2017 and has since evolved into a sustainable and inclusive model across all levels of the game.
Arpaci shared valuable learnings with the group, focusing on the importance of listening to lived experience, collaborating with clubs, volunteers and partners, building sustainable and welcoming environments, and challenging the belief that “just because something hasn’t been done, doesn’t mean you can’t do it.”
She also discussed strategies to make mainstream programs more inclusive and accessible.
The program brought together over 21 participants with disability from more than 14 different countries across Asia and Oceania, with the goal of empowering them to design and deliver inclusive football projects in their own communities, and to foster knowledge-sharing across regions.
Among the participants were two Victorians, Charlotte Dougherty from Footscray United Rangers FC and Alfie Corsham, who aim to create more inclusive participation opportunities across all areas of football, from playing to spectating and administration.
Both have begun planning exciting new projects to bring back to Melbourne, paving the way to increase access and involvement at every level. They continue to develop their initiatives with the goal of growing sporting opportunities for people with a disability throughout Victoria.
The experience was a proud moment for FV and reinforced our commitment to growing inclusive football opportunities, sharing our model with others, and continuing to learn and collaborate on a global scale.